Best Documentary Essay Examples & Topics

Best Documentary Essay Examples & Topics

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363 samples

Watching documentaries is a great way to learn new things. These are films that shape and interpret facts for education and entertainment of their viewers. It has several social functions, which are to record, preserve, and reveal, and persuade. This form of motion films also aims to entertain and educate.

If you are struggling to write a good documentary essay, our experts have combined some helpful tips for you here. So, no need to worry.

First and foremost, you should find a topic. Focus on something you are genuinely passionate about. Think about the cause that matters to you: maybe it’s climate change, slavery, environmental cause, ocean pollution, or perhaps it’s something else. It is essential to find something that speaks to you. This way, you won’t struggle with composing your paper.

You can also find a list of essay topics for your documentary research below, checking our samples. Yet, to pick the right idea, we first need to understand what film types are available.

There are several genres of documentaries:

  • Expository documentaries. Such films present objective information with a ubiquitous presence. The filmmaker usually does not appear on the screen.
  • Poetic documentaries. They rely heavily on images and music rather than narration. That is to say, there is little verbal communication with the audience.
  • Essayistic documentaries. These movies feature an essay-like narration. The filmmaker relies both on speech and on the images to make their point.
  • Observational documentaries. They try to demonstrate an objective record of some activity. It almost does not have music and narration and tries to present the event as-it-is.
  • Participatory documentaries. The films are the complete opposite of observational ones. The filmmaker is an active participant in the movie. They appear on the screen and communicate the subject.
  • Performance documentaries. These movies feature a dramatic performance. It can be a concert, a play, or another performance event recorded in the form of a documentary.
  • Interview films. These are the records of a conversation between two or more people. It relies on communication on-screen to deliver the message rather than on images and music.
  • Dramatization. This type recreates an event using actors to bring the viewer to the event. Some argue that it is not a form of documentary.
  • Mixed documentaries. The films use different modes and techniques. It can combine poetic, expository, interview modes at the same time.
  • Animation films. Such movies are standard, too, and their most distinctive feature is the use of animation to present the material.

As for your documentary essay assignment, you can be asked to work with any documentary. Let’s figure out what tasks you will need to fulfill beforehand.

Documentary Review vs. Analysis

Not everyone understands the difference between a movie review and a movie analysis when watching movies and writing essays about the material. Sometimes these two terms are used interchangeably. Nevertheless, when it comes to grading and evaluating the paper, this difference is essential.

  • A film review essay is a “consumer-oriented” judgment that aims to recommend (or not) a movie. One can find documentary review essay examples in the newspapers, websites, or online databases.
  • An analysis of the film usually offers an interpretation and an evaluation of the movie. Some film theory is generally used as a framework to analyze and interpret the feature.

You can center your documentary essay assignment around not only a specific film but an entire genre of documentaries. You might be asked to write about a specific topic or an aspect of one movie in depth. Let’s try to see how it works!

How to Write a Documentary Essay

When you are asked to write an essay about a documentary, there are expectations. You will need to analyze specific elements in one film or a few.

No matter what your assignment is, we are here to help you nail it! Here is a short guide on how to write a documentary essay:

  1. Watch the documentary (and take notes). We highly recommended watching the film several times before you start writing anything. Throughout this process, you should take notes to recall essential elements later on. Schematically express your ideas and arguments.
  2. Choose your perspective. You need to understand the approach you will be using. However, your position should be supported by the examples and ideas from the film. Search for what others think and say on a similar issue and compare it to your thoughts.
  3. Pick what to discuss. After that, you need to start collecting the examples and ideas from the movie that support your viewpoint. All these elements should eventually connect to the main focus of your paper. You can try to do some additional research but do not forget to return to the movie continually.
  4. Outline your essay. The outline will help you stay within the word limit. This way, you’ll structure your thoughts and ideas on the paper before you start your essay. Plus, you will remain close to the intended format while writing.
  5. Write it! Start with a brief introduction about the documentary and your thesis statement at the end of it. Then, evaluate the film, developing your arguments logically. In your conclusion, restate your position on the matter and list the critical points discussed.

Thank you for reading this article till the very end! We hope you found it helpful. Share this page with those who need our help. For your inspiration, you can check the list of documentary essay examples below.

