Task 1 - Genre

1. Genre
What is genre?
Simply, genre refers to the way in which a piece of media is categorised. For example, a film can
fall under the genre of: action, romance, comedy, horror etcetera. Some people aim to explain
genre more specifically, such as Steve Neale, who theorises that genre is all about repetition, and
difference over time. He says that this is "essential to the economy of genre".
Use of genre in media
Firstly, the primary function of genre once a film is released is let the potential audience decide
whether they want to see the film, based on their experiences with other films of the same genre.
Audience expectations are also of paramount importance when it comes to marketing and
advertising a piece of media. For example, a producer would have a better idea of whether they
want to invest in a film if they believe that the genre of the film is usually successful. More
importantly, the distribution and marketing departments of the film in question will need to know
what genre they are working with so that they can create posters, trailers, etc, with the usual
conventions of the genre in mind.
Genre theory
There are a lot of different opinions and disagreements when it comes to the fundamental
principles of genre. Theorists, such as Steve Neale whom I have already covered. Firstly, there
are fundamental identifiable conventions to all genres. For example, a convention of a horror
film would be a dark colour palette and ominous music. As soon as you identified these things in
a trailer, you would know it was a trailer for a horror film. Aside from Steve Neale, other
theorists include:
 Daniel Chandler thought that genre is too restricting. He said that, “Films like Gravity
have a limited appeal due to notions of predictability (notions of self-sacrifice) even
through Cuaron attempted more verisimilitude than other ‘space films’ like Mission to
Mars and Apollo 13. A type of genre straight-jacket is evident.”
 John Fiske argued that genre is a ‘convenience’ for producers and audiences, and nothing
more. He said that, “With X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a familiar action adventure
formula is developed (hybridized with Science Fiction and the Superhero genre) which
serves to ensure 20th Century Fox target a market who have expectations in terms of
conventions”.
 John Hartley commented that genre is interpreted culturally. He made the point that,
“Bollywood films are predominantly watched and interpreted culturally by a Hindi target
audience and students of the genre who understand the encoded metaphor and meaning
through the elaborate dance routines e.g. in films like ‘Dilwane Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’
(The Brave Hearted will take away The Bride)”.
 Henry Jenkins – presented the notion that the purpose of genre is to constantly ‘break
rules’, e.g. evolving hybridisation. He is quoted saying that, “Hybridisation is now
commonplace to maximize audience appeal but also to offer a unique selling point by
appearing to break the rules, e.g. Submarine is both social realist in format but using
comedy conventions typical for a ‘rites of passage’ film”.
 Jason Mittel thought of genre more in terms of its purpose within the media business, and
how industry uses genre commercially. He said that, “Genre is a way of exploiting an

