A DOCUMENTARY FILM IN REALM OF NATIONAL IDENTITY (UKRAINIAN AND FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF COMPREHENSION)
Abstract
The article examines the main approaches of Ukrainian and foreign researchers to the analysis of such a complex cinematic practice as the documentary film. In particular, the study focuses on key discussions about the genres of documentary films, their ability to construct "historical memory" as one of the key components of national identity constructing, and the notion of "truth" in relation to the analysis of the ability of a documentary to articulate "truth". The article explores the function of Ukrainian documentary films in the process of deconstructing Soviet myths of Ukrainian identity, and more generally, the ability of documentary films to serve as a tool in the construction of Ukraine's national identity. The research applays a range of analytical methods, including a comparative analysis, a thematic analysis, and a case study approach, to identify the key characteristics of the documentary film in the context of cinematic interpretation of reality. The results of research demonstrate that a documentary film does not merely reflect reality, but rather serves as an effective interpretive tool. The results of the research can be used in the analysis of the structure of a documentary film and its capacity to construct national identity. An analysis of national and foreign theories on documentary filmmaking reveals significant differences in the approaches to the subject of a documentary film. Ukrainian scholars focuses on the classification of types and genres of a documentary film. Foreign researches is mainly interested in the analyses of the dialogue between a documentary film and society, its abilities to respond to current social problems. A similar divergence is observed in approaches to the issue of identity. Western theorists certainly discuss these problems, but primarily within the framework of philosophy and cultural sociology. For Ukrainian researchers, these questions remain crucial, and consequently, an analyses of a documentary film is often focused on its capacities to explore and represent the topics of identity.
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References
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