• Male and Female characters (normally mid to late twenties)• USA• Hand to hand combat• Coffee shop• Guns• Sometimes comedy• Explosions• Revenge• Car chases or collisions

Physical strength (often unrealistic)Two opposing forcesWorkplaceBest friend Car chases or collisionsLove songsLoves me Loves me Not themeSlapstick aspectDevil may care attitudes

• Male and Female characters (normally mid to late twenties)• USA• Hand to hand combat• Coffee shop• Guns• Sometimes comedy• Explosions• Revenge• Car chases or collisions

Physical strength (often unrealistic)Two opposing forcesWorkplaceBest friend Car chases or collisionsLove songsLoves me Loves me Not themeSlapstick aspectDevil may care attitudes

Film Genre

GENRE MAIN COLOURS USED

MAIN TYPE OF LIGHTING (soft, harsh, shiny, glow, warm, cold etc)

MAIN DIRECTORS MAIN ACTORS USUAL AGE RATING

GOOD DESCRIBING WORDS YOU COULD USE TO ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO SEE IT

MAIN IMAGES USED ON POSTER

Example:WESTERN

Browns, Oranges, Yellows

Warm natural light, sunsets, and sunrises

Sergio Leone, John Ford

Clint Eastwood, Henry Fonda, John Wayne

12 / 15 “A fierce battle.”“a hidden treasure”“classic, sharpshooting film”

Deserts, bars, cactus, western style towns, guns, cowboys, horses, men smoking

HORROR

ACTION

ROMANCE

WAR

SCI FI

• Learn the meaning of the term “Genre”• Apply the term to Film• Look at how genre is used to analyse filmic

aspects• Understand iconography as a part of genre

analysis• Apply iconography to film clips

• Understand “Film Genre” and how it is used

Objectives

• Genre is a French word meaning “form” or “type” and can be used to categorise something.

• It refers to a number of specific styles or characteristics.

• When used in terms of films, it may include the conventions and expectations of how a film will look and what will be included.

• It can cover many aspects including: Narrative Characterisation Basic Themes Settings Filmic

Techniques Iconography

Genre in Film

The Romantic Comedy Genre

especially for Jordon…

Answer with this in mind!

Things to consider when you analyse the genre of a film:

•Narrative – what ? Similar sometimes formulaic plots and structures, predictable situations, sequences, episodes, obstacles, conflicts and resolutions.

•Characterisation – what? Similar types of characters sometimes stereotypes, roles, personal qualities, motivations, goals, behaviour.

Analysis

• Basic themes ? Topics, social, cultural, psychological, professional, political,

sexual and moral.

• Settings? Geographical and historical.

• Filmic techniques? Stylistic or formal conventions of camerawork, lighting, sound-

recording, use of colour, editing etc.

Analysis

• Iconography

• A familiar stock of images or motifs, the connotations or meaning of which have become fixed.

• Primarily but not necessarily visual these can include: – Sets, costumes and props– Certain 'typecast‘ or iconic performers.– Familiar patterns of dialogue, characteristic music and

sounds.

Analysis

• When you look at some of the main genres, these elements become essential to an audience's understanding of the film.

• They will be able to recognise iconic or typecasts stars.

• Specific conflicts and narrative themes.

• And most obviously the iconography.

Film Genre

• A simple example of the iconography aspect of genre in use within film would be that you would expect to see:

• Singing In a Musical.

• Dancing• Elaborate costumes • Over-exaggerated characters • A lead male A lead female • Some sort of love story • An element of comedy • A break in the narrative for a song or dance, which may help our

understanding of characters emotions etc.

An Example of Iconography:

• Now watching the clips from some of the main genres do the films conform to audiences genre expectations?

• List the iconography that you see, including, stars, characters, props, costumes and anything else you feel is relevant to genre recognition.

Genre

How do you know what you’ve signed up for? Iconography –visual and sound signifiers

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxYdbGHzaTk&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUg4gWjOgXs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9pY8EWE06o

Action

• Guns• Explosions• Hand to hand combat• Two opposing forces• Physical strength (often unrealistic)• Car chases or collisions• Revenge• Sometimes comedy

Romantic Comedy• Male and Female characters (normally mid to late twenties)• USA• Coffee shop • Workplace• Best friend • Love songs• Loves me Loves me Not theme• Slapstick aspect• Devil may care attitudes

Westerns • Horses (horse and carriage)• Rolling hills / desert • Cowboy hat• Guns• Shoot outs• Saloons• Old fashioned language• Patriarchal society• Crime / train robbery / stick-ups• Groups of men / the lone male • Tobacco and alcohol (fighting of demons)

• This can be applied to all of the main genres.• Others to consider are:• War• Family• Drama• Adventure• Disaster movie• Horror• Science fiction• Period / Historical

Genre

• Genre is important in the study of films as it helps to target specific audiences, or on the other hand can act as a signpost to audiences, helping them decide what to watch.

• The term genre can be applied to many Media forms, such as Radio Programmes, TV, Films, Websites and many more.

• Genre is not Media specific and is a word used throughout the English language and over many disciplines.

To Conclude

Think of your favourite film or films and discuss what genre it fits into?

List some features found in your favourite film / or expectations of your film, in terms of:• Narrative• Characterisation• Basic Themes• Settings• Filmic Techniques• Iconography

• List all the film genres you can think of with at least one expectation:

Period drama – elaborate costumes / formal language / linear narrative

Task

?Any Questions