Theory of Macro and Micro

elements of Genre

Altman: media theorist who stated that film genre can be talked about in two ways:

1.Syntactic (macro): the stories that the film tells

2.Semantic (micro): how these stories are presented

Example: Teen Slasher Genre

Micro (semantic) features:

•Low key lighting and use of shadows

•POV camerawork through eyes of killer

•Slow pace of editing to lure us into thinking

everything is ok, followed by fast pace during

moments of high tension

•Fluid moving handheld camera

•Urgent, persistent music raising tension, and

moment of silence to raise tension

•Use of a mask to hide identity of killer

•Use of murder weapon – often a knife

Macro (syntactic) features:

•Absence of parents/authority figures

•Predominant cast of teenage/young adults

•Popular blonde, geek, jock, and other stock characters

dominate

•Loner killer known by characters – identity revealed at

end

•Theme of revenge

•Series of brutal killings – main characters solve crimes

For example Scream (1996)

POV shot - allows

audience to see what the

character is seeing.

Mask to hide the killer's

identity, creating mystery.

Weapons - knife she plays

with the knife foreshadows

what could or is going to

happen.

Typical

blonde

Teenager

Macro

Micro

Absence of

parents/authority

figure