• 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?

Steyerl means that there is no sort of united truth behind the scenes. These is always an uncertainty inside documents. For example, when CNN reported war, they used “green and brown blotches, slowly moving across the screen” as the image. This was not a solid figure for the audience, so they had to guess what it was, which demonstrates the uncertainty of the image. But now this is also challenged by expression for representation. 

Take Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as an example. The story of the murderers and their small community was based on a real cult that existed, the Manson Family. The final scene was based on the Murder of Sharon Tate.

The truth informed the fiction by providing a analysis, or guide, for fiction to follow. In this case, they grounded the story by providing a cult system for fiction to follow. Inside the fiction, they could replicate the original “plot” and cult. Also, the tragic death of Sharon Tate and her unborn baby, as well as her friends and family, gave an emotional theme for fiction.

 The fiction informed the reality by showing us scenes within the cult family, but not too obviously, which causes uncertainty. Also, the main character liked a girl in the cult at first, which gives us a more unbelievable contrast when we see the atmosphere of the cult she’s in. Finally, by plotting that the narrator brutally hurts the cult members (by showing very very disturbing scenes), audience that know of the reality will be more engaged and feel more hatred towards Manson Family. In this case, the fiction brings alive, again, the victims, and remind the audience of the violent nature of Manson Family.

• 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?

For me, I like watching recordings of livehouse shows. The authenticity and representation of the truth is crucial because livehouses are more that listening to music. It is about the air, the people, the crazy atmosphere in that dim, crowded room. The purpose of watching those videos is to feel in the spot, feeling what the others are feeling. In that case, the reality of the sounds and the lighting is important. 

Live broadcasts bring me a sense of being. In that spot, I am looking at something that has not been manipulated before. I am aware of the uncertainties and I won’t know what happens next. This lost of focus brings more attention to the live. For example, for the final stage night for most 选秀 (like Produce 101, i think, not quite sure) they will have a live final night. The fans watch the live rank. This makes the audience more excited and also more nervous, because so many unexpected events can happen. Also, I feel like it decreases a sense of focus, because no one has “expressed” yet. This represents more of the actual truth.