Christian Metz was a French film theorist who believed genres go through four stages over their lifetime: the experimental stage where foundations are built, the classic stage where codes and conventions become iconic, the parody stage where codes can be mocked since they are widely recognized, and the deconstruction stage where genres begin to evolve, merge with others, and have their rules broken.

1. C H R I S T I A N M E T Z .
GENRE THEORY.

2. WHO WAS HE?
• A French film theorist.
• Around from December 12th 1931 to September 7th
1993.
• Of the belief genres go through a cycle of changes
during their lifetime:
1. Experimental stage.
2. Classic stage.
3. Parody stage.
4. Deconstruction stage.

3. EXPERIMENTAL STAGE.
• This is the beginning phases of the genre.
• Here the foundations are built, so the generic codes
and conventions are set.

4. CLASSIC STAGE.
• This is where the codes and conventions of a genre
become seen as iconic and idealised as the
guidelines for the genre.

5. PARODY STAGE.
• Now these codes and conventions are established,
widely recognised and accepted they can be
parody – people can use and mock them.
• This is based on the fact the audience have
understood the codes and conventions from the
classic stage.

6. DECONSTRUCTION STAGE.
• Now the genre can begin to evolve and merge
with others.
• Genres become less clear cut and the rules can be
broken.