Genre theory

Genre Theory

Beth Upchurch

Christian Metz

• He was a French film theorist who is renowned for his genre characteristics theory.

• Born: December 12th 1931• Death: September 7th 1993 (62 years old)• Metz’s claims there are reoccurring

expectations there are 4 development stages that can be applied to a genre;

• Classical• Experimental• Parody • Deconstruction.

MUSIC VIDEOS – GENRE THEORY…

Experimental Stage

• This is the beginning phases of the genre. Here the foundations are built, so the generic codes and conventions are set.

• For example – Michael Jackson “Thriller”• https://youtu.be/sOnqjkJTMaA• This gave artists high expectations of music

videos, in addition the music video contains the characteristics within a pop genre which is an upbeat tempo, also the video consists of a lot of dancing which is a huge convention within pop music videos as a lot of pop artists include a dance scene within their videos.

Classic Stage

• This is where the codes and conventions of a genre become seen as iconic and idealised as ‘the’ guidelines for the genre.

• For example – Ed Sheeran - “Give Me Love”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOjdXSrtUxA

• For example – Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bESGL

ojNYSo

Parody Stage• Codes and Conventions have been established,

widely recognised and accepted, they can be parody – people can use them and mock them. This is based on the fact the audience have understood the codes and conventions from the classic stage.

• For example – Meghan Trainor - "All About That Bass" PARODY

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xXEaWz5Iw

• For example – Beyoncé – “Run the world (Girls)”• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe

6U&ob=av2e• I particularly chose Beyoncé's music video as

this is her only music video where she is dominant over men. The rest have been about how vulnerable she is and gets hurt often. This therefore represents parody to me as it’s unusual and such a contrast to her other music videos, you have to of watched some of them before to understand though.

Deconstruction Stage• Now the genre can begin to emerge with others. Genre

becomes less clear cut and the rules can be broken.• For example – Lady Gaga – “Edge of Glory”• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeWBS0JBNzQ • This video of lady gaga represents deconstruction which

shows her own identity which therefore forms hybrids as this is known to be unconventional furthermore the videos that she creates are unconventional as they don’t contain similar codes as other pop videos.

• A typical pop video contains dance routines, bright colours and bright outfits and a happy atmosphere whereas within this video there are dark colours, dark costumes which isn’t conventional towards the pop genre and a very dark and unhappy atmosphere.

FILM TRAILERS – GENRE THEORY…(HORROR FILM TRAILERS INPARTICULAR)

Experimental Stage

• This is the beginning phases of the genre. Here the foundations are built, so the generic codes and conventions are set.

• For example – Nosferatu (1979) – Phantom der Nacht

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AciHtHoD1MQ

• For example – Alfred Hitchcock ‘The Lodger’ (1926)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfyhFWoNARk

Classic Stage• This is where the codes and

conventions of a genre become seen as iconic and idealised as ‘the’ guidelines for the genre.

• For example – Frankeinstein (1931)• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5HCmd-Rjvc

• For example – Dracula (1931)• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V

oaMw91MC9k

Parody Stage

• Codes and Conventions have been established, widely recognised and accepted, they can be parody – people can use them and mock them. This is based on the fact the audience have understood the codes and conventions from the classic stage.

• For example – A Haunted House • https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J50vA5VLR6k

• For example – Carry On Screaming• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8

jPn4g-eR48

Deconstruction Stage

• Now the genre can begin to emerge with others. Genre becomes less clear cut and the rules can be broken.

• For example – Insidious 3 • https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HxEXnVSr1w

• For example – Evil Dead• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B

HDJm1D2ELw