10 Must-See Pop Culture Documentaries to get inspired

Photography focuses on image, but it may ignore sometimes the essential brilliance of the ideas. Pop culture has always been a never ending source of inspiration for me. That's why I want to present you ten documentaries to broaden your perceptions and schemes.

Photography focuses on image, but it may ignore sometimes the essential brilliance of the ideas. Pop culture has always been a never ending source of inspiration for me. That’s why I want to present you ten documentaries to broaden your perceptions and schemes.

Learning about charismatic personalities with strong and ambitious views about life and art can be the best engine to get some motivation and inspiration. They can mean the final push you need to get you out and find muses or reasons to create. I’ve always understood photography as a communicative channel, so after reading this piece, ask yourself, what life story or idea do you want to tell with your cam?

Let’s start with the Queen of Pop and her Secret Project Revolution. Madonna back in 2013 made with Steven Klein a conceptual piece that may define everything that is happening in the world this 2020, dealing with issues such as freedom of artistic expression and human rights conveyed through a strong, beautiful, intricate and powerful performance. Quoting Jean-Luc Godard and even some Madonna’s speeches from her concerts the year before, it shows again that Madonna is the most undervalued icon in our history, at least, she is for this critic. The performative documentary treats global political and economic matters, violence and police brutality among other topics. The idea was clear with the dedication statement: “This film is dedicated to those who have been persecuted, are being persecuted, or may be persecuted. For the color of their skin. Their religious beliefs. Their artistic expression. Their gender. Or their sexual preferences. Anyone whose human rights have been violated.” For those of you with the prejudice that the last interesting stuff Madonna did was Ray of Light or even worse her 80’s music, please give her a chance, listen to her world music in Madame X that is her last album, watch all her last tour shows which are masterpieces or have a look at her intelligent political expression on Instagram. She is still up there.

We continue this journey with the poetic and shocking Shirkers (2018) by Singapore-born filmmaker Sandi Tan. Just imagine that when you are 19 years old you direct a film and you put all your heart on it, and then, your mentor or teacher disappears with the whole footage. The film is like your baby, and you are left empty, no explanation or clue. This is the premise of this documentary. I’ve always found a moving touch in the films that talk about creating using metalanguage, and Sandi Tan really makes you feel her connection to her art piece. I studied Philology at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, and I had a teacher that made me fall in love with postmodern literature, she presented us the works of John Fowles, and Shirkers reminded me of Fowles in the same passion for the creative process.This monster investigation into her own film brings out tenderness, love and nostalgia, like Joel Barish, the character of the film Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, when he is struggling to revert his decision to forget Clementine, Sandi Tan tries to put the pieces together of the puzzle of her lost film in the most romantic tradition. The story can’t be more inspiring. 

Two documentaries about transformation: I’m Divine (2013) and Glittering Misfits (2019) could be the spark for new shooting ideas. Many photographers from Nan Goldin to David LaChapelle have used this spark in their creations. I myself have done lots of work about transformation, from pageant contests to documenting the night life of drag queens. I’m Divine is documentary gold, capturing the essence of what happened between the genius John Waters and her muse Divine, and the spirit of their first cult trash films that evolved into more serious and ambitious intentions. The same evolution that Pedro Almodóvar has shown in his filmography, from the hilarious and crazy comedies to the deep tragicomedy dramas. In a society that fails to accept the importance of the masquerade, the drag and the fake to really understand our reality, the saddest part of this documentary is to feel that Divine didn’t want to be simply a drag, he also ambitioned to be an actor. At last, the drag was just one of his characters, he wanted to be many other characters. You will fall in love with Divine watching this! Glittering Misfits shows that underground culture is engaging, rich and most of all human. Iban del Campo, the director, succeeded in depicting the personalities of James ‘Tigger!’ Ferguson and Dirty Martini on and out of stage. Their views about pop culture go further than the New York scene, their lives become dreamy shelters in opposition to the American Dream. Not far from these pop subculture universes, I hate New York (2018) cleverly directed by Gustavo Sánchez also shows the glittering lives of four female underground artists during a decade, from 2007 to 2017. The film is so intimate that you will feel you are there with them, in the clubs, their rooms and even in their bathrooms, listening to them while they are doing their makeup and discussing what is the real stuff and what is fake, as the real metaphor of being authentic in life. The honesty of the protagonists and the rawness of Gustavo’s approach make the film work through the empathy it makes you feel. 

