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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. Westerns
Foundation westerns
Morality tales
Nostalgic or ironic tales

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

7. 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

8. Science fiction Utopian Dystopian Near future Distant future
Space westerns

9. 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

10. Documentary
Topical
Polemical
Artistic

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

12. Life cycle of genres
Primitive
Classical
Revisionist
Parodic
Homage

13. 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

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

15. 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

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

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

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

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

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