Going Green: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Environmental Documentary Film

Abstract

Environmental documentary films have been recognised as having the ability to inspire people to change and make a difference, but how do they do it? This thesis investigates three ways in which environmental documentaries bring about this change through the use of emotive imagery, through the transportation of the viewer into the narrative and through viewer identification with the character or characters involved. It first explores the theory that underpins and validates the use of these techniques, and then uses that research to evaluate the effectiveness of five environmental documentary films. One of those films is the creative component of this thesis the documentary Bluewater. This environmental documentary focuses on a marine reserve located off the Australian coast that is the subject of considerable debate. Chapter 5.5 of the academic component of the thesis is an evaluation of that film in the light of the research and analysis found in the academic component of the thesis.