The epistemiology, the documentary and the parrot: elements for the analysis of the documentaries of wild life

Author(s)

Taunay Daniel

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Artes
• Defense date: 2009-03-27

Examining board members

Jacques Marie Edme Vielliard; Antônio Fernando da Conceição Passos; Marilia da Silva Franco; Maria Luisa da Silva; Cristina Bruzzo

• Advisor: Jacques Marie Edme Vielliard

Abstract

This paper is a reflection over the possibility to produce objective documentaries (cinema or video), strictly loyal to the reality they mean to represent. The main focus is the documentary of wild life that has specific and very remarkable characteristics, which makes it clearly different from the other kinds of documentaries. The argument line of the paper has four elements as its theoretical and practical basis of support : a) the outcome of a field research carried out with the objective of understanding the behavior of Vinaceous Parrot Amazona vinacea in its natural habitat, and then plan and produce a documentary on this animal; b) a reflection over epistemology in general, with emphasis on the possibility of having objectivity in knowledge; c) a reflection over the possibility of having objectivity in the registered images through technical devices created for this purpose (photographic and cinematographic cameras); d) an analysis of the achievement of the documentary itself. The paper defends the existence of a "matrix of the thought" created and deeply rooted throughout the history of western world, that makes us believe that sheer objectivity is possible and desirable and that authentic and acceptable knowledge is just the one that is independent of the subjectivity of the individual who produces it. It also tries to show how unsustainable this matrix is, especially towards audiovisual documentaries, where objectivity and truth become inadequate aspirations. (AU)