2. audience who enjoy certain types of representations e.g. tabloid newspapers and the
obsession with celebrity gossip which is also used as a form of synergy with programmes
like “I’m a Celebrity – Get me out of Here!”
‘Nick Lacey's Repertoire of Elements’
Nick Lacey proposed that there are five identifies to tick off when genre is concerned. When all
the identifiers line up, you will be able to clearly tell what genre any piece of media is. However,
lacey does not see genre as fixed, but rather as a dynamic, flowing concept, that changes over
time with regards to popular culture, politics, and other social elements. Nick Lacey’s proposed
genre elements are:
 Narrative – The events that happen - or that an audience would be able to put together –
in a piece of media.
 Iconography – This refers to the set design, props, and costume used in the piece of
media in question. For example, conventional iconography of a horror film might
include: knives – and other weaponry, masks, and run down/disused buildings.
 Characters – By this, Lacey is referring to the character types present. For example, in a
comedy, you would have characters such as: the sidekick, the jester, and the bully.
 Setting - This is a broader one, as films and other types of media can be set in an almost
inconceivable variety of settings. However, they are still able to give you an indication of
genre, for example, a school would be an indicator of a ‘teen’ film.
 Style – Again, this is more broad, but paired with the other four elements, you will have a
very clear idea of what genre you are dealing with. An example of style would be Wes
Anderson’s usual choice of style, with symmetrical shots and bright colours. Before any
dialogue, by this description you can already guess that there will likely be elements of
romance, and comedy involved.
Genre Analysis
Romance - Sign Language – Oscar Sharp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGfyxzJacLI
The narrative of Oscar Sharp’s ‘Sign Language’, puts you in the film, using point of view camera
work, and direct address. We are taken through the last day of work for ‘Ben’, as a sign holder in
London. The romantic element of this film introduces itself when we are made aware of a female
character, who is immediately identified as the love interest. The iconography is very clear – and
almost blatant in establishing the role of the characters within society. They all wear clothes that
are built for function instead of form, such as fingerless gloves, and knitted beanies, and they are
all carrying a sign or handing out leaflets. This lets us know that characters are all part of the
same community, and all have their profession in common. The only character in this film who
has a speaking role is Ben, our hero. The others are silent, and communicate via ‘sign-language’ ,
as it were, buy revealing words hidden behind their signs that shoe Ben a message just as he has
lost faith in his friends, and himself. The characters are also hyperbolised by Ben for comedic

3. effect. This allows the film to follow a short joke structure, as we expect the characters to be
nothing like Ben says, but in the end, they meet his expectations, and go far beyond ours. The
short film is set in Oxford Circus in London. This is established with a read sign that reads
‘Oxford Circus’, and Ben saying that London is ‘the most exciting place in the world.’ the setting
is very important to this film as it helps solidify the films place as being a comment of what it
means to be British – a Londoner to be specific. Arguably, this film falls more under the
category of being an ‘English film’. By this, I am referring to films like: This is England, Snatch,
and Wild Bill, all of which would no-doubt be difficult to understand and empathise with from
the perspective of an audience member who does not originate from the U.K. the style of the film
is, as I said, point of view, direct address shooting, to give it a very personal touch, and allow us
to connect with the character and his world as much as possible in under three minutes, before
the climax of the narrative, at which point, we are supposed to care enough about Ben to have the
ending be impactful. The film also relies on the extremes of camera positions - i.e. close ups/long
shots - to show a contrast, and a divide regarding, what Ben thinks, and the reality. In terms of
genre identification, I think that it most closely falls under the category of a ‘romance’ film,
although, in accordance with Henry Jenkins’ genre theory, it has many different aspects that
make genre very hard to clearly identify. I realise that this may also be due to the three-minute
time constraint of the film, but nonetheless, specific genre identifiers are lacking.
Comedy – One-Minute Time Machine – Devon Avery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkBS4O3yvY
The narrative of Devon Avery’s ‘One-Minute Time Machine, is essentially one about a man
trying to impress a woman. Fortunately, he is in the unique position of being in possession of a
time machine that takes him back one minute in time, so that he can perfect that way in which he
creates his first impression with Regina, the female lead, and love interest. As the narrative
progresses, we find out that Regina is also proficient in knowledge of the quantum science used
in order to create the time machine. Ironically, this film is very linear in structure as the events
happen chronologically, in real terms, apart from a few flashback shots of the repercussions of
using the time machine so frequently. The iconography used is almost exclusively relevant to the
motif of quantum mechanics, such as the time machine, and the book about quantic physics and
time travel. The James wears a semi-formal shirt, unbuttoned, with a black undershirt, and his
sleeves rolled up. This indicates a laid back, and callous character who is not bothered about the
impression he has on Regina. Which of course is both true, and untrue – and certainly a joke
about quantum physics. Regina wears the kind of clothes you would expect a teacher to wear.
Conservative, unbranded, and very un-memorable. She also wears her hair up, in a messy, un-
styled way, which illustrates her devoting to academia and disregard for anything that isn't her
subject of interest. They are the only two characters in the film, but they have many different
versions of themselves, so you could argue that there is an infinite amount of characters, as the
film ends unresolved with Regina pressing the button to send her back in time – a behavior that
they have made clear will lead to a copy of yourself being made, and the other killed. The setting
– which took me a second viewing to understand – appears to be a university campus. At first,

