Multiple Choice:

Who was it that first applied the term 'documentary' to non-fiction films?

Question

Multiple Choice:

Who was it that first applied the term 'documentary' to non-fiction films?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks: 'Who was it that first applied the term 'documentary' to non-fiction films?'

Since the provided data shows an answer of 'John Grierson' but does not include any answer options to evaluate, we cannot perform option-by-option analysis as requested. Instead, we can discuss the historical context to understand why John Grierson is identified with this claim.

Contextual explanation: John Grierson was a pioneering figure in documentary filmmaking who, in the 1920s, popularized the term documentary to describe non-fiction or factual films that aimed to document reality and social issues. He used the term to distinguish these films from fictional narratives and entertainment, emphasizing their informative and exploratory purpose rather than mere storytelling. This branding helped establish a professional and critical framework for non-fiction cinema.

Why this answer is historically supported: 1) Grierson is widely credited in film history scholarship with coining or popularizing the word 'documentary' in the sense of non-fiction filmmaking. 2) His work, including the early British documentary movement and the founding of the Griersonian tradition, stressed social purpose and public documentation, which aligns with the term's usage. 3) This attribution is reinforced by scholarly discussions on the origins of documentary as a genre and the rhetoric around its function in society.

Why other, non-listed options (if any) could be misleading: Without seeing additional options, readers might confuse the term with phrases like 'docudrama' or attribute it to later practitioners who helped popularize documentaries, but not necessarily coin the term. Misconceptions often arise from conflating the invention of the concept with later evolution or from attributing the term to different eras or filmmakers.

In summary, the attribution to John Grierson rests on his historical role in naming and shaping the documentary movement in the early 20th century, establishing a framework for non-fiction cinema that emphasizes documentary truth-telling and social documentation.

FIL2030-25Summer BW61 Section 1 Exam (Modules 1-3)

Multiple Choice: Who was it that first applied the term 'documentary' to non-fiction films?

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