🏆 Top 10 Documentary Essay Topics

  1. The roles of documentaries in culture
  2. The history of documentary film
  3. Documentary and propaganda
  4. Documentaries with and without words: compare and contrast
  5. Narration styles in modern documentaries
  6. Pseudo-documentary as a genre
  7. The role of documentary films in education
  8. Ethnographic film and its role in social science
  9. Documentary in the era of social-media platforms
  10. The ethics of documentary film

363 Documentary Essay Examples

Smartest Guys in the Room

Many people invested in the company and with the increase in the range of products, and consequently, the number of employees had to be increased.
  • 5
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1969

Themes in Ava DuVernay’s “13th”

The other important themes accentuated in the film include mass incarceration, racism, social bias, the gender issue, the impact on the environment, the social impact, the ineffectiveness of a prison system, and education.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1181

The Documentary “Waiting Room”

The patients featured in the film present the excruciating pains and frustrations the patients without insurance covers face in American public hospitals.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 628

“When the Levees Broke” by Spike Lee

Firstly the question of the awful performance of the government in dealing with the disaster and sufferings of people, and secondly the state sponsored ignorance of the masses who were made to suffer the horrifying [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 942

The Documentary “Triumph of the Nerds”

The introduction of personal computers to the market revolutionized almost every aspect of human life today."Triumph of the Nerds" is a 1996 documentary about the history of personal computing since the creation of the first [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 675

The Film Baraka and Its Spiritual Reflections

The instances of silence between the music are as imperative as the music itself. The film director seizes this opportunity to propose the theme of the film through as simple and a plain cut.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1069

The 2008 Banking Crisis in the Documentary “Inside Job”

Using the documentary "Inside Job", the paper presented below asserts that the malpractices of different banking experts, the ethical dilemma revolving around ratings agencies' actions, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley and the Glass-Steagall Acts influenced the nature [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1412

“Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise” Documentary Analysis

The overall essence of the film can be characterized as musically and visually complex due to the combination of seemingly separate worlds: Ra's deep philosophical monologues and the Arkestra's banter about Ra and his contribution [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1665

“The Corporation” Documentary Analysis

At the beginning of the film, different definitions of the corporation are provided, describing what contributed to their emergence, what made corporations powerful, what device they have, and their impact on people's lives.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 637

The Speaking in Tongues Documentary Overview

The film Speaking in Tongues focuses on the experiences of four families with children in a DLI program in California, and interviews educators, researchers, and advocates who support and oppose bilingual education.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1396

“Born into Brothels” Documentary Analysis

Title of the film: Born into Brothels: Calcutta Red Light Kids Date released: January 17, 2004 Producers: Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman I selected this movie due to the controversies that surround it.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 749

The Documentary “The American Nurse” by Carolyn Jones

The story of Jason Short demonstrates autonomy characterized by his independence and self-confidence, as he works alone and manages to help the members of his community without any support from other healthcare professionals.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 650

The Century of the Self: Video Summary

This part concentrates on the changes the newly elected President Roosevelt was making to lead America out of the economic crisis, the alternatives to democracy that were being sought around the world, and Bernays' later [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 913

Hot Coffee Documentary

The film "Hot Coffee" informs the viewer about the facts surrounding the case. It informs the citizens why many corporations have continued to support this reform.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 827

The Documentary “Last Train Home”

The social issues that have been shown in the documentary are living condition of migrant workers in cities, the growing gap between the children and their absentee parents, and the change in the position of [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1385

The Documentary “A Thousand Roads” by Chris Eyre

I can compare A Thousand Roads to a dart thrown into the bullseye because the film achieved its two goals with surgical precision. Given the short yet meaningful form of A Thousand Roads, I composed [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 604

“Baraka” by Ron Fricke

The word Baraka stands for the essence of life or blessing in the Sufi language, and this is one of the most amazing films made, and it has received wide acclaim for its sensitive portrayal [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 672

“The American Factory”: Plot and Issues Portrayed

In the film American Factory, Bognar and Reichert delve deep into the livelihoods of the American workers in Ohio and the problematic transition experienced by Chinese managers to American work culture and way of life.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1069

21st Century Hackers – Documentary Review

According to the documentary, hacking is of three different types: white hackers, black hackers, and grey hackers. On the other side, there are black hackers who use their hacking pedigree to extort money from innocent [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 547

The Documentary “The Machine That Made Us”

The Machine That Made Us tells the story of the technology of the printing press that influenced the increasing availability of writing to the world's population-the film's focus is based on the revolutionary changes that [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 271

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (2004)

One of the major themes is the representation of the physical universe as it is known to the human and the life that exists within this universe.
  • Pages: 13
  • Words: 3663

The Documentary “Inequality for All?”