The 70’s is the decade of disco and freedom, maybe due to the pre-aids easy life. Antonio López 1970: Sex, Fashion & Disco (2017) and Studio 54 (2018) both bring back the spirit of these joyful and no worrying years with free spirit personalities enjoying image, looks, fashion, design, nightlife, drugs, sex, romance, love, music and dancing, and elevating them to the category of art. The documentary about Antonio has a frenetic rhythm, there is no pause probably because in his life there weren’t empty spaces, he was just full of life and passion. It’s sadly unfair that pop culture hasn’t kept him on the same fame and recognition level as Andy Warhol. His muses and creations will inspire you to get out and find your own muses. It’s especially remarkable the amount of ambitious and talented people he related to. Antonio should be studied and analysed compulsorily in history and art books. Studio 54 has had a much more relevant duration in the collective memory from what you would expect for its short period of time that it was opened. This documentary follows the two different owners during the existence of the club. Everyone seemed to be effortlessly glamorous at that time, if you don’t believe me, just watch it. There is a Michael Jackson short scene that I really enjoyed, I’m a Mike’s hardcore fan, and I’ve never seen Michael so relaxed and natural. The disco just proved the skill to desinhibit the most inhibited creatures.

About strong personalities: Manolita, la Chen de Arcos (2016), Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story (2017) and the most recent Mucho, mucho amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (2020) show again the complex and difficult lives of artists that had to fight against the society’s standards and the so-called normality to be loyal to themselves. Manolita tells her brave story from a child who wanted to play with dolls and sew to the successful business woman and artist she became with her talent and strength. It’s remarkable to hear her compassion to all the people that hurt her during her past, like if she could forgive everyone’s failures and all the damage they did to her. She is what we call in Spain a Señora. It has also some funny moments like the story about her name that would take her to court. The documentary about Kevyn Aucoin brings his lovable relation to the glamorous 90s top models and the biggest pop icons of the time, but unfortunately turns into the drama of his search for love, in his family and especially in his mother figure. His success finally tasted bitter because of this obsessive hunt to be loved, and also his physical condition. Kevin will always be remembered as one of the best makeup magicians, and also as the artist that could work for all his child heroines. To end this list, you have probably seen the image of Walter Mercado on your Instagram these days, a foreteller that became a loved celebrity able to make gold on every TV show. He broke all the gender and sexual orientation limits of his time, just being free. Walter Mercado created a whole industry around him, his positive and constructive way of talking and his extravagant clothes will also be part of our pop culture, forever. As an example, recently, in All Stars 5, in Rupaul Drag Race, during the Snatch Game of Love, which is one of the typical challenges of this drag competition, a controversial contestant called Alexis Mateo did a candid, lively and memorable impersonation of Walter Mercado, showing that his legend is alive, more than ever. Thanks Walter for being such a beautiful angel! And like you said: “mucho, mucho amor”.

Seigar

Seigar is a passionate travel, street, social-documentary, conceptual, and pop visual artist based in Tenerife, Spain. He feels obsessed with the pop culture that he shows in his works. He has explored photography, video art, writing, and collage. He writes for some media. His main inspirations are traveling and people. His aim as an artist is to tell tales with his camera, creating a continuous storyline from his trips and encounters. He is a philologist and works as a secondary school teacher. He is a self-taught visual artist, though he has done a two years course in advanced photography and one in cinema and television. His most ambitious projects so far are his Plastic People and Tales of a City. He has participated in several international exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events. His works have been featured in numerous publications worldwide. His last interests are documenting identity and spreading the message of the Latin phrase: Carpe Diem. Recently, he received the Rafael Ramos García International Photography Award. He shares art and culture in his blog: Pop Sonality.

