English Teacher Melanie

Helping English learners move from the classroom into the real world!

  • Home
  • Vocabulary
  • Grammar
  • Study Tips
  • Reading

New English Word: Mockumentary

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Melanie

New English Word: Mockumentary

May 16, 2012 by Melanie 1 Comment

/mɑ:kjəˈmɛntri/

 

 

Sacha Baron Cohen’s new movie The Dictator comes out this weekend! This style of film is called a mockumentary. This word has been around since at least the 1980s, when director Rob Reiner described his film This is Spinal Tap as a mockumentary!

mockumentary = mock + documentary

 

mock = (adj.) fake / artificial / pretend, but made to seem real!

a documentary = A fact-based movie about real people and real events; not a fictional story with actors and actress

 

(Mock is also a verb. To mock someone/something means to make fun of someone/something although not always in a friendly way. People mock someone/something to make other people laugh, but sometimes it can be considered insulting.)

A mockumentary is a film in the style of a serious documentary, but it’s a comedy film about fictional (not real) people and events. A mockumentary makes fun of someone or something. For example, The Dictator is about Admiral General Aladeen (not a real person!), a dictator from the Republic of Wadiya (not a real country!). It is believed to be loosely based on Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The movie makes fun of the way Gaddafi’s lived and ruled his country.

Synonyms: parody, satire, spoof

 

Other mockumentaries:
Best in Show
Tropic Thunder
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Borat
Brüno

 

Do you enjoy watching mockumentaries?

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: new words

Comments

  1. Akbar says

    July 5, 2012 at 5:44 am

    We do enjoy everything you write to make us understand.

    Reply

Posted in BlogTagged Blog

Post navigation

Previous: English Pronunciation: How to Pronounce L and R (video)
Next: Happy Victoria Day!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Food or Foods? Fruit or Fruits? When is It OK to Use Foods and Fruits?
  • Vocabulary Spotlight on: Relationships
  • Vocabulary – Sometimes, Sometime & Some Time
  • Learn Some English Words about SEX from James Bond Movies!
  • How to Use the Verb “Go”

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • January 2025
  • October 2017
  • May 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • May 2015
  • January 2015
  • June 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • January 2014
  • September 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • May 2011
  • February 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009

Categories

  • Blog
  • Blogiversary
  • Canada
  • Canada Fun Facts!
  • Grammar
  • Podcast
  • Popular
  • Pronunciation
  • Reading
  • Seasonal
  • Study Tip
  • Study Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • Videos
  • Vocabulary
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Amazon Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in