This is because problems arise of authenticity, the more creative the documentary is the more it runs away from focus. John grierson founder of the british documentary film movement its leader for 40 years one of the first 1 to see the potential of motion pictures to shape peoples attitudes 2 to urge the use of films for educational purposes educated at the university of glasgow and university of chicago. Griersons principles of documentary were that cinemas potential for observing life could be exploited in a new art form. The nfb produced an appreciative film on its founder, john grierson, which is now available on video cassette. John grierson, founder of the british documentary film movement and its leader for almost 40 years.
These notes accompany the robert flaherty and john grierson program on october 27, 28, and 29 in theater 3 robert flaherty 18841951 is credited with being the father of the documentary. It is the creative treatment of actuality eitzen, 1995. French actualities or newsreels were called documentary views or les vues documentaires. His 1932 essay first principles of documentary argued that cinemas capacity for observing life could be a new art form. John griersons minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text,2 a short work that john corner. John grierson born at deanston borders of stirling and perth on 26 april 1898. His principles of documentary were a cinemas potential for observing life could be retold in a whole new perspective and with the belief that the original actor and original scene are better guides than their. John grierson cbe 18981972 was born in perthshire, scotland, son of a local school headmaster.
I think its inevitable that people will come to find the documentary a more compelling and more important kind of film than fiction. In 1927, grierson was employed as an assistant films officer of the empire marketing. Social documentary and the avantgarde in the 1930s 1995. Pdf john griersons first principles as origin and beginning. By 1940 grierson was in canada, where he helped found the national film board. Griersons documentary principles in conjunction with man. Griersons first principles of documentary alternative. Griersons forcefulness in first principles of documentary, the e. Thus, a documentary is a medium that is intended to capture reality as it is. It them a solid highsounding excuse for the shimmying and otherwise discursive exoticisms the vieu,x colombier. Grierson also notes that the early documentary filmmakers were concerned about the way the world was going and wanted to use all the tools at hand to push the public towards greater civic participation. First principles of documentary in grierson on documentary.
Interweaving archival footage, interviews with people who knew him and footage of grierson himself, this film is a sensitive and informative portrait of a. John grierson, founder of the british documentaryfilm movement and its leader for almost 40 years. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. On land without bread 1986 john grierson, the documentary producer 1933 john grierson, first principles of documentary 193234 otis ferguson, home truths from abroad 1937 charles wolfe, straight shots and crooked plots. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost.
John griersons oxford academic journals oxford university press. His 1932 essay first principles of documentary argued that. Interweaving archival footage, interviews with people who knew him and footage of grierson himself, this film is a sensitive and informative portrait of a dynamic man of vision. Principals of documentary films study guide by filipinostudybudy includes 5 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. He is credited with initiating the 1930s british documentary film movement. Documentary develops robert flaherty and john grierson. John grierson cbe 26 april 1898 19 february 1972 was a pioneering scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film. John grierson 26 april 1898 19 february 1972 was a pioneering scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film. John griersons minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text, 2 a short work that john corner describes as the foundational text of documentary theory. Moma the films of robert flaherty and john grierson. He starts off by giving general examples of what is considered to be documentaries such as a shoot of a magazine item, newsreel item, educational or scientific film, to those of discursive or dramatized interests 99. Grierson s principles of documentary were that cinemas potential for observing life. A range of arguments have carried on since about the balance of creativity.
Documentary makers from john grierson to jean rouch and beyond have warned of the dangers of the beautiful image within documentary film. In his essay first principles of documentary 19321934, grierson wrote. Principals of documentary films flashcards quizlet. Sep 15, 2017 john griersons minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text, 2 a short work that john corner describes as the foundational text of documentary theory. Griersons approach to documentary is often seen as antithetical to flahertys more romantic vision. In 1927, grierson was employed as an assistant films officer of the empire marketing board emb, a governmental agency which had been established in 1926 to promote british world trade. One cannot agree with grierson when he argues that berlin shows us nothing, that it is purely an aesthetic experience.
John grierson and thedocumentary movement great britain. Although griersons second principle of documentary is present during moments of worker depiction, wright lacks in discussing any of the greater social problems present for g. We believe that the materials and the stories taken from the raw can be finer more real in the philosophic sense than the acted article. He studied philosophy at glasgow university, but was drawn into filmmaking through postgraduate study in the us on the influence of mass media on public opinion. There had, of course, been actuality films from the very beginning of cinema. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. Documentaries should photograph the real world, hence not artificial. A documentary is a nonfictional film or television program that intends to capture some type of subject matter with the purpose of preserving history or conveying a message or lesson.
Grierson was born in deanston, near doune, scotland. The lumiere brothers sent film crews around the world to bring audiences the wonders of the planet long before jets. And i shall try to point to some of the more specific sources of his thinking in this context. In order to provide a thorough discussion, this essay will focus primarily on griersons. Grierson was a socialist activist and his attitude to life reflected the way he understood documentary and its function. This feature film is a portrait of john grierson, the first canadian government film commissioner and founder of the national film board in 1939. Photographing the living scene and the living story. Paraphrasing, according to the essay, grierson established three principles in which he feels documentaries should adhere to. Pioneering scottish filmmaker john grierson 18981972 is often considered. For grierson, the documentary was first and foremost a tool of social propaganda, in the sense of the mediums potential to reach and educate the masses. John grierson april 26, 1898 february 19, 1972 is often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film.
