Analysis of the documentary: My kid could paint that

What technical and symbolic codes are used and for what reason?

Setting: the filming mainly took place in 2 areas the art studio and the house. By filming the art studio it is able to show Marla’s (artist) work that she has done to others as well as showing her ambition and her skill. Also by filming the house it also shows the idea that Marla is just like any other kid and likes the idea of painting as well as showing where the creativity started; her father also paints.

Icon: this documentary uses many of artistic story conventions as well as the conventions of Marla being a child prodigy: skill, struggle, exhibitions, and interviews. However through a range of codes it changes the art story into Marla’s life, family and people who are intrigued by her work and their reactions to her.

Icon: the titles in the credit scene are written with the use of a pain crush with different colours signifying what kind of documentary it is as well as reaching to its target audience. The music also used is very playful showing that a child is involved and is the main character. However there is a contrast in music when the family hear some bad news to create dramatic effect.

What documentary techniques does the director use and for what reason? / Identify documentary conventions.

This is an interactive documentary.

Interactive is done when the filmmaker engages with the documentary, encounters situations, engages with the audience and is inquisitive.

The filmmakers become quiet important people in this documentary because their view of Marla’s work begin to change and we see the reasons why; it then makes the audience think differently to how they see Marla who is just a 4 year old girl. Also because it’s interactive it means that the audience is able to see the ups and downs that occur in the documentary which then creates an emotional connection.

It could also be seen as performative because in some ways the filmmaker is a participant and they engage in revealing the truth to people about Marla’s work and are able to learn different opinions on Marla and the family.

Who was the target audience and what were the audience appeals?

The target audience was broader than just the artistic community- due to there being so many people involved; appealing also to families and child prodigies. This was directed to a wider audience to highlight that Marla is the victim and that everyone else other than her family change from her supporters to the villain therefore keeping everyone engaged in the documentary.

Discuss notions or realism and objectivity and subjectivity

Realism: the documentary prevails a sense of realism because everything seems to occur more at home rather than at the art studio. We see Marla playing with her brother and family showing a family environment and the father trying to push Marla to succeed which is wanted by any parent.

Objectivity vs subjectivity: the film makes seem to present Marla as an object as she is unable to express her emotions to certain things but through the use or mise-en-scene it changes the scenario from objectivity to subjectivity because, you are able to get that special connection and you feel the young girls paint from midway.