More Stories

A river named Kolkata by Debarchan Chatterjee

A river named Kolkata by Debarchan Chatterjee

Kolkata or Calcutta is the capital of West Bengal and sits in the bank of Hoogly River. It is the financial and cultural hub of eastern India and boast a mix of different culture and colours all together. As the city stands on the bank of river Ganges, it has a very unique set of weather.
Bill Gekas ; Fine art portrait photographer

Bill Gekas ; Fine art portrait photographer

Bill Gekas is a multi awarded and published photographer that was born and resides in Melbourne Australia.
Hong Kong; The Fortune Market by Kris Vervaeke

Hong Kong; The Fortune Market by Kris Vervaeke

More than 100 fortune tellers shops, located in this bare concrete building behind a taoist temple in Hong Kong. Alleys of good fortune with rows of shops spread over two floor levels
https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/bannerpr.jpg

We invite you to participate in the first edition of the Portrait Photography Awards. Our call is open to any artistic interpretation of portrait photography.

https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BAnImage.jpg

ImageRights provides intelligent image search and copyright enforcement services to photo agencies and professional photographers worldwide.

https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/mono2022.jpg

The best 100 images along with the winning images published in the yearly book “Monochromatic – Best Photographers of 2022”

Call For Entries #24 | After 23 editions and more than 100 published photographers, our print edition has proven to be a simply effective promotional channel.

Looking for my mother by Elena Liventseva

Looking for my mother by Elena Liventseva

My project is about closeness with mom. In my childhood, my mother almost never was near. First because of her second marriage, then because of her alcoholism. And then she completely disappeared. 
Lightpainting by Christopher Noelle

Lightpainting by Christopher Noelle

Since 2003 Chris has a deep focus on the theme of lightpainting-photography and lightart-animation. By his permanent experimental research and development he´s today one of the pioneers in the international lightpainting-scene.
Aoling Festival : Beholding the Konyak Tradition by Tania Chatterjee

Aoling Festival : Beholding the Konyak Tradition by Tania Chatterjee

Different harvest festivals are celebrated differently in various parts of India. The Aoling festival is the annual ‘Spring Festival’ of tattooed head hunters belonging to the Konyak tribe of Nagaland. 
Heart them stirring by Tabitha Barnard

Heart them stirring by Tabitha Barnard

I started working on this project six years ago when I first started my undergrad degree. At the time my youngest sisters were thirteen.My sisters were around me all the time and I figured if they were there I should start photographing them.
Donell Gumiran – The emotions in everyday life

Donell Gumiran – The emotions in everyday life

He sees himself as an image-maker who captures and tells a story in a photograph. The Filipino lensman sees his photography as an art form, borne from his desire to create on canvas and his professional training in design, when he worked as a design director in a creative agency.
All That Glitters by Gary Sheridan

All That Glitters by Gary Sheridan

The All That Glitters series aestheticizes the falling short of the commercialised fantasy. The pursuit of advertised perfection, lifestyles and possessions.
Neo-Burlesque by Leland Bobbé

Neo-Burlesque by Leland Bobbé

The power of neo-burlesque is rooted in the charisma the performer exerts over the audience. On stage, the artist controls the illusion of what is and is not revealed.
Stunning portraits by Babak Fatholahi

Stunning portraits by Babak Fatholahi

After the art of photographing I love painting the most, especially to the portrait genre. And I always try out to benefits from the specific and unique features of old paintings in my art works.
Fishshot by Javier Corso

