THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOCUMENTARY AND PROPAGANDA

By James R Martin

There seems to be confusion about what is a documentary and what is propaganda. When I hear a broadcaster on NPR or pundit on TV news call an obvious propaganda film like “Obama’s America 2016” a documentary it makes me think of the propaganda films the Nazi Party in Germany put out against the Jews.  German propaganda films played in theaters too! Far right-wing groups, with a political agenda,  financed this propaganda film.  A quick look at the preview for “Obama’s America 2016” on You Tube makes it obvious that the film is propaganda. I guess anyone who watches Fox Fake News on cable TV is into propaganda and may enjoy paying to see more of it.

I wonder if people in the media even know the difference between propaganda and documentary. There is a difference between propaganda and an advocacy documentary that says what its subject and point-of-view are up front and then explores issues surrounding the topic. Whereas propaganda  hides it’s true intent, inventing fictional realities while pretending to be nonfiction.

Michael Moore makes advocacy documentary films. He does not make a secret of the fact that he has a liberal or progressive point-of-view.  His films explore the issues and show opposing viewpoints. Opponents of his advocacy positions have tried to call his films propaganda. But there is a big difference between advocacy and propaganda.  Michael Moore’s documentaries do not start out with trumped-up accusations and an undisclosed agenda. His documentaries look at facts that are substantiated by reality not ideology or politics. Political action groups or secret wealthy donors do not finance Michael Moore’s documentaries. Moore’s work does not include unsubstantiated theories by unknown sources. He does not use racist or ethnic “dog whistles” to demean anyone. His documentaries explore issues and ask questions in a sincere attempt to show truth.

Most serious documentary filmmakers do not get involved in making propaganda because its purpose is to manipulate people into believing a biased or skewed idea presented in a fake, mock documentary style. Propaganda distorts reality and/or promotes an ideological, political or religious point-of-view.

Propaganda Definitions:

Propaganda distorts and skews reality, actuality and facts to present an alternative reality that is false.

Propaganda promotes a bias that a government, political party, religion, cause, or ideology espouses, showing only one biased and usually hidden agenda.

Propaganda seeks to manipulate the viewer by altering actuality with untruths and distortion to create a reality favorable to whatever ideology or cause it favors.

It’s unfortunate that the news media and the public have generally lost the ability to distinguish between “spin” and facts; between hardcore propaganda and documentary based on actuality and facts.

Propaganda vs Reality in Documentary Film – Scientology vs Going Clear Documentary Film   …or this documentary threatens us by exploring realities we would rather not talk about.

Written by J R Martin

This post in part based on excerpts from Create Documentary Films, Videos and Multimedia by James R Martin – Copyright 2014

Books by James R Martin Available Print and Digital.

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