As competition continues to become fierce in the global market, more companies will be expected to engage in different malpractices thus threatening the lives of more people. Experts also believe that this problem will continue [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 557

The Movie Life and Debt

In fact, tourists enjoy the best of weather, imported food, and entertainment in a country where the mass is in absolute penury.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1359

The Documentary “Age 7 in America” by Phil Joanou

Instead, they are interesting in hopes for the future, hobbies, and activities that do not represent traditional gender bias. The effects of being raised with attention to gender bias are evident in their values and [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 292

Documentary Movie Analysis: “Jesus Camp”

Through the roles played by Tory, Rachael and Levi, the audience is in a position to understand events in the camp, the learning process and purported gifts that children can use to draw America back [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 610

“The Biggest Little Farm” Movie Critique

The film is a documentary and shows the real life and the desire of the husband and wife to create their wonderful farm where they can grow vegetables and fruits, as well as have different [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 560

Themes in “I Am” Documentary by Tom Shadyac

Shadyac wanted to tell everyone what he had come to know: that the world was a lie, and the activities which he had always considered to be improving it were, in fact, destroying it. I [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 876

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts

When the Levees Broke truly reveals that Lee was driven by the issues this tragedy addressed and incorporates all of the characteristics that distinguish his film style consciousness, talent, and passion.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 643

Elizabeth Leiter’s The Abortion Divide Review

Undeniably, The Abortion Divide film adequately shows the gradual growth in differences between the pro-choice and pro-life supporters but fails to bring a solution to the moral problem of abortion.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1023

Terms and Conditions May Apply Documentary

Specifically, the authors of the terms and conditions fraud theory address the issue as a secret strategy that hides the concrete objectives of a particular Internet company under the multiple pages of plain textual reiterations [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 581

The “Meet the Patels” Documentary by Patel & Patel

The 2014 film Meet the Patels centers on the topic of intergenerational cultural dissonance in immigrant families, characterized by the conflict of cultural values between parents and children. Thus, Ravi's use of avoiding conflict style [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 295

“Helvetica” by Gary Hustwit

He describes the font as being "neutral," and this is an important fact because "the meaning is in the content of the text and not in the typeface".
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 559

“A Beautiful Mind” Directed by Ron Howard

When he is working on his graduate studies, he is so concentrated on proposing a unique concept that he does not have a moment for anything else, and it rewards off in the end.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1682

The “Who’s Counting?” Documentary on Economics

The primary aspect which was noteworthy for me is the existing problem in the economics field of women labor's unproductivity. Waring presents an interesting perspective on the effects of economics on social prosperity.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 242

Jobs & Technology: “In the Age of AI” Documentary

The documentary film In the Age of AI by Frontline provides answers to these questions and talks about the prospect of retaining jobs and professions, the development of technology, rivalry between China and the United [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 656

The Documentary “Taboo: Blood Bonds”

One of the things that attracted my attention is that women have to ensure the wellbeing of children almost independently, while their spouses do not have to take many responsibilities. This is one of the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 566

The March of the Penguins French Documentary

The makers of "The March of the penguins" leave no stone unturned as they film every detail of the journey and they deserve credit for enduring one of the most unforgiving climates on the planet [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 539

Documentary Review: “Inside Job”

It begins with the Great Depression, and details the evolution and devolution of regulation of the financial industry over the next three quarters of a century.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 954

The Grizzly Man

He believes that the turmoil in that landscape was synonymous with the turmoil in the lead character's soul. The author wanted to contrast the illusions that were perceived by Treadwell and the reality that existed [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 637

McDonald’s Ethics in Super-Size Me Documentary

In my opinion, it is every retailer's and food manufacturing company's ethical responsibility to clearly mention not only all the preservatives but also the processing that a food has been subjected to so as to [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 947

“First Person Plural” by Lynn Hershman

The uniqueness of the documentary is that it records and regulates the rationality of the male and patriarchy. This documentary produces a reference to socio-symbolic discourse and the social imaginary through which culture, by means [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1177

The Documentary “People Like Us”: Reflection

The film delves into their lifestyles, values, and experiences, as well as examples of how social class influences hobbies, preferences, tastes, and overall life opportunities."The People Like Us" provides an insightful examination of America's social [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 590

The “They Call Us Monsters” Film Analysis

Jarad had a traumatic connection to seeing his stepfather try to commit suicide, while Juan grew up with the feeling that he was not accepted by his father and constantly felt that he competed with [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1116

The History of Documentaries

In the first half of the 20th century, documentaries aimed to exemplify the reality through the study of the indigenous population.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 544

Inside North Korea: Michael Wood’s Documentary

In connection to this statement, the movie highlights the character of the King as a cult which is very much profound to the extent that it pervades every aspect of the ordinary life of a [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1235

The Summary of Harvest of Empire

Thus, the active immigration processes and the 'invasion' of the Latinos in the USA are the logical consequences of the prolonged territorial expansion of the USA and its economic influence in the region that is [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 567