Fishshot by Javier Corso

Fishshot is a documentary project about loneliness, emotional isolation, and sentimental repression in Finnish society. These problems go further when the people start drinking to fight against them. The excessive consumption of alcohol is present in more than half cases of suicide, homicide and gender violence.
What Makes a Great Fine Art Architectural Photograph? by Sharon Tenenbaum

What Makes a Great Fine Art Architectural Photograph? by Sharon Tenenbaum

Every person you ask might have a different answer to that question, however, from my experience, there are a few key factors that are imperative to transforming a just good image to a great one.
Correfoc by Adam Buczek

Correfoc by Adam Buczek

Correfoc can be considered one of the most dangerous festivals on the planet where thousands of people gather on a hot summer day and parade tiny streets of Catalan cities while being sprayed with fire. The spectators are trying to get as close as possible to the fire in order to be cleansed.
While visiting a charcoal kiln by Sanghamitra Bhattacharya

While visiting a charcoal kiln by Sanghamitra Bhattacharya

“Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.” Overly materialistic world is temporary, that is why we never ignore the nature's call to enrich human dignity, freedom and genuine well-being.
Of Faith and Devotion by Cosimo Manlio De Pasquale

Of Faith and Devotion by Cosimo Manlio De Pasquale

The passion for photography was born by traveling, for the need to freeze an emotion, to fix it forever and to have the chance to revive it, then matured also in an emotional quest for the daily life
Start of an epidemic: COVID-19 in China by Vlad Timofeev

Start of an epidemic: COVID-19 in China by Vlad Timofeev

When the early messages about a new virus appeared in the press in January of 2020, Shenzhen was full-on getting ready for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Meryl Meisler : NYC in the late 1970s and early 80s

Meryl Meisler : NYC in the late 1970s and early 80s

NYC in the late 1970s and early 80s could best be described using Charles Dickens' phrase “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Meryl Meisler’s photographs documented it with compassion and humor.
The photography of Oscar Daniel Mendoza

The photography of Oscar Daniel Mendoza

As a child, my father always made my brother and me carry a photo camera everywhere we go, so that we could capture the space and every moment we lived as a family.

Featured Stories

Little stars by Tatiana Ilina

Little stars by Tatiana Ilina

The story about lilliputians artists "The shining of little stars" who travel around Russia. The first performance was in Ivanovo. The posters were placed all over the town and many inhabitants were surprised and sincerely confessed that they have never seen anything like this. 
The soul of photography by Maria Svarbova

The soul of photography by Maria Svarbova

I am Maria Svarbova also known as Aria Baró. I am 25 years old woman home based on Slovakia. I have graduated archeology this year. My first artistic attempts falls down back to my early child hood what is later in 2010 transforming in to photography dedication entirely.
One Shot by Max Hirshfeld

One Shot by Max Hirshfeld

Propelled by a sense of immediacy, these photos of everyday people in everyday places attempt to reveal what we often fail to see.
White background : White is not a color by Tine Poppe

White background : White is not a color by Tine Poppe

In the days following the 22nd of July 2011 terrorist attack by right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik, the streets of Norway were filled with colorful roses and speeches of love conquering extremism, fear and xenophobia.
Empire of Dust by Amélie Labourdette

Empire of Dust by Amélie Labourdette

Amelie Labourdette interrogates through her photographic work, which is in the landscape, is a priori invisible. There is always a blurred area of concern, a landscape underneath the visible landscape, which is not given at first gaze.
Ape dumma – Open your eyes by Czuko Williams

Ape dumma – Open your eyes by Czuko Williams

There is an strong untold story among the ancient tribes who lives in Ethiopia. The story of the loss of traditional way of life due the process of deculturation, transculturation, and mainly because of progress.
Long exposure; Histoire d’Ô by Arnaud Bertrande

Long exposure; Histoire d’Ô by Arnaud Bertrande

I recently started a job "Histoire d'Ô", which presents a series of long exposures taken around the theme of water.
Discovering the long exposure, I found the opportunity to work abstraction, loss of marks.
Wiebke Haas ; Fine art equine

