Mainstream Media Genre John Keenan j.keenan@worc.ac.uk

Genre – type Genus – birth, or origins

Epic, tragedy, comedy, history

Early films

Stories

System of expectation – pleasure of fulfilment Why genre? System of expectation – pleasure of fulfilment Understanding – global film form Unique purchase of the film Pleasure of difference/familiarity Guaranteed audience

1920s-40s Studio System Classic Hollywood MGM – melodrama Paramount – western Warner – gangster Universal – horror How the Jews Created Hollywood

Western Generic Conventions Plot Characters Body language Dress Dialogue Historical setting Location Iconography Themes Locomotion Motif Stars

‘The concept of genre is not static but dynamic’ Hindmarsh J (1996) Genre and Narrative Analysis, Leicester: University of Leicester. Page 163

Genres changes over time Classical – 1930-55 Eg Shane Vengeance – 1950-60s Eg Stagecoach Professional 1960-70s Eg Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Postmodern 1980-present From Dusk Till Dawn Other sub-genres: Spaghetti, Epic, Singing

Cross Genre Midnight Cowboy Easy Rider Thelma and Louise Die Hard Dirty Harry Star Wars

Brothers Cross-genre Action-Western