Documentary at a Crossroads

Reality TV and the Hybridization of Small‐Screen Documentary

Bibliographic Data

ID12912752
AuthorsJelle Mast (0000-0002-4939-1458, University of Antwerp, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume3
Issue6
Pages884-898
Publication date2009-10-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociology Compass (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1751-9020 • E-ISSN: 1751-9020
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1751-9020.2009.00242.x
OpenAlexW1986626838
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited26

Today, as tendencies of popularization and hybridization have fundamentally redefined conventional notions of (small) screen documentary, the genre (re‐)emerges as a particularly appealing topic of scholarly research. This article elaborates some of the main strands of the multifaceted debate about these ongoing developments, thereby focusing on the ‘reality TV’ phenomenon, which is probably the most notable, yet also most controversial embodiment of the shifting that takes place. Discussing key positions regarding the problem of labeling and definition, questions of documentary values, and ethical issues, it is argued that a comprehensive, nuanced approach based on profound conceptualizations as well as empirical research into production and reception contexts are invaluable in making an astute assessment of the popular hybrid documentary

Aesthetics · Art · Documentary film · Epistemology · Media studies · Phenomenon · Reality television · Reality tv · Sociology · Cinema and Media Studies · Media Studies and Communication · Philosophy · Radio, Podcasts, and Digital Media

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