Wiebke Haas ; Fine art equine

Wiebke Haas is a dedicated award-winning equine and animal photographer from Germany. Ever since she was a little girl she dreamt of hoof-beats and flying through the fields on a back of a horse.
Fictional narrative photography; Birth Undisturbed by Natalie Lennard

Fictional narrative photography; Birth Undisturbed by Natalie Lennard

Birth Undisturbed is a fictional narrative photography series by Natalie Lennard, that brings scenes of natural childbirth into cinematic fine-art tableaux.
Covid; Portrait series by Alkan Emin

Covid; Portrait series by Alkan Emin

Covid had struck planet earth and I was literally lost in all of my thoughts. I had these visions of the world ending and I felt like I was in a prison in my mind with all of this. 
Meeting Sheila by Ashley Comer

Meeting Sheila by Ashley Comer

"I gave her life to give her life" are the words Sheila muttered to the nurse who so rudely asked why she was giving me up. After being raised by a loving family, I have immense gratitude for the life handed to me.
Urban environments; Mea Shearim by Alexandra Buxbaum

Urban environments; Mea Shearim by Alexandra Buxbaum

Alexandra Buxbaum’s work has focused on documenting the human experience of various people and cultures living in disparate urban environments around the world.
Trump-Kim craze by Biel Calderon

Trump-Kim craze by Biel Calderon

The second summit between the U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea chairman Kim Jong-un brought to the city of Hanoi heavy traffic, security cordons, and bustle. However, the residents of the capital of Vietnam welcomed the distinguished guests with great diplomacy and, in many cases, with joy and very peculiar demonstrations of admiration.
The wonderful world of Scott Stulberg

The wonderful world of Scott Stulberg

Albert Einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge", and with that camera, my photographs let my imagination come to life.
Paul Eis ; The architecture photographer

Paul Eis ; The architecture photographer

In Paul Eis' Instagram project, he gathers images of buildings from mainly Berlin, Hamburg and some other cities, which are cut of their original context and reworked with bright colors.
Shadow Of White by Nicola Ducati

Shadow Of White by Nicola Ducati

A photographic project to discover the deep north and the people who have inhabited these hostile territories for millennia, once uncontaminated and which today face new challenges.

Trending Stories

Life sentence by Patricia Fortlage

Life sentence by Patricia Fortlage

Patricia Fortlage is best known for her photography empowering women and children. From her core belief that if you invest in women and girls, entire communities will be raised
Surrealism and the Mannequins by Suzette Dushi

Surrealism and the Mannequins by Suzette Dushi

Time wears upon everything. I photograph discarded, broken and decaying store mannequins. The signs of aging on these once beautiful objects are significant, yet their realistic faces and their peculiar dilapidation trigger my empathy.
In Conversation with Jeanette May

In Conversation with Jeanette May

We discussed with the wonderful photographer Jeanette May all her clever photo narratives, her relationship with technology, and the feelings and emotions involved. She revealed the metaphors and meanings behind the inner and exterior designs of the technological gadgets she shoots for her series.
Sea by Maria Mahou

Sea by Maria Mahou

In this series of underwater still-life, I try to explore the relation between the object and the environment that contains it. Elements of the outside world, find their place in a seemingly inhospitable environment. 
Earth by Zoe Wetherall

Earth by Zoe Wetherall

The beauty of Zoe Wetherall's work is in the structured geometry of natural and man-made forms – a natural fit for a little girl who wanted to be a bricklayer when she grew up.
N.O.A.H by Tao Ho

N.O.A.H by Tao Ho

Compared to the subject he photograph, he is more aware of the relationship between him and the photography. Sometimes it is close, sometimes opposites.
360 Visions by Patrick Jacquet

360 Visions by Patrick Jacquet

With his « 360 Visions » photo series, Patrick Jacquet brings a new vision of landscape photography. It will bring you into new well-rounded parallel worlds. Each image is coming from a full 360° panoramic view… 65 stitched pictures.
Wardrobe Snacks by Kelsey Mcclellan

