Achieving an intimacy of knowledge and effect? The impact of documentary films in Europe

Abstract

A century ago, John Grierson wrote, “documentary can achieve an intimacy of knowledge and effect impossible to the shimsham mechanics of the studio”. Yet empirical evidence about the impact of documentaries on audiences is still limited. This article addresses this gap in the literature by analysing the findings of a recent survey of documentary film viewers in Spain, Greece, Iceland and (to a lesser degree) other parts of Europe. The online survey of almost 1,500 respondents found that 97% had been affected by the experience of watching documentaries in some way, with 77% saying they had seen a documentary that had emotionally affected them. 70% had seen a documentary film that had improved their understanding of a particular issue, while 60% had seen one that had changed the way they think about certain issues. However, more proactive behavioural effects were less common: only 25% had seen a documentary that had encouraged them to take action, while just 19% had seen one that had encouraged them to change their lifestyle or behaviour. These findings corroborate previous studies on the effects of films. Yet they also temper arguments about the unpredictable and unique ways audiences respond to films by revealing certain trends in the type of documentaries most likely to affect audiences and the type of audiences most likely to be affected. For example, the documentaries most likely to encourage respondents to change their lifestyle or behaviour were emotionally engaging expositional or performative documentaries that deal with the exploitation of animals or the natural world (e.g. Earthlings) or the human and environmental impact of modern consumer behaviour more generally (e.g. Food, Inc). Meanwhile, those most likely to be affected by documentaries in this way were young people and those without a university degree. These findings contribute to wider academic debates about film audiences and media effects, particularly in relation to the conditions under which different types of effects are more or less significant.

More information

Identifiers

ORCID for Huw D. Jones: orcid.org/0000-0002-6446-9575

Catalogue record

Export record