Genre Theory 1

Year 13: Media StudiesLesson

objectiveWhat is genre?

Define genre

What is genre?

Genre films are commercial features which use repetition and variation to tell a familiar story line using familiar types of characters and situations (Grant: 1986: xi).

Genre is helpful in limiting the scope of the film for the viewer, writer and director. Film genre helps the cinematic industry as a whole by helping the audience choose which film they want to see.

Why is genre important?

New and familiar media text Characters and locations

Genre gives the audience familiarity Feel comfortable watching a

particular genre We can predict throughout the film

Evolution of Genre

1950s To now

The wild Bunch (1969)

The wild Bunch (1969)

What is the genre? How can you tell? Protagonists/Antagonists?

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Soldiers = bandits Bandit = undercover police

Any other films that challenge genre conventions?

Challenging genre?

Knowledge of genre Enjoy the unexpectedness

Evolution of genre

Film noir – modern cinema E.g. Pulp fiction

Do audiences create genre? If an audience like a particular film,

what do producers do?

Proliferation of the same film thus creating a trend, the same genre

What films can you think of? Horror Epic

Auteur

French word for author Andre Basin developed idea of

Auteur The director/producer becomes a

pioneer of a particular style

E.g Alfred Hitchcock Quentin Tarintino Tim Burton

1980s

Genre and Audiences

Why do you think genre changes and evolve?

Audiences want something new Desensitised Want to be challenged

But not too much!

Lesson 2 Genre

Quick fire What is genre? What was the first film to challenge

genre? Why do institutions challenge genre?

Representation essay question for Wednesday

What is hybrid genre?

Hybrid genres (Late 1980s)

Parody 1990s

Why do film makers like genre? It’s easy to

market to make (director) to get a guaranteed audience Choose a star Market your star

Director and genre

What is your favourite genre? What was the last film you watched? Why?

Stars and genre

What stars are affiliated with certain genres?