Media Homework

2. GENRE IS A STYLE OF FILM WHICH HAS A
CONVENTIONAL THEMES, CHARACTERS AND
ICONOGRAPHIES.
Types of film genres:
• Horror
• Comedy
• Romance
• Sci- fi
• Fantasy
• Action Adventure
• Rom-Com
• Western
• Genres are useful to an audience
because when they pat to see a film
they know roughly what they’re
getting. Usually a certain genre will
have conventional audience
pleasures which audiences like to
expect.
• For institutions, a genre is important
so they know what genres are
selling well and they can also
advertise their film as a certain
genre

3. SPECIFIC GENRES HAVE CONVENTIONAL
‘REPERTOIRES OF ELEMENTS’ WHICH PLACE IT
IN THAT GENRE; IT IS WHAT THE AUDIENCE
EXPECT TO SEE IN THAT GENRE OF FILM,
INCLUDING THE CHARACTERS, ICONOGRAPHY,
SETTINGS, THEMES AND THE NARRATIVE

4. HORROR
Narrative- Usually a group of people in an isolated, old building get attacked by
either a maniac with a knife or a super-natural spirit. Either it ends with
everyone being killed, or the antagonist is stopped.
Characters- Typically, a group of people- either a group of teenagers or a family
with young children- are the protagonists. The antagonist, if human, is usually
some kind of psychopath, or it could be a spirit.
Iconography- Some kind of weapon, blood, screaming, an old house, dark
lighting.
Setting- Usually an isolated area, either in a forest or in the suburbs of a town, in
a big old house with creaking floorboards.
Themes- Usually the most successful horror films would conform to the
conventional good vs evil or dead vs alive.

5. ROMANCE
Narrative- Usually two characters meet, fall in love but then something happens which
means they cannot be together. That could be geology, family etc. but in the end,
by some miracle, they can be together.
Characters- The protagonists are the two characters who fall in love, almost always a
man and a woman who are usually quite attractive. If the film is a hybrid and is a
‘Rom-Com’ then there is often the set character of a best friend of one of the
characters, usually less attractive, unintelligent and amusing. Then there is the
antagonist; this is the character/characters that are responsible for the two
protagonist not being able to be together.
Iconography- The conventional iconography that the audience would expect is red
and white colours, roses, hearts, well dresses characters etc.
Settings- Often set in the city where things like night clubs and bars are open where
they can meet each other.
Themes- A popular film in the romance theme would be where two hetro-sexual
people meet, fall in love and run off together against all odds!

6. ACTION ADVENTURE
Narrative- Often a male protagonist, gets in some kind of trouble which more-
often-than-not means people try to kill him. Against all odds the protagonist
defeats the antagonist and gets the girl!
Characters- The protagonist is usually a good looking, strong male who is often
highly skilled with weaponry. There is quite often a love interest between the
protagonist and his good looking, female assistant/side-kick. Then there is an
antagonist; usually a powerful, male who has lots of people working beneath
him who the protagonist has to go through before getting to him.
Iconography- Explosions, guns, dark colours, fast cars etc.
Setting s- In a city where there is lots going on and there can be dangerous car
chases and threat to innocent people who the protagonist can save.
Themes- Popular themes would be good vs evil where the weaker, good side
overcome the strong, powerful evil side.