According to popular hearsay, the word documentary was first coined by scottish documentary filmmaker john grierson. John grierson s minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text, 2 a short work that john corner describes as the foundational text of documentary theory. Information on john griersons first principles of documentary from macdonald and cousins, imagining reality. He was one of the first to see the potential of motion pictures to shape peoples attitudes toward life and to urge the use of films for educational purposes. Film unit in the early 1930s had an atmosphere that was energizing and inspirational, with grierson being one of the. A critical history of english language documentary film and video. John grierson, film producer b at deanston, scot 25 apr 1898.
I think its inevitable that people will come to find the documentary a. Grierson on documentary john grierson, forsyth hardy. His 1932 essay first principles of documentary argued that cinemas. But grierson also, of course, had his own personal background and academic training. Examining the foundations of documentary film through the. As early as 1902 and 1903 the term documentary was being used. Even those who argue against griersons theories and practices cannot deny that he had a tremendous influence on the development of the documentary. He served as an ordinary seaman in wwi and completed a brilliant academic career after the war, graduating with distinction in moral philosophy. His ancestors were lighthouse keepers and his father was a school teacher. John grierson was a pioneering scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film. John grierson s ideology can only be understood within this larger intellectual climate. John grierson 18981972 is the father of the british and canadian as well discover is a few weeks documentary movements. Film unit and the course of realism were prominent contributions to the discourse of realist film and, of course, to the figure of john grierson.
Born the son of a headmaster in cambusbarron, near stirling, john grierson directed one of the first documentaries, drifters, set up the influential gpo film unit making night mail, and went on. John grierson writer of first principles of documentary describes the term documentary as a clumsy description of films made from natural. May 22, 2014 born the son of a headmaster in cambusbarron, near stirling, john grierson directed one of the first documentaries, drifters, set up the influential gpo film unit making night mail, and went on to. Is there anything more to be said about grierson and the british. From this came our insistence on the drama of the doorstep cited by hardy 1415. He was one of the first to see the potential of motion pictures. Through analysis of basil wrights night mail, the spectator can see the influence of griersons first principles of documentary, as well as the opposition to these principles, within g. The french who first used the term only meant travelogue. In an article written in the mid 30s 1, grierson picks out berlin in particular as an example of what documentary should not be. John grierson was born in deanston near stirling, scotland, on april. Sep 25, 20 the word documentary was coined by documentarian john grierson and defined as the creativity of actuality. In fact, the selfsame sequence could in principle be used to begin. Film unit and the course of realism were prominent contributions to the discourse of realist film and, of. According to popular myth, in 1926, grierson coined the term documentary to describe a nonfiction film.
Chapter authors j grierson date 1979 page start 35 page end 46 is part of book title grierson on documentary authors grierson, john, hardy, forsyth date 1979 publisher faber pub place london etc. John grierson and the documentary film movement by ian aitken routledge. Grierson believed that to capture reality you must be in reality. Griersons first principles of documentary in night mail. Documentary writing across media wiki fandom powered. In his essay first principles of documentary 1932, grierson argued that the principles of documentary were that cinemas potential for observing life could be. Genres were being defined in the 1930s by john grierson and his team at the general post office. John griersons first principles oxford academic journals. Documentary develops robert flaherty and john grierson although robert flaherty is credited with being the father of the documentary, there had been actuality films since the very beginning of cinema. Grierson in his article first principles of documentary describes to us the three tenets, which to him are the foundation for the production of a documentary film. John grierson writer of first principles of documentary describes the term documentary as a clumsy description of films made from natural material.
Feb 15, 2020 john grierson, founder of the british documentaryfilm movement and its leader for almost 40 years. John griersons first principles as origin and beginning. It has been nearly seven decades since john grierson first applied the term. Apr 12, 2016 john grierson, film producer b at deanston, scot 25 apr 1898. Wrights night mail remains in a balance between agreement with and opposition to griersons first principles of documentary. Canadian and british filmmaker john grierson 18981972 used documentaries to build the national film board of canada into one of the worlds largest studios. The film typically includes nonscripted footage, voiceover narration, andor interviews.
Grierson was the first to use the term documentary and had a straightforward definition for it. Stuart legg, paul rotha, john taylor, harry watt, donald taylor, edgar anstey, and more. Despite its ties to the real, the documentary film movement in great britain was in many ways an innovative form, concerned with aesthetics and a vital contributor to the development of an identifiable national cinema. May 09, 2014 john grierson born at deanston borders of stirling and perth on 26 april 1898. John grierson documentary film maker made in perth. John grierson first principles of documentary 19321934 dixumentary is a clumsy description. Information on john grierson s first principles of documentary from macdonald and cousins, imagining reality. Additional biography sources john grierson, film master, new york. J grierson date 1979 page start 35 page end 46 is part of book title grierson on documentary authors grierson, john, hardy, forsyth date 1979 publisher faber pub place london etc. John grierson s first principles as origin and beginning.