Divulgación científica y documental televisivo. Estudio de las obras de David Attenborough

Authors

  • Bienvenido León

Abstract

Within the current television panorama, effective communication of scientific content seems a difficult task, as it must face both intrinsic difficulties related to science communication and those related to the medium. Audiovisual media impose a relevant limitation, since their storytelling techniques are clearly different from scientific communication standards. Television narrative structures tend to be of a poetic and dramatic nature. In other words, the balance between scientific accuracy and journalistic interest seems difficult to achieve. This paper explores some of the key points to develop effective popularisation of science through the television documentary. From this particular perspective, we look into the work of British wildlife filmmaker David Attenborough, who is regarded as one of the greatest popularisers of our time. His main series are analysed as a case of study, in order to identify some relevant techniques, which help to approach biological knowledge to the viewers area of interest. Among these resources, storytelling is considered to be specially useful, since it permits to hold viewers attention, as well as to present conflict and suspense.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2002-06-04

Issue

Section

Articles