Theory and PracticeWhat do we mean by this?

We do this, then we do that.

Practice

noun (plural theories) a supposition or a system of ideas intended

to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained:Darwin’s theory of evolution

a set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based:a theory of education

Theory

Soanes,S. & Steventson, A.(2008) Concise Oxford English Dictionary: 11th ed. Rev. Oxford University Press:USA.

e.g.. Why we do this and why do we do that. When did they first start doing this and that. How has the process of doing this and that

changed. Who were the first people to do this and

that and what effect did it have. Why is this better than that and vice versa.

Theory

You need to back up theory with facts.

SHOW EVIDENCE

Evidence

Examples Illustrations Direct quotes Citations

Evidence

More people are using YouTube now than 5 years ago.

A TV soundtrack is just as important as the TV programme.

Product placement is part of television and movie culture in the 21st century.

Evidence=Resources.

What kind of resources would you use for these objectives in a theoretical essay?

While you watch.

What is new about this? How has it developed the genre. What traditional aspects have been lost. What traditional aspect have been retained. What is the purpose of this documentary? Does it achieve its purpose?

A new genre in documentary

THE FAMILY

After you have watched.

Why was this series so popular?

Hypothesise where the documentary genre is going.

THE FAMILY

Discuss your theories in groups

STOP USING YOUR OPINIONS

Think of where you can go to back up your ideas and theories.

Find two resources/citation/quotes to back up your ideas for next week and bring with you to the seminar.

You will present them in a 60 second presentation.

Think of resources & find them

I've always been interested in how to present something that relates to our reality - which is not really... I don't even know if documentary itself does as good a job. It has its own problems in trying to get at the reality of the situation.

Gus Van Sant

Theorists/practitioners

I've been encouraging documentary filmmakers to use more and more humor, and they're loath to do that because they think if it's a documentary it has to be deadly serious - it has to be like medicine that you're supposed to take. And I think it's what keeps the mass audience from going to documentaries.

Michael Moore 

Theorists/practitioners

Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home. David Frost 

Theorists/practitioners

In the voyeurism of Reality TV, the viewer's passivity is kept intact, pampered and massaged and force-fed Chicken McNuggets of carefully edited snippets that permit him or her to sit in easy judgment and feel superior at watching familiar strangers make fools of themselves.

Reality TV looks in only one direction: down.James Wolcott

Theorists/practitioners

ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE, THE HOTEL, 24 HOURS IN A&E, EDUCATING ESSEX/YORKSHIRE

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