- Steyerl talks about how the “unbroken belief” of the documentary form is challenged. What does Steyerl mean by this? Certain movies and films are based on a true story. How does truth inform the fiction? How might fiction inform the truth?
Traditionally, documentary forms are considered as objective representations of the reality and the true story. They reveal what actually happened by taking a closer look from different perspectives of the story via interviews, recreation of images, videos etc. However, this “unbroken belief” is challenged by Steyerl by stating that producers of documentaries inevitably infuse their emotions, interests, and potentially biases during the production process. Documentaries are not equal to facts and they have always been subjective. They are reproductions of the reality shaped by technology, politics, and power structure of the audience and the producers. And the doubt of the truth-value of the documentaries is also a source of power of the emotional stimulations.
For movies and films that are based on a true story, truth is the primary source of the narrative. It is the producers, actors, and screenwriters’ job to adapt the actual story to better cater to the audience in an engaging way. Here, truth is manufactured and processed so the central message can be vividly conveyed and comprehended by the audience via the fiction. On the other hand, fiction reflects the truth to a certain extent. It is a channel connecting the audience with the messages represented by the truth. Fiction also has the power to stimulate the audience and draw attention to the truth by curating the emotional simulations.
- What is the significance of the authenticity and representation of the truth in the media that you consume on a daily basis? What is the role of a live broadcast?
Media serves as a channel of information and shapes/extends my understanding of the world. Therefore, the authenticity and representation of the truth in the media have considerable influence on how I perceive the world. More specifically, what I consume on a daily basis shape my perspectives and understandings of social and political issues. It is important to keep in mind how productions in the media, even in forms of documentaries, can be manipulated and micro-managed in a particular way to demonstrate the creators’ perspectives instead of merely reproducing the truth. A constantly critical mindset is essential to apply in real life and minimize the influence of subjectivity in the media.
For live broadcasts, it is a great way to provide immediate and unfiltered access to reality and avoid being manipulated and edited by third-parties. However, as long as information is conveyed by a medium, it is naturally less objective and contaminated with potential opinions. The way it is presented and the context of the representation would also play a huge part of the comprehension. As illustrated in the example brought up by the article, the ambiguity could also affect the interpretation of the truth.