1. Genre Theory
The word genre means type or category. To study a film as a genre involves treating it, not as
a unique entity, but as a member of a general category; as a certain type of film. The aim, is
therefore to classify, or organise, a large number of films into a small number of groups. -
Warren Buckland
Genre helps both audiences and institutions to make decisions about what they want to see
and what they want to make to supply that demand. If we recognise of a text it enables us to
feel at home and we gain enjoyment from “spotting the conventions” (repetition) and
making comparisons with other films of the same genre.
However if a text deviates from the conventions it can confuse us, but at the same time we
enjoy seeing the rules broken, providing that the film-maker doesn’t go too far.
Genre and Audiences
- Genre offers audiences a structure or framework enabling us to feel secure in our
knowledge.
- Audiences like the anticipation of waiting for the predictable features and getting
involved in text.
- Audiences can influence genres by reviving them.
- We are more advanced than audiences of the past simply because we’ve seen more
films than anyone in the history of the media, so we expect genres to be played with.
Genre Theorists
Buckingham1993
- Traditionally genres tended to be regarded as fixed forms but contemporary theory
emphasises that both their forms and functions and dynamic.
- “genre is not, simply given by the culture: rather, it is in a constant process of
negotiation and change”
- Changes in genre reflects changes in society and our values.
EXAMPLES;
- War films (before it was world wars now it is often cyber fights)
- Comedies (rude humour, women’s roles aren’t only ditsy blondes)
- Space (before it was more fictional whereas now it’s more realistic)
- Horrors (people don’t believe in ghosts anymore and now it’s more realistic fears: the
purge)
- Romance (women are more forward. More diverse relationships, very few but is a
growing epidemic.)
- Weston (role of the hero has changed)
2. RickAltmen1999
“There is no such thing as ‘pure’ genre anymore. Genre is progressive, in that it will always
changer”
He said that generic conversation are very much a thing of the past. His theory suggests that
audiences, in general have become tired of the same formula and need more to keep them
entertained and to create appeal
He says that genre is surviving due to “hybridisation- or genres ‘borrowing’ conversation from
one another and thus being much more difficult to categorise”
Tom Ryall1978
Ryall argues that genres are recognisable through the repeated use of generic codes and
conventions, as how we as the audience know a horror film is a horror film.
He suggests that the types of conventions found in genres might be grouped within the
following categories:
- Iconographies (symbolic forms associated with the genre)
Example. Horror: creepy dolls
- Narrative (structure, open/closed)
Example. Police: cop buddies
- Representations (characters/stereotypes)
Example. Horror: killer, victims, hero lives and defeats.
- Ideologies (beliefs and ideas of the ‘ideal’ concept, themes)
Example. Good vs bad HEGEMONY
Goodwin
“Music videos are simply an extension of the lyrics”
5 ways to analyse a music video, 4 relationships of visuals to song. Does the video illustrate,
amplify or cause disjuncture.
My video
Seafret – be there (indie/alternative pop)
Possible genre conventions: lip sync, miming playing instruments (acoustic guitar), dance,
narrative story, natural imagery, editing to the beat, engagement with audience, artists/
character shown, music playing.
3. GENRE THEORY: BREAKDOWN
Positives:
- Clear framework to work from
- Audiences will know what to
expect
- Quick predictions/know whether
like song or not
- Everyone understands and uses
genre. TV, music, games, books etc.
- Students know how to study it
- Media industry knows how to
develop and market texts
- Audiences know how to consume
it.
Negative:
- Lazy
- Old hat, seen it all before
- Too generalised. Restricted
audiences due to personal
preferences.
- Could alienate audiences
- Restricted on what to make. Only
way to escape is to break
conventions.
- Cost of the combination of more
than one genre
- Films may not be funded if there
are too-risky genre
Daniel Chandler: “conventional definitions of genre are based on the idea that they share
particular convention of content e.g themes or setting”
Steve Neale: “genres are instances of repetition and difference; this is what pleasure for
the audience is derived from”
John Hartley: “The same text can belong to different genres on different countries or
times”
John Fiske: “genres attempts to structure some order into a wide range of texts and
meanings that circulate in our culture for the conveniences of both producers and
audiences”
Katie Wales: “genre is… an intertextual concept”
