Name the genre….

Name the genre….

Name the genre….Name the genre….

Name the genre….

Learning ObjectiveLearning ObjectiveDevelop understanding of Develop understanding of Genre in preparation for Genre in preparation for q1(b) of summer examq1(b) of summer exam

Why DO WE STUDY Genre?Why DO WE STUDY Genre?

Genre offers audiences a formula.Genre offers audiences a formula.

Genre actually help us to make Genre actually help us to make sense of the media.sense of the media.

Genre defines a market for the Genre defines a market for the industry.industry.

What are the film What are the film genres?genres?

Gangster & CrimeThe western

Romantic comedy

thriller

Sci-fi

horrormusic

alcomedy

melodrama

Social realist drama

action

GenreGenre

The notion of The notion of convention, convention, repetition and repetition and expectationexpectation are central in are central in understanding genre theory. understanding genre theory.

CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONS

Who in the media is responsible Who in the media is responsible for establishing the genre for establishing the genre conventions?conventions?

The media makers- writers, The media makers- writers, producers, editors, directors etc.producers, editors, directors etc.

The industry.The industry. The consumers?The consumers?

REPETITIONREPETITION

Once the conventions are Once the conventions are established they are then established they are then repeated by the industry. Why?repeated by the industry. Why?

Because audiences become familiar Because audiences become familiar with it.with it.

A successful formula makes money!A successful formula makes money!

EXPECTATIONS?EXPECTATIONS?

The audience's expectations are met The audience's expectations are met by the repeating of the conventions. by the repeating of the conventions.

Audiences enjoy……. Audiences enjoy……. ‘predictable ‘predictable pleasures’.pleasures’.

Discuss: think of a TV or film example that you Discuss: think of a TV or film example that you have seen recently where you could predict have seen recently where you could predict what you were going to see.what you were going to see.

Repertoire of elements Repertoire of elements Genre is no longer a set of fixed Genre is no longer a set of fixed

elements, consistently repeated but elements, consistently repeated but working within the repertoire of working within the repertoire of elements.elements.

Narrative Narrative Ideological themes Ideological themes IconographyIconography

Stephen Neale Stephen Neale film theorist:film theorist:

“ “ Genre is a system of Genre is a system of orientations, expectations orientations, expectations

and conventions that and conventions that circulate between circulate between industry, text and industry, text and

subject”.subject”.

IconographyIconography What is it? What is it?

Familiar iconic signs present within a Familiar iconic signs present within a genre. The physical tools of the genre.genre. The physical tools of the genre.

Includes:Includes:Props, Lighting, Setting, Costumes. Props, Lighting, Setting, Costumes. Essentially another term for mise-en-Essentially another term for mise-en-scene.scene.

Iconography ProblemsIconography Problems What is the problem with iconography for What is the problem with iconography for

some genres?some genres?

Some genres are not recognisable through Some genres are not recognisable through a fixed set of iconography. a fixed set of iconography.

e.g.: the musical or the melodrama.e.g.: the musical or the melodrama.

Some genres do have distinct, recurring Some genres do have distinct, recurring iconography.iconography.

The western and the gangster….what The western and the gangster….what about horror and sci-fi?about horror and sci-fi?

Case studies – Case studies –

Task: Task: within your groups identify the conventions of:within your groups identify the conventions of:

The western filmThe western film

Task:Task: watch this clip from the horror film ‘ watch this clip from the horror film ‘Drag Me To HellDrag Me To Hell’.’. How How many of the iconographic conventions can you identify:many of the iconographic conventions can you identify:

Task

•You are going to be shown a series of music magazines from a variety of genres.

• What genre(s) of music do you think they focus upon?

• How can you tell – think about the title, main image, sell-lines (i.e. content) etc?