1. Genre Conventions

2. Genre A class or type of film such as the western or the horror movie. Films belonging to a particular genre share narrative, visual, and/or sound conventions Genre Conventions The Rules of character, setting, and narrative that films belonging to a genre generally obey

3. Horror

4. Horror Genre Conventions Monster Victim Disorienting/Ominous Setting Visual: Low lighting, Extreme Camera Angle Sound: Suspenseful music, Shock cues, Unsettling/unidentifiable sounds

5. Subgenres A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. Ex: The slasher film is a subgenre of horror Hybrid A film that uses the conventions of two or more genres. Ex: Cowboys & Aliens

6. Westerns

7. Western Genre Conventions Visual- – Props – six shooters, horses, whiskey – Costumes- Dirty/dusty, Cowboy boots, spurs etc. – Cinematography- Extreme long shots: Show rugged/inhospitable landscape of American West Sound: Buzzard calls, gunshots Themes – Hero on outskirts- Rugged independence vs. Society. Code of honor- usually emerges as hero riding off into the sunset – Restore law & Order or Struggle over land (cowboys vs. Indians) Generally Post Civil war

8. Action Films

9. Action Genre Conventions Visceral thrills Masculine heroics Over the top violence, spectacle, explosions, etc. Hero put in increasingly difficult/violent conflicts Visual: Urban setting, quick cuts, rapid transport: ex- cars, trains, subways Sound: Explosions/gunshots

10. Science Fiction

11. Science Fiction Genre Conventions Thematic interest between the relationship between technology & humanity – The potential of human ingenuity – spiritual/ physical costs of technological advancement Subgenres – Exploration film – Alien Film (Extraterrestrial, or Invader) – Mad Scientist – Dystopia

12. Musicals

13. Musical Genre Conventions Generally theatrical in nature 1920’s -1960’s Song & Dance numbers Lushly orchestrated music interludes Choreography Colorful spectacle Character driven romance Emotion expressed through song

14. Film Noir

15. Film Noir Genre Conventions Brought about by cynicism caused by WWII- departure from lavish film characters of 1930’s The “hard boiled detective” Down and out protagonist – Usually winds up worse than when he began – Figure of isolation who trusts no one Femme Fatale Urban landscape Typically include Voice Over narration