The Participatory Mode

Something that I found so interesting about the participatory mode is what Barnouw said comparing the participatory mode with the modes previously discussed.  He said this “cinema verite” is just as truthful as other modes, but with the other modes (taking a fly on the wall approach), the truth simply wouldn’t manifest itself in situations, thus necessitating a mediator to participate with the subject and help draw the truth out.  When I first approached the participatory mode, I came to it with an expectation of encountering confrontational arguments that put one part on the spot and another party in a place which allowed him to manipulate how his subject was portrayed (ie pretty much ever Michael Moore film ever).  I was surprised to learn this wasn’t the case.

I discovered this first when watching Harlan County USA in which the filmmakers really only interfered when they knew the truth of the situation wasn’t already being presented.  For instance, the end of the movie showed a man going to work.  For probably 30-45 minute prior to this, the filmmakers almost never stepped in and were barely ever seen or noticed by the audience.  Here though, a girl simply asked a man if he was happy with their new contract or not.  This tasteful question may not have been given an answer were it not for their intervention.

For my outside-of-class examples, I have one joke example and one slightly more serious example.  First off, here’s one of my favorite participatory stories.  It’s a huge joke.  This interviewer is obviously not approaching his situation seriously and taking advantage of the on-the-spot feel of the participatory mode, but is instead the one struck with fear of the limelight instead of his subjects.

For my real example though, I decided to go with an episode of This American Life.  Pretty much any episode would do, but these journalists do a terrific job of letting the story happen as much as it can and only intervening when they feel it’s necessary to the story.

In this one, they take a particularly sensitive issue that would be really easy to get confrontational about, but are truly, honestly, simply attempting to draw the truth out of their subject, even when he's already lied to them once before.