Story movements: How Documentaries Empower People and Inspire Social Change (2020)

More Than a Feeling: The Role of Pathos in Documentary Film and Social Impact Risk Communication

“…The scope of social impact documentaries Social impact documentaries, alternatively referenced to as social change documentaries, are non-fiction films created with the intent of engaging, informing, and encouraging an audience to take action with respect to a particular social issue (Chattoo, 2020). Chattoo argues that documentary film has always been understood as an agent of change, with a broad potential for social intervention (2020).…”

“…Chattoo argues that documentary film has always been understood as an agent of change, with a broad potential for social intervention (2020). Documentaries offer a platform to "disrupt dominant cultural narratives", through creative non-fiction storytelling that illuminates the lived experience (Chattoo, 2020).…”

“…During the past few decades, the capacity of documentary practices has transformed alongside the advancements in technology and media (Chattoo, 2020). Similarly, the demand for documentary practices has mirrored the need for increased advocacy and awareness of pivotal social justice issues.…”

“…However, digital storytelling, including the use of documentaries, has changed the delivery of social impact risk communication, amplifying how information and narratives are communicated through the integration of mixed media elements. Documentaries have become saturated with work using non-traditional tactics to communicate the risks of potential and existing social issues, driving audience engagement and understanding through emotion and visualization rather than knowledge and reason alone (Chattoo, 2020). Interestingly, along with this risk communication approach used in documentary film-making, and aside from the fact that documentaries are recognized for their entertainment purposes, there is a lack of understanding as to why these films have had notable success engaging audiences in the content presented compared to other traditional methods used for social impact risk communication.…”

“…For this Major Research Paper (MRP) I am defining social impact risk communication as "evidence-based communication which engages, informs, and persuades an audience to take action with respect to a particular social issue" (Chattoo, 2020). This research paper will use qualitative evaluation methods that includes a background literature review and a case study 3 analysis of the documentary The Social Dilemma, using the five elements of film outlined by David Bordwell (2013).…”