Where does the Mockumentary fit in?

The modes of documentary are mere guidelines. There are not usually documentaries that solely use one mode of documentary. A lot of the time it is a combination between several different modes. With that said, there still are filmmakers that truly wish to explore one single mode, most commonly expository or observational.

While one mode aims to have a lot of involvement of social actors and the filmmaker's agenda, the other aims to diminish the filmmaker's agenda and watch an event play out. One example of a heavily influenced expository film is Inside Job, which discusses the turmoil put forth by the 2007-8 financial crisis, and points fingers in the process. An example of a heavily influenced observational film is The Last Waltz. Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last Waltz follows the band The Band, with little to no filmmaker intervention, during their last concert. While The Last Waltz does have an aspect of performance, as The Band had/has a large following, it is more focused on social dynamics and the lack of intervention of Martin Scorsese.

However besides these two films, and several other ones, many documentaries apply multiple tactics from the different modes. For example Michael Moore usually combines some element of all forms of documentary into his films, he discusses himself, through reflexive mode, has an agenda, through expository mode, sometimes doesn't interact, through the observational mode, and also likes to create a composition, through poetic and performative modes. Which leads to the Mockumentary, which doesn't really have it's own mode. In this case it must combine various aspects different modes, depending on the type of documentary it is mocking.

For example, in the Film Confederate States of America, it aims to be an informational investigative film on what the US would be like if the Confederacy had won the Civil War, while also adding satirical quips along the way. The film linked, is The Rutles, which spoofs The Beatles craze. Like Michael Moore, this film combines several different modes of documentary, including expository, reflexive, and participatory, while also poking fun at the Beatles and British Invasion musical craze.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu3T_2GzXSo