Wardrobe Snacks by Kelsey Mcclellan

Wardrobe Snacks, a series created by Michelle Maguire (art direction and styling) and Kelsey McClellan (photography), a collaborative duo known as Terrence Caviar, was inspired by diners lacking the luxury of being seated at a table.
L’Opéra Fabuleux by Birdy Tg

L’Opéra Fabuleux by Birdy Tg

L’Opéra Fabuleux (The Fabulous Opera) Should we believe in Fate and if yes, is it possible to outrun to our own destiny ? Why some beings seem like be snatched by the black unfortune infernal spiral when others are blessed by the holy light and chance ?
Interview with Lisa Bettany

Interview with Lisa Bettany

Lisa Bettany is a Canadian tech entrepreneur and one of the most influential photographers on the web. She is cofounder of the top-ranked photography iPhone app, Camera+ which has sold over 14 million copies and is the best-selling camera app of all-time.
Jungle of Papua; Korowais by Martin Gros

Jungle of Papua; Korowais by Martin Gros

The Korowais, a society company at the ancient culture in which we live in the trees of a forest that protects and nourishes. Discovered in 1974, the semi-nomadic tribe operates in near autarky in the dense jungle of Papua.
Sodom by Alexander Bronfer

Sodom by Alexander Bronfer

My main interest is "finding beauty in everyday life". I use urban surrounding or nature as "background" and always trying to capture an interaction  between people and their environment.

Other Stories

stay in touch
Join our mailing list and we'll keep you up to date with all the latest stories, opportunities, calls and more.
We use Sendinblue as our marketing platform. By Clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provided will be transferred to Sendinblue for processing in accordance with their terms of use
We’d love to
Thank you for subscribing!
Submission
Dodho Magazine accepts submissions from emerging and professional photographers from around the world.
Their projects can be published among the best photographers and be viewed by the best professionals in the industry and thousands of photography enthusiasts. Dodho magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted project. Due to the large number of presentations received daily and the need to treat them with the greatest respect and the time necessary for a correct interpretation our average response time is around 5/10 business days in the case of being accepted.
- Between 10/30 images of your best images, in case your project contains a greater number of images which are part of the same indivisible body of work will also be accepted. You must send the images in jpg format to 1200px and 72dpi and quality 9. (No borders or watermarks)
- A short biography along with your photograph. (It must be written in the third person)
- Title and full text of the project with a minimum length of 300 words. (Texts with lesser number of words will not be accepted)
This is the information you need to start preparing your project for its presentation
To send it, you must compress the folder in .ZIP format and use our Wetransfer channel specially dedicated to the reception of works. Links or projects in PDF format will not be accepted. All presentations are carefully reviewed based on their content and final quality of the project or portfolio. If your work is selected for publication in the online version, it will be communicated to you via email and subsequently it will be published.
Contact
How can we help? Got an idea or something you'd like share? Please use the adjacent form, or contact contact@dodho.com
Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.
Submission
Dodho Magazine accepts submissions from emerging and professional photographers from around the world.
Their projects can be published among the best photographers and be viewed by the best professionals in the industry and thousands of photography enthusiasts. Dodho magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted project. Due to the large number of presentations received daily and the need to treat them with the greatest respect and the time necessary for a correct interpretation our average response time is around 5/10 business days in the case of being accepted. This is the information you need to start preparing your project for its presentation.
To send it, you must compress the folder in .ZIP format and use our Wetransfer channel specially dedicated to the reception of works. Links or projects in PDF format will not be accepted. All presentations are carefully reviewed based on their content and final quality of the project or portfolio. If your work is selected for publication in the online version, it will be communicated to you via email and subsequently it will be published.
Get in Touch
How can we help? Got an idea or something you'd like share? Please use the adjacent form, or contact contact@dodho.com
Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.