Documentary Analysis - Louis Theroux's Guru's - 3rd December 2009

I then went on to view and analyse a BBC documentary to observe the ways in which television documentaries use the conventions of the documentary genre. The first television documentary I analysed was Louis Theroux’s Guru’s taken from his Weird Weekends series where he investigates and documents groups of people that have a passion for weird things (as the name suggests)

I will analyse this too see how the conventions of documentaries are used in television productions as well as to observe how a documentary can be made less sincere yet at the same time informative, educational and entertaining.



Documentary Conventions used

Interviews – Interviews are used throughout this documentary to acquire information and a professional opinion. A type of interview is conducted during the spiritual session combined with the use of fly on the wall filming.

Voice over – a voice over is used to present information about India and the guru’s on top of fly on the wall footage of the market place and them walking through it

Talking head- is also used as a means of presenting information to the audience and coincides with the ongoing interview with the guide. This is done so audiences feel a part of the investigation as well as so the presenter can convey information to the audience.


Camera

Throughout the extract, establishing shots and tracking shots of the market, the beach and the guide’s home are combined with a voice over to act as a visual aid for the information being conveyed.

During the ritual close up shots and medium shots are combined with quick cuts to give a sense of confusion within the audience mimicking the thoughts and feelings of the presenter, as well as give an insight into what happens at these ceremonies.

During scenes of the talking head and the ongoing interview, medium shots are used so the audience feels a part of the conversation, and a part of the investigation.


Editing

Predominantly quick cuts are used for the purpose of continuity and to display different angles and views during the ritual.

At the end of the day, the clip of the setting sun over the sea fades to black giving the impression of the day ending.

During the title sequence, wipes and computer graphics are used in combination with clips from previous episodes to emphasis the fact of it being a program from a series.

Mise En Scene

The attire of the presenter is very ordinary to promote the notion that he is an ordinary person and a visitor to this way of life just like the audience. Had he been wearing the outfit of a guru, the questions asked for the purpose of his (and the audiences) discovery of their way of life would not seem as relevant as the audience would assume he knew. His attire is also different to the guru’s and spirituality seekers to highlight the fact that he, like us an audience, is an outsider to this group.


Dialogue

The dialogue of the piece is both informative and investigative. On the informative side, the presenter relays background and contextual information to the audience through the use of voice over’s and language that is sophisticated, yet not to hierarchy that audiences cannot understand. On the investigative side, questions that form in the minds of the audience are asked, with nothing not being explained. This helps the audiences understand leaving them informed, fulfilling the purpose of the documentary.

Sound and music

Background music is once again featured alongside establishing shots and voice over’s to add to the overall viewing experience. Traditional Indian music is featured as it relates to the location and theme, as well as not being inharmonious and distracting viewers from the dialogue.

During the title sequence a piece of music is used as a generic backing for the title sequence that reminds audiences of the fact it is a series.