Year 12 Institutions and Audiences British Cinema

Genre What do we mean by the term genre? A French word for ‘type’ or ‘kind’ involving the categorisation of mass produced popular forms and audience’s pleasure in them Types of media texts are classified by identifying common elements that recur by being repeated again and again Common elements may be linked to: Visual style- Narrative structure Costume- Location Lighting- Action Actors- Props Iconography- Director

Why do Audiences like Genre? Genre texts are reassuring to audiences due to their familiar promise of patterns of repetition and variation They know what to expect They easily understand and relate to the texts They develop a proficiency in reading texts within a genre which leads to their pleasure being heightened as they recognise familiar elements in a new framework

Why do Production Companies like Genre? ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ Genre enables production companies (whose priority is to make a profit) to exploit a winning formula and minimise risks Media producers rely on our ability to recognise genre when they promote new films, to arouse interest, expectation & anticipation Genres can provide a shortcut which saves audiences & producers time in developing a new set of conventions each time they consume a new text within a particular genre

Social Realism The term social realism refers to films of the late 50’s and early 60’s that were made in the UK and featured the lives of the working class; born out of an interest in the documentary style of filmmaking post war. More of a kitchen sink, mirror up to society kind of filmmaking Although we would still class more modern (mainly British) films in this genre

Some British Social Realism Films

Horror Horror films are unsettling films designed to frighten and panic, cause dread and alarm, and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience Horror films effectively center on the dark side of life, the forbidden, and strange and alarming events

Some British Horror Films

How is the horror genre different to the thriller genre? If the thriller genre is to be defined strictly, a genuine thriller is a film that rentlessly pursues a single-minded goal - to provide thrills and keep the audience cliff- hanging at the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a climax The tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menacing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible

Task In pairs, discuss a good example of a horror film and social realist film that you have seen

Conventions of genres Generic Horror Conventions28 Days Later (Dir. Boyle, 2002) Plots Characters Mise-en-scene Sound Editing Cinematography

Conventions of genres Generic Social Realism Conventions This is England (Dir. Meadows, 2006) Plots Characters Mise-en-scene Sound Editing Cinematography

Pros and Cons You will be creating the opening sequence for a film within one of these genres What might the pros and cons be of each?