A course material for O'level Media Studies. Simplified and well-knitted study resource.

1. Genre

2. This term defines a category, style or type of media
product.

3. Where do you see these icons?

4. Do you know these characters?

5. Did you see these posters?

6. What does the setting tells you?

7. What does the setting tells you?

8. What does the setting tells you?

9. Why is genre important?
Classification of texts into genre seems to be a natural part of making sense of
the cultural world. Children as young as five can classify television programs
and distinguish them by identifying key generic features, such recognizing real
or pretend violence. Identifying genres helps audiences to make sense of plot
conventions and narrative structures.

10. All media products can be categorized as
belonging to genres.

11. Genres are identified by the repetition of
distinctive features.

12. Genres can be divided into sub-
genres, i.e. vampire horror is a sub-
genre of horror.

13. Genres can determine narrative
conventions of a text.

14. Genres generate expectation in
audiences.

15. Genres are used by producers to
structure media products.

16. How can we identify a
genre?Genres can usually be identified through the sharing of common:
Character type
Iconography
Plots
Props
Locations
Music and soundtracks
Narratives or storylines

17. Terminologies
Iconography: the distinguishing elements, in terms of props and visual details,
that characterize a genre.
Narrative: the storyline and structure of a media text, which provide a framework
of expectation, predictability, and outcome.
Storyline: the story that is being told.
Plot: it involves the technical means by which the audience is given information
about the narrative progression of a film or a drama.