Everybody learns in different ways. Some people learn by reading. Some people learn by using their hands. Some people learn with images. For those people, documentaries are helpful. Plus, they are fun to watch!
Documentaries show things that happen in our world. They include footage of real events. If real footage is not available, they reconstruct events.
A documentary often has a narrator. The narrator talks to the viewers. He or she tells us a story.
David Attenborough is a famous narrator. He has spent over 60 years making and narrating nature movies. He has a large archive from all around the world. He shows us what life is like in the wild. He shows us how our planet is changing.
He uses new technology to create amazing movies. Planet Earth II is his most famous series. It shows lizards on tropical islands. It shows leopards in the mountains. It shows monkeys in the jungles. It teaches us about animals on our planet. He reminds us that we must look after them.
A good documentary is objective. It is based on facts and science. It does not tell you how to think.
A bad one is subjective. It is based on feelings. It does not give you the whole picture.
True crime is an exciting type of television. In true crime, we learn about crimes from the past. Viewers are shown clues and evidence. We see interviews with witnesses and victims. Sometimes the criminal is caught. Sometimes he or she is not.
When a big secret comes out, it makes for a powerful movie. In 2013, Blackfish was released. It is about the killer whales living at SeaWorld. The movie showed secret video clips of the whales. They showed how they are really treated. They showed how dangerous the whales became. They showed that whales should live in the wild.
This exposé was important. Since 2013, fewer people have visited SeaWorld. They have stopped some of their shows. They have stopped breeding killer whales. It is safer for the whales and people.
Reality TV is a type of television that shows real life. Or that is what they say. It is hard to know if it is real or not.
Reality TV tries to show us normal people. But people think that they are following a script. People think that they are told what to say.
It is often sensational. It can be funny. But it might not be a true story.
Looking for something to watch? Look for a documentary. You are sure to find a topic that you like. And you might learn something, too!