WHAT GENRE IS THIS?

Look at the posters – what genre is the film?

Give me three reasons why.

“Conventional definitions of genre are based on the idea that they share particular convention of content e.g. Themes or setting”

David Chandler

GENRE THEORYLO:

1) AM I ABLE TO IDENTIFY ISSUES RELATED TO GENRE?

2) CAN I BEGIN TO EVALUATE MY OWN WORK AND LINK IT TO KEY GENRE ISSUES?

IN THE EXAM:

YOU SHOULD DEMONSTRATE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF GENRE AND RELEVANT MEDIA THEORY.

TERMINOLOGY CHECKGenre: A type or style of media text. e.g. horror, romance

Convention: An element you expect to see in a genre. e.g. In an action film you expect to see violence, a male hero and the theme of good vs. evil.

Iconography: A sign (signifier) associated with the genre. e.g. dark settings and tense music = horror film

Ideology: The beliefs of an individual or group. What they think is important. e.g. The characters of Downton Abbey think it is important to be rich so host lots of parties and dinners to show off their wealth.

Hybrid-genre: When elements of two (or more!) genres are used within one film. e.g. Johnny English is an action-comedy or Shaun of the Dead is rom-com-zom (romantic comedy zombie film).

THINKING ABOUT GENRE• For your exam you will need to link your A2 coursework to issues

relating to genre.

Genre and Institution

-Film producers use genre as a means of minimising the economic risk in making films.

-Film distributors/exhibitors use genre as a means of advertising and promoting films.

- Both depend on audiences’ knowledge and past experience.

Genre and Audience

- They have certain expectations of film genres. Surrounding a set of typical conventions which they are hoping the film follows.

- Audiences’ expect genre films to involve innovation and subversion of the generic conventions.

“GENRES ARE INSTANCES OF REPETITION AND DIFFERENCES” • What does this quote mean?

• What do you think should stay the same in a genre?

• What do you think it is easier to change in a genre?

Task – The ‘Buddy Cop’ Film

Watch the following trailers. In pairs complete the comparison worksheet. You should look to:

a) Identity any clear genre (action) conventions used.

b) Identify the differences used to make the film ‘unique’.

Trailer One Trailer Two Trailer Three Trailer Four

Steve Neale, 1980

“GENRES ARE INSTANCES OF REPETITION AND DIFFERENCES” • What do you understand about this quote?

Steve Neale also stated:

“DIFFERENCE IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE ECONOMY OF GENRE.”• How do genres ensure their survival?

• Who do you think this benefits more:

a) The audience?

b) The institution?

“GENRE IS A CONSTANT PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION AND CHANGE” – DAVID BUCKINGHAM • Buckingham believes that the audience does not just accept

the genre as set. It has to adapt as the culture surrounding it changes.

• How could it be argued the films below are examples of a cultural change?

LINKING IT TO YOUR OWN WORK• For this section of the exam you will be expected to discuss your

work critically.

• Basically, this means you are pretending it is not your work. You have to analyse it as if it were any other media text we would study.

Success Criteria: Candidates offer a range of specific, relevant, interesting and clear examples of how their product can be understood in relation to relevant theories of genre.

Task

Complete the genre analysis worksheet using the quotes to help you link your work to the three genre issues we have looked at.

Green = Level 2 (E-D)

Yellow = Level 3 (C-B)

Purple = Level 4 (B-A*)

SHARING IS CARING

• Discuss your ideas with your partner.

• REMEMBER: You have seen everyone’s AS piece.

• Do you agree with your partner’s ideas?

• Have they missed any examples from their work out?

• How could they improve to deepen their analysis?