Media Concepts- Genre

Genre is a term which can be applied to a variety of forms of media, ranging from music and film, to magazines and books.

Genres split up different media into different categories, based on characteristics which they share, for example narratives, settings, storylines, characters and themes.

In particular genres can be referred to films, and films can be classified as being a particular genre, i.e. horror.

Genres are defined by conventions which can change over time, with new ones becoming invented as well as old ones being modified or upgraded.

What is Genre?

Examples of different Media Genres

• Action (Disaster)- ‘Die Hard’• Adventure- ‘Apollo 13’• Comedy- ‘Ace Ventura Pet Detective’• Crime- ‘L.A.’ Confidential’• Fantasy- ‘Toy Story’• Gangster- ‘The Godfather’• Horror- ‘Halloween’• Romance- ‘Casablanca’• Science Fiction- ‘The Sixth Sense’• Social Drama- ‘Schindler’s List’• Thriller- ‘No Way Out’

The list of films down the left have been split up into different genres.

In total there are 11 different genres, each with a different film associated to it, and all of these genres have different conventions, along with ranging storylines, narratives, settings etc…

Genre TheoryDaniel Chandler: Conventional definitions of genres tend to be based on the notion that they constitute particular conventions of content (such as themes or settings) and/or form (including structure and style) which are shared by the texts which are regarded as belonging to them.

“It is difficult to make clear-cut distinctions between one genre and another: genres overlap, and there are 'mixed genres' such as comedy-thrillers” (Chandler, 2000) .

It is easy to underplay the differences within a genre. Steve Neale declares that 'genres are instances of repetition and difference' (Neale 1980, 48). He adds that 'difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre': mere repetition would not attract an audience.

Repertoire of ElementsNick Lacey (2000) considers the 'repertoire of elements' that work in combination to suggest a media text belongs to a particular genre or mix of genres.

He provides a useful framework to follow when analysing genre. Lacey breaks a text down into these five areas to identify the elements in each:

Setting Character Narrative Iconography Style

Film GenresFilm genres are identifiable types, categories, classifications or groups of films that have similar techniques or conventions such as:

content subject matter structures themes mood period plot settings

recurring icons stock characters narrative events situations motifs styles props stars

Film GenresPrimary film genres include the following:

Action Films Adventure Films Comedy Films Crime Films Dramas Epics

Horror Films Musicals Science Fiction War Films Westerns

Sub-genresAre identifiable sub-classes within the larger film genre, with their own distinctive subject matter, style, formulas, and iconography.

Film GenresACTION:

Action films usually include high energy, big-budget physical stunts and chases, possibly with rescues, battles, fights, escapes, races against time and crises featuring non-stop motion, break-neck rhythm and pacing.

Action Sub-genres

spy espionage political thrillers martial arts films races against time

Action Sub-genres

spy espionage political thrillers martial arts films races against time

Action Sub-genres

spy espionage political thrillers martial arts films races against time

Action Sub-genres

spy espionage political thrillers martial arts films races against time

Action Sub-genres

spy espionage political thrillers martial arts films races against time

Hybrid

Where two genres both dominate and create a ‘mixture’ e.g ACTION-ADVENTURE

All media texts rely on genre conventions

Repertoire of elements

Using Lacey’s list, make a note of all the genre conventions you expect to see in:

A news program

Soap opera

Documentary

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