Genre

What is Genre? Genre means type or kind It groups films together so that they can be distinguished from one another Genres identify key elements that are shared within a group of films

Key elements of Genre Character Props Themes Narrative Settings The key elements of genre can be connected to: Character Props Themes Narrative Settings

Watch this Clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBPgEMfkx5c What genre was the clip from & how can you tell this? Are there any themes / stories which are typical of this genre? What comments does the clip make about films of this type?

Expectation of enjoyment The use of these elements allow a genre to be: Recognisable Predictable Expectation of enjoyment This allows the viewers/audience to enjoy the film they have chosen to see due to genre

Genre Conventions They act as a basic framework and offer consistency within a group of films They are not used in the same way every time Conventions develop and mutate with time

Genre conventions can be used in a straightforward/traditional manner or they can parody or spoof them They can also subvert the viewer’s expectations of generic conventions

Genre Audience They need to experience both familiarity and difference within the films they see If a genre film is to be successful, it needs to acknowledge both of these demands

Audiences need to see developments in the way genre elements are presented to them Genre has to develop and adapt the way they use the conventions They may even use conventions sub-consciously to acknowledge the viewer’s understanding of a particular genre

How Genres can Change? The time in which a film is produced will influence the way in which its conventions are used The attitudes of society and the ideas that come from this will change the way in which genre conventions are used

Sub-Genres Within main genres, there are smaller groups or sub-genres These films share the basic conventions of the larger genre They also have their own set of specific conventions

An Example Vampire Films Slasher Films Zombie Films The Horror Genre: Vampire Films Slasher Films Zombie Films Demonic Possession Films Ghosts and Poltergeist Films

Sub-Genres They often have core audiences These audiences are fully aware of the conventions that should and will be used

Producers Genre can be used by Producers to secure a good financial return on a film A genre film becomes established through a Producers attempts to generate box-office attendance If a first example of a particular style or type of film was unsuccessful, then it would be unlikely that the genre would continue to exist

Blockbusters They have a set of recognisable and predictable elements They can be considered as a genre in their own right Usually have; huge budgets, big-name stars, universal themes, huge action sequences and massive publicity

Action It is characterised by its importance on explosions, fighting/violence, Made popular in the 1980s Has its own typical stars; Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Angelina Jolie, Mila Jovovich

Horror Horror deals with an audiences fear of the unknown This can range from the supernatural to serial killers Typical star; Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff, Bruce Campbell, Peter Cushing, Bela Lugosi, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Sigourney Weaver

Sci-Fi It has been around since silent cinema and is known for its use of trick photography Deals with science-based ideas, such as; time-travel, aliens, and robots Typical star; William Shatner, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Carrie Fisher, Sigourney Weaver

Romance This is a genre where the central plot of a film revolves around the romance between the two main protagonists Can also be referred to as the ‘Chick Flick’ Typical star; Richard Gere, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Doris Day, Katherine Hepburn, Liz Taylor

Hybrid Genres These are films that have used two or more genre conventions to target the widest possible audiences It allows the producers to reach fans of more than one genre, therefore securing a bigger film audience

Romantic Comedy Also known as the ‘RomCom’ Focuses on humorous plotlines, with a central plot on romance Typical star; Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Katherine Heigl, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, Renee Zellweger

Rick Altman – Genre Theorist   Genre is comprised of two elements The Semantic –. obvious signs and iconography that are established through the mise en scene The Syntactic – Certain plots and themes Altman claimed that genre can only be truly defined when it achieves a Syntactic likeness. Films with not only a similar iconography in the mise en scene, but also similar plots and themes.

Task What are the genre conventions that you would use? Work in pairs to create a case study on 3 genres of your choice Complete all boxes on the grid. What are the genre conventions that you would use? What stars would be considered for this genre? Does it have sub-genres? How would society see this genre?