Post-1990 Documentary: Reconfiguring Independence - Hardcover

Camille Deprez; Judith Pernin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0748694137 ISBN 13: 9780748694136

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2015

Synopsis

Presents in depth case studies focusing on major aspects of post 1990 documentary practices and styles This book questions the meanings of 'independence' for documentaries made in the post 1990 context, a period of unrivalled disruption and creativity in the field. Based upon a reasoned selection of contributions, it is the first collection of in depth case studies cutting across formats, media, subject matters, purposes and national divides. Writing from a wide range of academic perspectives, the contributors shed new light on historical, theoretical and empirical issues pertaining to the independent documentary, in order to better comprehend the radical transformations of the form over the past twenty years. Compared to existing studies, this volume focuses on works and practitioners existing at the margins of the traditional media, the mainstream film industry and the prevailing economic and socio political systems; yet greatly contributing to changing our perception of documentaries. And in doing so, it addresses an important gap in the global understanding of documentary practices and styles. It provides critical and detailed insights into contemporary independent documentary makers and their varied works, practices and uses and offers a variety of perspectives and interpretations of under studied contemporary subject matters and styles, as well as production, distribution and exhibition strategies.

About this title

About the Author

Camille Deprez is Research Assistant Professor in the Academy of Film at Hong Kong Baptist University. Judith Pernin is Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC) in Hong Kong.

From the Back Cover

'Camille Deprez and Judith Pernin have gathered together a collection of in-depth case studies which raise many critical questions relating to the field of documentary film studies. The breadth and scope of this book, the novelty of approaches and topics contained within it, the variety of contexts explored, and arguments raised, will be of interest to film scholars, students and practitioners alike.' Ian Aitken, Academy of Film, Hong Kong Baptist University In a post-1990 context of unrivalled creativity in documentary filmmaking, what does 'independence' really mean? With a broad selection of contributors, this is the first collection of in-depth case studies to cut across different media, formats, subject matters, purposes and national divides. Writing from a wide range of academic perspectives, contributors shed new light on historical, theoretical and empirical issues concerning independent documentary, to better comprehend the radical transformations of the form over the past twenty-five years. While the digital turn has been widely acknowledged as decisive in reshaping film practices, especially independent ones, this anthology aims at assessing its consequences without overestimating the impact of technology on other political, economic, social and cultural changes. Continuities as well as breaks are therefore put in perspective, with a particular focus on the interactions between these new practices and the established film and television industries. Divided into three main sections 'History and Spaces of Resistance', 'The Personal Experience' and 'Displacement, Participation and Spectatorship', Post-1990 Documentary provides an innovative interpretation of under-studied subject matters and styles and rare analysis of differing production, distribution and exhibition strategies. It not only helps to rethink the notion of independence, but also contributes to a fundamental change in our perception of documentary filmmaking. Camille Deprez is Research Assistant Professor in the Academy of Film at Hong Kong Baptist University. Judith Pernin is Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC) in Hong Kong. Cover image: Canon Digital Video Camera, 2005, component count: 558 (c) Todd McLellan 2013, taken from Things Come Apart by Todd McLellan (2013). Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com ISBN 978-0-7486-9413-6 Barcode

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0748694137
• ISBN 13: 9780748694136
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 280
• Editor: Camille Deprez, Judith Perni