Reading

In the essay “The Uncertainty or Documentarism” Hito Steyerl presents the topic of “unbroken belief” in the documentary form. The traditional understanding of documentaries (objective representations of reality) is being challenged in her work. She argues that documentaries are not that objective – they are deeply influenced by the subjectiveness of filmmakers, power structures, and narrative choices.

The author is stating that even movies that are based on true stories are not always reliable sources of truth. In the context of fiction, truth may play a role in shaping the audience’s perspective and in informing the narrative. Filmmakers always make an artistic move – they want to empower their product, so they add or delete some parts of a true story making it subjective. They mold and manipulate the truth to fit into a specific genre or to create a more engaging narrative. However, it still contains certain parts of truth, maybe just underlying.

For example, the media provides us with truth by showing different perspectives on the same question. By exploring different possibilities and narratives, documentaries can shed light on overlooked voices and provide a more detailed analysis of a situation or a complex issue.

The importance of truth in media is huge. Now in this era of too much information everywhere, and also a lot of false information around us, it is really significant to have a trustworthy source of information. People should always remember that not all is true around us now and should learn how to critically analyze everything we see and hear.

Especially in the case of documentaries. The genre itself expects trust and credibility. Viewers expect to see facts and unbiased perspectives. Steyerl argues that the belief in the “unbroken truth” and objectivity of documentaries is really challenged now.

The role of the live broadcast in this context is significant. Live broadcasts have the potential to provide immediate access to some of the information, a sense of urgency, and authenticity. However, you need to keep in mind that broadcast can also be shaped by editing or point of view. Live broadcasts can provide one of the best means (nowadays) for translating the information, however, we still need to have a critical eye and awareness.

As a result, Steyerl’s essay discusses the belief in the “unbroken truth” of documentaries and highlights the complex relationships between truth and fiction. It reminds us about the importance of critical thinking and awareness of the existence of different points of view. We consume information every day from different types of media, so we need to be careful about what we believe in.