Table of Contents

Acknowledgements To The Reader Introduction Chapter 1 Scientific Popularisation 1.1 A Historical Approach 1.2 A Conceptual Approach 1.3 A Sociological approach 1.4 The Language of Popularisation and its Characteristics Chapter 2 The Television and Movie Documentary as a means of Scientific Popularisation 2.1 An Approach to the Concept of a Documentary 2.2 The Science Popularisation Documentary 2.2.1 The Anthropological Documentary 2.2.2 The Nature Documentary a) The European Tradition b) The North American Tradition Chapter 3 Narrative and Dramatic Techniques 3.1 Reaching out to the Audience's Interest 3.1.1 The Spatial Factor 3.1.2 The Unusual, Strange or Unexpected 3.2 Narrative Techniques 3.2.1 The Simplification of Content a) The Treatment of Complex Scientific Matters b) Suppressing Controversy c) Reducing Dimensions 3.2.2 Anthropomorphism 3.2.3 Entertainment Factors 3.3 Dramatic Techniques 3.3.1 Story Construction 3.3.2 Considering Real Beings as Characters 3.3.3 Elements of Conflict and Suspense Chapter 4 Rhetorical Techniques 4.1 Scientific Documentary as Epideictic Discourse 4.2 Types of Rhetorical Argumentation Used 4.3 The production process (inventio, dispositio and elocutio) 4.4 Argumentation Through the Qualities of the Narrating Subject 4.4.1 On Camera Statements 4.4.2 Forms of Non-verbal Argumentation 4.5 Argumentation Aimed at the Audience's Disposition 4.6 Argumentation Through the Speech Itself 4.7 Rhetorical Figures 4.7.1 Figures Facing the Public 4.7.2 Figures dealing with the Subject Matter Conclusions References Basic Bibliography Index

About the Author

Bienvenido Leon is associate Professor of Science Communication and Television Production at the University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain and has written, produced and directed a number of documentaries for several television channels.