Documentary Film As a Visual Research Method

The present era envisages the glob’s image in which the visual culture is the dominant trend. Hence, the scientific approach of cognition & academic research about various subjects is changing by moving towards visual research methodologies. This is because visual data makes description faster, more attractive & believable rather than plain text. The present research is trying to survey on the role of documentary film on temporary visual culture - not exclusively as an art discipline - but as a visual research method in joint with some scientific disciplines which is already in process and its outcomes will be published. This research is qualitative and applies the customary method of studying library documents while giving descriptive analysis of scientific documents. These will include the information about the phenomena & the subjects that this research is opt to study. This article declares how & why we can use documentary film to do visual research on subjects such as Anthropology, Historiography, Naturalism and generally the Worldview. This also reminds us of the necessity of documentary film as a tool of research approved & accepted by scientific community, researchers & filmmakers. This will led to explaining the importance & role of documentary film in social, cultural and research activities. Consequently, a new era of research activities can be planned with the documentary film.