What is genre?
“a group of films having recognisably similar plots, character types, settings and filmic techniques, such as camera shots, sound, music, lighting, editing and themes…”
A bit of background…
Even in the early days of film, hundreds of films were made every year in a bid to keep up with the enormous demand for new, fresh films. This constant demand for new material led to the necessity of imitation.
As stories were reworked and re-shot, the use of conventions began to emerge. Conventions were a short hand for the sort of information that pushed the story along, e.g. the audience had seen hundreds of Westerns and no longer needed the same intensive set-up for the showdown. The convention was created where, when two men face each other on the street and menacingly look at each other, you can be sure bullets will fly.
Other genre groupings developed equally complex sets of conventions: the eerie music in a slasher film; the loss of the girl/boy due to dishonesty in a rom-com; the burst into song of a musical. These conventions are so accepted that we barely consider them (unless they appear in a satire, where we laugh at them).
Some genres:
ACTION/ADVENTURE COSTUME DRAMA
HORROR SCIENCE FICTION
THRILLER WESTERN
Can you think of any others?
Genres have particular narratives associated with them: e.g. the teen horror movie usually shows a ‘psycho’ killing off a group of friends until one, often a girl, remains. If generic conventions are simply repeated over and over again the films made become dull and predictable. A filmmaker relies upon conventions but must mix them up with his or her own ideas, adding a new element that keeps the film ‘fresh’ and interesting.
Audiences respond positively to the repetition of generic film conventions – we like to find ourselves in a familiar world. We know what sorts of films we enjoy and we know what the experience of watching those sorts of films will be like. It also makes it easier for us to understand the film – we don’t have to think too hard to figure out what’s happening (or what’s going to happen). But, as above, if a film sticks too closely to the familiar is could seem dull and ‘predictable’. Too far away from the familiar and it could be confusing. It’s a balancing act.
A genre’s repertoire of elements is the cues that let us know what genre is it, e.g. a title sequence will usually identify setting, main characters, ‘significant objects’ and narrative (how the story will be told). It could also include the response the genre evokes in an audience – comedy: laughter, melodrama: empathy, action-adventure: excitement etc.
Audiences and film producers both understand the repertoire of elements and use them as a short hand way of describing films (think of any trailer you’ve ever seen).
See below for the powerpoint and tasks covered in the lesson.
“a group of films having recognisably similar plots, character types, settings and filmic techniques, such as camera shots, sound, music, lighting, editing and themes…”
A bit of background…
Even in the early days of film, hundreds of films were made every year in a bid to keep up with the enormous demand for new, fresh films. This constant demand for new material led to the necessity of imitation.
As stories were reworked and re-shot, the use of conventions began to emerge. Conventions were a short hand for the sort of information that pushed the story along, e.g. the audience had seen hundreds of Westerns and no longer needed the same intensive set-up for the showdown. The convention was created where, when two men face each other on the street and menacingly look at each other, you can be sure bullets will fly.
Other genre groupings developed equally complex sets of conventions: the eerie music in a slasher film; the loss of the girl/boy due to dishonesty in a rom-com; the burst into song of a musical. These conventions are so accepted that we barely consider them (unless they appear in a satire, where we laugh at them).
Some genres:
ACTION/ADVENTURE COSTUME DRAMA
HORROR SCIENCE FICTION
THRILLER WESTERN
Can you think of any others?
Genres have particular narratives associated with them: e.g. the teen horror movie usually shows a ‘psycho’ killing off a group of friends until one, often a girl, remains. If generic conventions are simply repeated over and over again the films made become dull and predictable. A filmmaker relies upon conventions but must mix them up with his or her own ideas, adding a new element that keeps the film ‘fresh’ and interesting.
Audiences respond positively to the repetition of generic film conventions – we like to find ourselves in a familiar world. We know what sorts of films we enjoy and we know what the experience of watching those sorts of films will be like. It also makes it easier for us to understand the film – we don’t have to think too hard to figure out what’s happening (or what’s going to happen). But, as above, if a film sticks too closely to the familiar is could seem dull and ‘predictable’. Too far away from the familiar and it could be confusing. It’s a balancing act.
A genre’s repertoire of elements is the cues that let us know what genre is it, e.g. a title sequence will usually identify setting, main characters, ‘significant objects’ and narrative (how the story will be told). It could also include the response the genre evokes in an audience – comedy: laughter, melodrama: empathy, action-adventure: excitement etc.
Audiences and film producers both understand the repertoire of elements and use them as a short hand way of describing films (think of any trailer you’ve ever seen).
See below for the powerpoint and tasks covered in the lesson.