Event Description
This talk examines the concept of documentary storytelling through the lens of cognitive studies by focusing on and theorizing the idea of cognitive labor — a high-level cognitive effort required of the viewer to comprehend and interpret a documentary film. The talk extends the question of “how do we make sense of a film?” to the field of documentary. Historically, documentary cinema has been far more aesthetically diverse than fiction cinema, posing additional challenges to scholars who seek to dissect and categorize its storytelling strategies. At the same time, as a factual medium, documentary presents a distinct set of ideological and ethical challenges that are largely absent from fiction film. Conceptualizing the idea of cognitive labor, the talk offers a framework for analyzing the relationship between documentary storytelling, interpretation, and ideology.
Event Speaker
Anastasia Kostina, Fellow at Columbia University
Event Information
Open to Columbia University ID holders; registration required. For more information, please visit the event webpage. Please visit the Heyman’s Center website for directions.
Hosted by the Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities at Columbia University.
