The importance of documentaries is
public as a social phenomenon.
linked to a notion of the
[a].
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
[b].
who can act together for the public good and so can challenge the deep-
[c].
seated power of business and government. It is an informal body that can
[d]
come together in a crisis if necessary. There are as many publics as there
are occasions and issues to call them forth. We can all be members of any
if we have a way to communicate each other about the
particular public
[e].
shared problems we face.
Communication, therefore, is the soul of the
public.
