Documentary cinema stands out among visual media for its direct connection to reality and in-depth social issues perspective. Technological advancements, particularly the rise of digital platforms, have led to revolutionary changes in documentary narrative forms and viewer interactions. Today, platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ are reshaping the production and consumption of documentary films, pushing the boundaries of traditional media and reaching wide audiences. This study aims to examine how digital platforms have transformed narrative structures in documentary cinema. With the popularization of the internet and the proliferation of streaming services, documentary filmmakers have had the opportunity to reach broader audiences, resulting in significant transformations in narrative techniques and content. Particularly, the production of documentary films now addresses not just a limited audience but a global viewer community, fundamentally changing how content is presented and perceived. In this context, descriptive analyses of documentaries such as "Terim" and "The Last Dance" have been conducted to assess the effects of digital platforms on narrative forms and viewer interactions. The study concludes that while digital platforms utilize traditional narrative patterns, they also enhance viewer interactions through interactive and personalized content, thereby transforming the narrative structure of documentary cinema. With digitization, the content of documentary narratives is increasingly shaped under the influence of visual intensity and popular culture, moving away from its questioning and investigative nature.
Keywords: Netflix, Digitalization, Documentary, Narrative, Last Dance, Terim
|