4. one may think it is a park, naturally, but when taking in to account the facts that both are
enthusiastic and knowledgeable about quantum science, Regina is a doctor of quantum
mechanics, and there appears to be multiple academic looking buildings within this ‘park’, it is
clear that the film is set in a higher education facility. As I mentioned, this films style lends itself
well to multiple viewings, due to the nature of the content. However, aside from narrative, the
style of this film is very reminiscent of ‘The Good Place’, in terms of music, camera positioning,
colour, and humor. By this, I mean that the camera rarely moves, and when it does, the balance
of the two characters is off in a sense of dialogue. Even the way in which the characters interact,
and the themes are very similar to ‘The Good Place’, and it is clear that the director was
influenced hugely by this. Again, the genre is difficult to decide, but I think that comedy suits it
best, as science fiction - I think – requires more interaction with fictional creatures, and a less
conceivable plot.
Western – The Gunfighter – Eric Kissack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJlVlugZYc
The narrative of Eric Kissack’s western comedy, ‘The Gunfighter’, is unique is that it allows the
non-diegetic narrator to have an effect on, and be heard by the characters who are actually in the
film. The narrative follows a ‘gunfighter’ who walks in to a bar, and the classic western scene
happens where everyone gets rilled up and prepares for a shootout. However, Nick Offerman’s
narration is used to expose a side of the characters that no one would ever have seen before, by
exploring their inner conflicts and secrets that would have never had a chance to come to light, if
it weren’t for such a sadistic narrator. The iconography, in this film, is what makes the genre.
The content could be anything at all, but if it is set in a saloon and people are dressed as cowboys
and western style prostitutes, then you’re watching a western. Take back to the future for
example. The first two things are probably some of the furthest pieces of media from a western
you can think of, the third however, is set in the time of the conflict between ‘Cowboys and
Indians’, which allows there to be specific iconography to define the genre. These include:
Cowboy hats, saloon, revolvers, horses, and teeth kept in very poor condition. Im sure you could
think of many more. This may be one of the reasons that westerns aren’t as popular anymore;
because the story is predictable and worn out. Obviously there are exceptions, such as The
Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and The Hateful Eight, but for the most part, westerns are dead. This
links to what Daniel Chandler said about genre, being that it is too ‘restricting’, and essentially
obsolete as a concept, due to the fact that so many genres are always present in any one film. The
characters, as I have touched on, are classic western characters, with the twist that their emotions
are shown, which is something relatively new to the western genre, unless you count ‘Brokeback
Mountain’ within it. The style is interesting, as it does not pretend to be in a different time period
with filters or purposefully chosen retro equipment. It is shot with modern techniques and
technology, that allow the uniqueness and difference of the film to stand out. You are
immediately caught slightly off guard by the fact that you are watching a western, that isnt
pretending to be a western. This is also true of Buster Scruggs, and The Hateful Eight, as
mentioned. Perhaps this is the formula for revitalising the western genre.

5. Conclusion
In conclusion, genre is something that is very much up to interpretation, but this, in a way, is
what is so helpful about it. As trends and society change, so does media, and the idea of ‘genre’
as a dynamic identifier allows a range of people, from producers and distributers, to potential
audience members decide whether they want to invest their time, and money, in the piece of
media in question. Perhaps my analyses tell us that genre really isn’t as black and white as
Hollywood would have you believe. You may go to the cinema to watch an ‘action’ film, but
within that will be elements of adventure, of romance, of thriller. Ultimately, genre is becoming
more obsolete as the years go on, and as film develops, because not many people are interested
in making, or watching films that only stick to conventional, robotic ideas of one genre.