Film genre A recognizable type of movie, characterized by certain preestablished conventions.

Genre film categories Western Sci-fi film Thriller Love story Fantasy Film noir Coming-of age Screwball comedy Horror Mad slasher Buddy film Woman’s film Farce

Advantages of genre story telling Economy of storytelling Focus on archetypal ideas Comfort of the familiar Creativity within a norm Custom fit to ideas being explored

Disadvantages Trades in stereotypes and clichés Constricts creativity within a formula Eliminates narrative suspense or surprise

Westerns Foundation westerns Morality tales Nostalgic or ironic tales

Horror films Mad scientist films Slasher films Zombie films Human abomination films Ghost stories

Features of horror films Unfamiliar invading the familiar Threatening situations Nameless fears and anxieties Feelings of guilt Familiar terrain Contrast the known with unknown Creatures, monsters, crazed individuals Dissonant music Feelings of helplessness Safe world made unsafe made safe again

Science fiction Utopian Dystopian Near future Distant future Space westerns

Features of scifi films Confined by laws of physical universe (liberally interpreted) Engage in scientific discourse Engage in technological discourse Space travel Aliens Socio-political subtexts

Documentary Topical Polemical Artistic

Features of documentaries Nonfiction Actualities Documentation Window onto the world Always have a point of view Structured Has effect on events being filmed

Life cycle of genres Primitive Classical Revisionist Parodic Homage

Primitive The Great Train Robbery Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde Naïve Great emotional impact Establishes conventions The Great Train Robbery Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Golddiggers of 1933

Classical Genre’s conventions well established Balanced and rich execution of conventions Stagecoach Dracula Frankenstein The Wizard of Oz

Revisionist Turn to symbolic Ambiguous relationship to values Complex More intellectual/less emotional High Noon Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nelly Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Parodic Mocks the conventions Exposes clichés Produces laughter Blazing Saddles Rocky Horry Picture Show Scary Movie

Homage Revisits the genre References conventions without mocking them Updates conventions Open Range Chicago The Ring

Comedy Uniqueness of appearances and plots Ability to affect audience attitudes Ability to generate laughter and good feeling

Comedy II Constructed public ritual that: Generates laughter Enables us to acknowledge shameful desires Helps us recognize contradictory beliefs Subverts traditionally sanctioned self-delusions

Types of comedy Sight gags Screwball Slapstick Running gags Sentimental Romantic Black or dark Parody Satire