1. Critical Perspectives Exam
GENRE
A2 Media Studies
Critical Perspectives Exam
UNIT G325
Question 1B

2. THE EXAM
Question 1(B) requires candidates to select ONE PRODUCTION & evaluate it in relation to a media concept.
You will focus on your FILM TRAILER ONLY.
The concepts to which questions will relate to are as follows:
GENRE
Narrative
Representation
Audience
Media Language
In the exam, questions will be set using one of these concepts.

3. “Apply the concept of GENRE to one of your coursework pieces”
QUESTION
“Apply the concept of GENRE to one of your coursework pieces”

4. TASK
1. What is Genre? Feedback 2. What is the purpose of having Genre? Brainstorm 3. What are ‘Sub-Genres’ and ‘Hybrid Genres’? Discuss + Feedback 4. Which Sub-Genre did you chose? What are the characteristics/conventions? Discuss + Apply 5. What is the ‘Horror Genre’ and why do audiences consume horrific content? Feedback

5. GENRE & ITS PURPOSE
Genre is generally understood as a means of categorizing films under a ‘TYPE’ label.
This categorization is based on similarities in the narrative elements when films are constructed.
MAIN CATEGORIES:
Setting/Location/Environment of the film
Theme - Issues/concepts of the story
Mood - Emotional tone of the film
An additional way of categorizing film genres is by the target audience. Each genre will have a set of similar conventions/rules attached to them.
Example; In a horror film people should die and it should be scary - otherwise the audience would feel cheated!

6. SUB & HYBRID GENRES
Film Genres often branch out into subgenres. In the case of Horror being a major Genre – its subgenres are Psychological, Zombie, Slasher etc.
Film Genres can also become hybrid genres, where two major genres are mixed together: Action Thriller, Comedy Horror, etc.
What is your trailer in terms of sub and hybrid genres?

7. WHAT IS HORROR?
Horror is a genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience’s primal fears.
Horror often deals with the viewers/audience’s nightmares, hidden fears, revulsions and terror/fear of the unknown.
Plots often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage.
Prevalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons, vicious animals, monsters, zombies, cannibals, and serial killers.
Horror is often used as a form of escapism for people that enjoy (or don’t enjoy it as much) being scared and frightened.

8. GENRE QUOTES Include one/two in your answer
“Genre creates expectations that condition our responses. Genre sets up hopes and promises and brings pleasure if these are fulfilled”
- Warren Buckland.
“Different genres specify different ‘contracts’ to be negotiated between the text and the reader” - Sonia Livingstone.
“Genre is not… simply ‘given’ by the culture, but rather it is in a constant process of negotiation and change” – David Buckingham.
“Genre is a recurring type or category of text, as defined by structural and thematic criteria” – David Duff.

9. BURTON
THEORY 1

10. BURTON - GENRE STRUCTURE
The idea that to truly understand genre, we must look at similarities in the construction of different media texts (films, TV shows etc.)
The idea that genre is established through a check list of repeatable elements and scenarios that help calculate a set formula.
The idea that genres may vary in content, but there is a consistent set of universal categories.
THEORIST
Graeme Burton
is a freelance lecturer and writer, who is most well known for his work on critical perspectives in communication, media, and society.

11. BURTON - GENRE STRUCTURE
Burton's work reflects on how genres depend on recognisable conventions (or six elements) in order to be categorised effectively/correctly for audiences.
1.MAIN CHARACTERS
(Protagonist (Audience Favourite/Hero) & Antagonist (Enemy/Villain)
2.STOCK CHARACTERS
(Minor Characters – Friends, Family members etc. – no major screen time)
3.STOCK SITUATIONS
(Car Chases, Losing Keys, Shoot Outs, Trapped in Small Places etc.)
4.ICONS
(Props, Music, Character, Costume –something iconic of the film or genre)
5.BACKGROUND & DÉCOR
(Setting, Location, Interior, Set Design, Surroundings etc.)
6.THEMES
(Love, Revenge, Betrayal, Justice, Redemption, Survival etc.)

12. BURTON - GENRE STRUCTURE
D.A.B
Describe – Apply – Back Up

13. NEALE
THEORY 2

14. is a British analytic philosopher
NEALE - FAMILIARITY
The idea that genres may be dominated by repetition, but are also marked by difference, variation, and change.
The idea that genres change and develop over time, and often vary, as they borrow from and overlap with one another.
The idea that genres exist within specific economic, institutional and industrial contexts.
THEORIST
Steve Neale
is a British analytic philosopher
whose work reflects meaning, interpretation & communication in Hollywood cinema.

15. NEALE - FAMILIARITY 1.PLEASURE (AUDIENCE GRATIFICATION):
Neale's work reflects on the concept of ‘Genre’, and how genres depend on their ability to change or adapt in order to survive. If films follow genre conventions too much, they become too predictable.
1.PLEASURE (AUDIENCE GRATIFICATION):
Neale argues that audience/viewer pleasure is derived from ‘repetition and difference’ and that there would be no pleasure experience, without difference.
2.EXPECTATIONS (MEET AUDIENCE NEEDS):
Neale therefore believes that Genre must fulfill audience expectations - giving the public what they want and desire from a media text, while also being different in its construction.
3.FAMILIARITY WITH INNOVATION:
Neale calls his approach to genre ‘Familiarity with Innovation’. If genres do not adapt enough over time, they can become too formulaic, too predictable, and therefore eventually die out due to a loss of audience.

16. Describe – Apply – Back Up
NEALE - FAMILIARITY
D.A.B
Describe – Apply – Back Up

17. POSSIBLE STRUCTURE P1: INTRODUCTION.
What is the Theoretical Concept & its Purpose?
What is Your Project? What is Horror & Why Do Audiences Watch?
INCLUDE A QUOTE FROM A THEORIST
P2: GRAEME BURTON GENRE STRUCTURE THEORY
Describe Theory + Apply Theory to Trailer + Backup With Real Film
P3: STEVE NEALE FAMILARITY WITH INNOVATION THEORY
P4: CONCLUSION
How could this concept develop in the future?
How will this relate to audience behaviour ?

18. TASK CONSTRUCT AN ESSAY ANSWER LEVEL 4 21-25
INCLUDE: INTRODUCTION + THEORIES + RMT’S + CONCLUSION
LEVEL
“Candidates demonstrate a clear understanding of audience and relevant media theory and can relate
concepts articulately to the production outcome, describing specific elements in relation to theoretical
ideas about how media texts are produced for and received by audiences in various ways. Candidates
offer a broad range of specific, relevant, interesting and clear examples of how their product can be
understood in relation to relevant theories of audience and reception. The use of conceptual language is
excellent. Complex issues have been expressed clearly and fluently using a style of writing appropriate to
the complex subject matter. Sentences and paragraphs, consistently relevant, have been well structured,
using appropriate technical terminology. There may be few errors of spelling/punctuation/grammar”.