Hito Steyerl /// The Uncertainty of Documentarism
Steyerl talks about how the “unbroken belief” of the documentary form is challenged. How are Steyerl’s ideas about truth and fiction represented and expressed in Abbas Kiarostami’s film? How does truth inform the fiction in Close up? How might fiction inform the truth?
Steyerl talks about how documentary in this modern age is no longer based on objective evidence to show truth, rather it is by captivating and taking advantage of the emotion to make it feel like you are present. this in itself creates a sense of truth because our emotions force us to believe that we are in reality. “Expression instead of representation: this is the level upon which the CNN-images reveal their truth. On the level of form, the truth of these images is that the form of their construction presents the real image of their conditions.” This quote from the reading is an example of how fiction is informing truth. Rather than representing to shows factual evidence. They use expression to captivate the audience. With the technological advancements that have taken place over the years, reproduction and editing has never been easier. Nowadays you do not even need to show a clear image but you just have to convey the emotion an expression to get people to believe the truth.
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?
The significance of authenticity in the media for me is very important. Because I learnt these News giants always have an agenda to feed and sensor information. therefore when you have something like this you can never know whether they are telling you the truth or not. I regularly look at multiple sources of information so that I can form my own opinion. live broadcasts are very important because they show that events are occurring in real time therefore it can hold some truth. It is also important because it is very difficult to alter a live broadcast, whereas a prerecorded video can be be easily edited. Live video shows a semblance of truth that can be trusted, as you are seeing things happen as time unfolds.