Genres are characterized by recognizable features that audiences know and expect. They follow familiar formulas using stock characters, plots, locations, music and narrative structures. This allows for instant communication with audiences and means producers do not need to establish characters and plots. However, genres can become too formulaic and texts that do not fit genres have trouble being distributed.

1. AN INTRODUCTION
TO GENRE
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2. A genre has characteristic
features that are known to and
recognised by audiences.
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3. A genre has characteristic
features that are known to and
recognised by audiences
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The same formula is
applied time and time again.

4. Westerns
War films
Soap operas
Crime drama
are obvious examples
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5. Game shows
News bulletins
Documentaries
Reality TV, etc.
are also genres
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6. There are also subgenres
within genres.
Spaghetti westerns
Hammer horror films
James Bond
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7. What makes genre
attractive
to audiences?
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8. What makes genre
attractive
to audiences?
Expectations are fulfilled
and they can predict what
will happen next.
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9. Why do producers like to
work within a genre?
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10. Why do producers like to
work within a genre?
Communication with the
audience is instant…
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11. Why do producers like to
work within a genre?
..as key components are easily
recognisable (see stereotypes)
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12. Why do producers like to
work within a genre?
…no need to set up
characters and plots.
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13. The audience
will know what
to expect
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14. For a genre to become
established, certain
conventions need to
become identifiable in
the general consciousness
of the audience.
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15. KEY COMPONENTS
of GENRE
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16. KEY COMPONENTS
• Stock characters
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17. KEY COMPONENTS
• Stock characters
• Stock plots, situations, issues
and themes
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18. KEY COMPONENTS
• Stock characters
• Stock plots, situations, issues
and themes
• Stock locations and backdrops
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19. KEY COMPONENTS
• Stock characters
• Stock plots, situations, issues
and themes
• Stock locations and backdrops
• Stock props
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20. KEY COMPONENTS
• Stock characters
• Stock plots, situations, issues
and themes
• Stock locations and backdrops
• Stock props
• Recognisable music
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21. KEY COMPONENTS
• Stock characters
• Stock plots, situations, issues
and themes
• Stock locations and backdrops
• Stock props
• Recognisable music
• Generic conventions
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22. KEY COMPONENTS
• Stock characters
• Stock plots, situations, issues
and themes
• Stock locations and backdrops
• Stock props
• Recognisable music
• Generic conventions
• Familar narrative structure
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23. DISADVANTAGES of GENRE
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24. DISADVANTAGES of GENRE
• formulaic media texts
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25. DISADVANTAGES of GENRE
• formulaic media texts
• texts that do not fall into line
have problems getting shown
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26. DISADVANTAGES of GENRE
• formulaic media texts
• texts that do not fall into line
have problems getting shown
• texts that are not easily
categorised are difficult to sell
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27. SUMMARY
Genres function
according to sets of
rules and conventions
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28. SUMMARY
They respond to these
rules and conventions
by developing
formulas and patterns.
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29. SUMMARY
Over time, these formulas
and patterns may begin to
dominate the way we the
world about us.
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