This document provides guidance on analyzing how a film fits within its genre. It prompts the reader to consider how the chosen film, Slumdog Millionaire, uses conventions of the romantic drama genre through its storylines, themes, characters, dialogue, music, and technical elements. It also notes that the film has elements of other genres like Bollywood and hybridizes genres. The reader is asked to argue whether the film's auteur Danny Boyle's influence is too noticeable to still classify it as fitting a genre or if it can be considered of the genre despite his signature visual style.

1. To what extent are your chosen texts typical of their genre?
...this question has also been phrased...
How do your chosen texts use genre conventions?
There are lots and lots of things to write about regarding Slumdog Millionaire for this question
– it should be easy!
Things to write about...
• Conventions & key signifiers
• Iconography
• Storylines, plots
• Themes, functions and binary oppositions of the genre
• Use of dialogue, language, music
• Use of technical codes
Genre
• Hybrid genres
Things to consider... • Auteur theory Vs Genre
With examples, you need to demonstrate that this is a Romantic Drama film - find elements that are
iconic of the genre.
These can be visual codes and technical codes, however you should also talk about the themes that are
typical. What is this film about?
Discuss the fact that there are elements of a hybrid genre – predominantly a romantic drama but also
Film
influenced by Bollywood and British Asian cinema. Where are those influences? Again, look at the visual
and the thematic.
Is this a genre movie or is Danny Boyle’s influence too noticeable? Can he be considered to be an auteur?
Make a For and Against argument with small references to other films - explain how the theory runs
counter to genre theory. Explain Boyle’s visual signature on the movie.
Briefly discuss how the non-linear narrative disguises the fact this has many conventions of the genre.