Focus Group 1 - Responses

These were the summary of the responses I received from my focus group:

      1. What makes mockumentaries so successful, as comedies?

Adam- They have real life situations, which people can make fun of.

Joseph- Because they have a take in real life situations, so you can relate to.

Khiz- Has real life situations being mocked, so they can be relatable.

Jordan- You still give information about real life situations, but make it funny.
Mr Gordon-  Often mockumentaries create humour because they parody the serious nature of a documentary.  The protagonist will often act as if the documentary being made is serious, and we can laugh at their inability to carry it out properly.

2.  Do you think mockumentaries are suited to a left wing or a right wing audience, or does it not matter?

Adam- It does not matter.

Joseph- Left wing because they're less politically respected.

Khiz- It doesn’t matter.

Jordan- It doesn’t matter.
Mr Gordon- They also tend to make good use of stereotypes, even when this childish, for example in Borat, when he is presented as backward and ignorant of western culture. 

      3. Do you think there will be any difficulties about making a mockumentary set in a school?

Adam- It depends on what you make fun of, but overall people will enjoy it.

Joseph- Yes because a school as a lot of sensitive issues, and might get upset.

Khiz- It will be fine.

Jordan- Yes because you have to go against stereotypes, and certain students might get offended by those stereotypes.

Mr Gordon- Mockumentaries are often controversial because their political themes and use of stereotypes might be offensive to certain groups (e.g. Kazakhstani people responding to Borat).