②
The importance of documentaries is linked to a notion of the public as a
social phenomenon. The philosopher John Dewey argued persuasively that
the public so crucial to the health of a democratic society is not just
individuals added up. A public is a group of people who can act together
for the public good and so can challenge the deep-seated power of business
and government. It is an informal body that can come together in a crisis if
necessary. ⑤ There are as many publics as there are occasions and issues to
call them forth. We can all be members of any particular public
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if we
have a way to communicate each other about the shared problems we face.
>Communication, therefore, is the soul of the public.
