Best Documentary Essay Examples & Topics

Best Documentary Essay Examples & Topics

Updated:
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

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 “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

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

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 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

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

“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 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

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

“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

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

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 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

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 “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

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

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

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

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

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

“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 “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

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

“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 Film “Flow: For Love of Water”

First, the issue in question is in direct relation to the welfare of the entire planet's population, and the film makes a convincing case that there are reasons to worry. In the end, I believe [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 638

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 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

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

“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

“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

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

Documentaries as a Education Tool

In this context, the importance of ensuring that the audience is interested in the documentary's content is critical. In this regard, the effectiveness of a documentary in providing information is realized ethically.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 541

The Documentary “Supplements and Safety”

The Frontline documentary, "Supplements and Safety," provides a thorough and insightful description of the main problems existing in the supplement industry: safety, regulation, and efficacy.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 900

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

“Inside North Korea” Documentary: Major Themes

It will describe the foreign policy, hermetically sealed national policy, and the connection between the background learned from the book and the reality of what North Korea is in the 21st century.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1122

“Street Fight” a Film by Cory Booker

The main goal of this paper is to discuss the concepts of leadership and power, using examples that are presented in a film Street Fight. His slogans emphasized the importance of changes in the leadership [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 561

Social Issues in “Born into Brothels” Film

It is possible to apply the feminist theory to consider a family featured in the film. In Shanti's family, this is also the case, and her mother is afraid of her daughter's future as the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 593

“Her Brilliant Career” a Documentary by Jean Holland

The documentary supports the writings about the gender discrimination by illustrating how the vice is perpetuated in the workplace. There are a number of solutions that can be implemented to end gender discrimination in the [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 826

“Daughter from Danang” a Film by Gail Dolgin

For instance, in the movie, 'Daughter from Danang', Heidi's adoptive mother plays a major role in terms of showing her the need to forego her Vietnamese culture in order to fit into the American way [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 977

“An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore Documentary

An inconvenient truth is a documentary film by Al gore to educate the globe about the impact of global warming and the danger that the world faces with continued neglect of environmental concerns.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 634

“Fahrenheit 9/11” by Michael Moore Documentary

The result of this campaign against terror led the majority of the American public to believe that their nation was under attack and the major channel that had been utilized in building this perception was [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 985

“Secrets of the Viking Sword”

It is also clear that the price depended on the quality of the product. Hence, another concept that can be found in the film is the quality of the product.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1119

The Movie “Color of Fear”

The issue of racism is introduced by the film's director right from the beginning. Therefore, by the end of the video the issue of race is already embedded in the mind of the viewer.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 586

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

“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

Frozen Planet Documentary in Natural Sciences

This can be backed up by the interesting coverage of the documentary which takes the Pavlovian cues and the marvelous dramatic pullback zooms that resemble the production of Planet Earth and Life or the Blue [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 603

The Interactive Documentary Wasteland

In this case, the documentary is trying to show that these people are striving to make a living from very deplorable and unimaginable circumstances.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 608

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

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

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

A Plastic Tide: A Documentary Analysis

The film provides extensive supporting evidence to prove its main argument and convey the message that it is critical to introduce new and effective recycling policies to prevent the negative impact of plastic waste.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 357

The “Age of the Consequences” Documentary

The documentary Age of the Consequences is an eye-opening exploration of the potential consequences of climate change. Overall, Age of Consequences is a critically acclaimed documentary identifying the effects climate change has on national and [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 603

“Broken on All Side”, Directed by Matthew Pillischer

It analyzed the complicated issues of discretion within the system, racial targeting, and the highest surge in the number of individuals jailed in America's history, presenting a historical narrative rarely heard about prisons and crime.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 673
Research Title Generator
We’ll help you brainstorm great title ideas for your essay, research or speech in no time!
Research Question Generator
Get a list of ideas for your essay or term paper. We’ve prepared the best research question generator.
Title Page
Generator
Craft a paper title page with just a couple of clicks. Get it in APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard without any effort
Updated:
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.