Documentary “Super Size Me”

On the other hand, the sugars which are said to be in almost all McDonald's products, made Spurlock addicted to the food that he ate and made him always coming back for more.5.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 770

“The Spirit of Crazy Horse”: The PBS Documentary

This is illustrated in the PBS documentary "The Spirit of Crazy Horse," in which the Indian tribe forgets its cultural customs, as evident when the young Indian activists return to the reservation to learn about [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 839

The “R.B.G.” Documentary by West and Cohen

A sociological analysis of "R.B.G".illustrates the concepts of gender stratification, functionalism, and metamodernism. Firstly, it depicts the struggle for women's rights and shows how gender stratification is perpetuated in society by limiting access to fundamental [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 660

A Comparison of Various Documentary Series

The fourth, fifth, and sixth episodes focus on the ancient kingdoms of Africa, such as the Kingdom of Kush and the Kingdom of Aksum, and the following Christian Kings and Muslim Emirs.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1496

Mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke

On the other hand, the video presents the dare stones and John White's map with a hidden fort as evidence that the lost colony moved west to the inland.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 319

“Ishi: The Last Yahi” by Theodora Kroeber

The film entitled "Ishi: The Last Yahi" presents a documentary overview of the events of the beginning of the 20th century when a renowned anthropologist Kroeber used the last representative of a native Yahi tribe [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 535

Fela Kuti: Music Is the Weapon

Shot in Lagos, Nigeria, at the peak of Kuti's career, the film contains a series of heartfelt, sincere, and courageous interviews with the pioneer of the Afrobeat genre.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1393

Documentary Film Definition

The realism of images and the absence of any embellishments can be regarded as the key characteristic of the documentary genre in photography.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 200

Sicko: U.S. Health Care System Issues

Basically, it compares universal health care system in other countries to that of United States. This reached its peak during the warm up to 2008 elections in which major components of health care reforms were [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 931

GasLand (2010): American Appetite for Energy

The movie is an expose on the communities that are affected by the mining, and it is also a critique of the political and corporate pressures that result in the destruction of natural resources.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 567

A State of Mind: Film Analysis

The major theme of this event revolves around the portrayal of the ideals of socialism and patriotism by the citizens. The film discusses on their daily lifestyles and that of the people around them, a [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1200

No Rest for the Wicked

The sixty-minute documentary produced by historian Tristan Hunt unravels the influence of Calvinism, Puritanism, and the Industrial Revolution on the current global order that is dominated by capitalism.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 961

Documentary Films Concept and Definition

The definition of documentary films addresses such features as the level of control, the institutional base, the structure of texts, and the attitude towards viewers.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1356

The “Ten Billion” Documentary Reaction

It was interesting to learn about the effects of population growth on the environment and global poverty and the potential solutions to managing population growth.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 394

Episode 1 of “Unnatural Causes” Documentary

The first episode if the documentary series "Unnatural Causes" discusses the modern system of healthcare in the United States and the causes of health inequalities between different groups of the population.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 550

The Rise of the Mammals Documentary

The film explores how the rise of mammals reshaped the planet after the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. I liked how it showed the different stages of evolution and how the animals adapt to their [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 524

The Plastic Planet Documentary Analysis

Thus, the director intends to advocate for less plastic production by showing the dangers of plastic production and consumption to the environment and human health.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1199

Episode Five of “The Full Swing” Documentary

By featuring male and female golfers together, the LIV Golf Tour seeks to promote gender variety in the sport. In this episode, justice is primarily demonstrated through the competitive nature of the LIV Golf Tour.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1104

Response to “The Last Colony” Documentary

The director claims that the United States and Puerto Rico's fates are intertwined. I knew the US and Puerto Rico have a paradoxical political, societal, economic, and territorial relationship.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 396

Mexican Experience in “9500 Liberty” Documentary

Overall, we can better comprehend the social, cultural, and economic forces that influence the lives of Spanish-speaking immigrants in the US by applying sociological viewpoint theories to their experiences.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 387

The “Slavery by Another Name” Documentary

The documentary highlights how the laws and policies of that time enabled the exploitation of Black people and how the legacy of slavery continued to shape the racial dynamics of the country.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 311

The “Kids Behind Bars” Documentary Review

Some of the most interesting findings in the documentary relate to the public and system response to the offenders. However, this does not deny the significance of socioeconomic and other components in such predictions.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 676

Putin: Craving for Power Documentary Analysis

Conversely, the documentary provides a more in-depth examination of Putin's leadership style and decisions. The book offers a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis of Russia's political landscape and Putin's difficulties in leading the nation.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 677
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