1. Media Theory
Genre

2. Genre What is Genre? Genre means kind or type
List as many genres as you can
Identify characteristics of each genre

3. Genre
Genres have characteristic features that are known to and recognised by audiences
This ‘formula’ is reproduced again and again
E.g. in a Western we see similar characters, situations and settings

4. Genre Audiences and Genres Why do audiences find genres satisfying?
Audiences develop an understanding that certain expectations may be fulfilled and they may find pleasure in predicting what will happen next

5. Genre Institutions and Genre
Producers of generic narratives depend on a certain amount of immediate communication with the audience
They want the narrative to be easily comprehensible
Genres that use key components that are easily recognisable are particularly important

6. Genre
Audiences know what to expect from a genre but at the same time want some variations to prevent dissatisfaction and even boredom
Thus any text in a genre is a combination of the familiar and the unexpected

7. Genre Key Components of Genre STOCK CHARACTERS
STOCK PLOTS, SITUATIONS, ISSUES AND THEMES
STOCK LOCATIONS AND BACKDROPS
STOCK PROPS AND SIGNIFIERS
MUSIC AND SOUNDS
GENERIC CONVENTIONS

8. Genre Problems of genre
Actually defining a genre is inherently problematic
E.g. What is the difference between an Action/Adventure film and a Thriller?
Or between a thriller and a Horror film?
Is Seven a Thriller, a Horror film, or a Film Noir?
Is Film Noir a genre?

9. Genre
We can hope to engage with these problems by considering a more advanced approach to Genre Theory
Rick Altman in his book Film/Genre has proposed what he calls the:
SEMANTIC/SYNTACTIC APPROACH

10. Genre Using this approach we need to consider genre in two ways:
1. SEMANTIC
This is concerned with the conventions of the genre that communicate to the audience such as characters, locations, props, music, shooting style and other signifiers

11. Genre E.g. In a Western we would expect to see: Horses Guns Hats
Wilderness
Native Americans
Etc

12. Genre
2. SYNTACTIC
This is concerned with the relations between these elements and the structure of narratives in genres
E.g. In a romantic comedy we expect the potential lovers to begin by not liking each other
There are then a series of meetings/problems (enigmas) which culminate in their successful relationship

13. Genre
By employing this SEMANTIC/SYNTACTIC approach it enables us to produce a more sophisticated reading of any genre
However, this approach can be developed further by also considering audiences and institutions

14. Genre
Altman expanded his approach to include these elements by proposing a SEMANTIC/SYNTACTIC/PRAGMATIC approach
This latter aspect includes institutions and audiences

15. Genre 1. INSTITUTIONS Genre as a mode of production
Institutions (Film Studios) will produce films in genres
E.g. in a certain year they will produce:
A number of films in the following genres:
Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi, Horror, Rom-Com, Teenage Comedy etc

16. Genre
This mix of genres is to ensure that the maximum possible audience is catered for
Certain genres come into and out of favour due to the perceived audience response
E.g. The Western and the musical have all but disappeared
The horror film has come back into fashion

17. Genre 2. AUDIENCES Audiences may read genre texts in a variety of ways
They may, in effect, create and re-create genres
Thus through audience responses new genres are created
E.g. the new martial art films from Japan, Hong Kong etc which have become very popular in the USA and UK

18. Genre
Altman’s SEMANTIC/SYNTACTIC/PRAGMATIC approach can also be applied to texts such as Thrillers and Pop Promo Videos
How might this be applied to your AS or A2 coursework?