Adam Curtis as remixologist: the case for metajournalism as radical practice. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Doyle, John
• Is Part Of: Studies in documentary film. Volume 11:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 63
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Remixed media -- remix journalism -- metajournalism -- Adam Curtis -- BBC -- documentary journalism; Documentary films -- Periodicals; Motion pictures -- Periodicals; Films documentaires -- Périodiques; Films documentaires -- Production et réalisation -- Périodiques; Cinéma -- Périodiques; Documentary films; Motion pictures; Periodicals; 070.18
• DOI: 10.1080/17503280.2016.1266899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-3280

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In his work for the BBC over the last 30 years, Adam Curtis has tracked some of the main currents of our sociopolitical world. His experimental documentary journalism and the creative use of archive, editing and sound design are unique within the journalistic culture of the BBC. Curtis consistently pushes the boundaries of journalistic practice within the BBC while his texts have evolved to reflect the wider changes in media consumption and new forms of dissemination. This paper will explore the characteristics and techniques of remix culture, apply these to his journalism and assess the shifts in his practice. Curtis's remix techniques also provide a critique of the practices of televisual documentary and can be situated as a form of metajournalism. The paper also explores his metajournalistic practice and analyses, in depth, his recent film, Bitter Lake . The paper concludes by arguing that that the recent work of Adam Curtis is a radical departure from previous forms of televisual documentary journalism that has the potential to challenge contemporary forms of practice.