3. What is auteurism and what are the
problems with theory?
The concept of genre is normally used as an
opposition to auteurism.
Genre can be seen as defining texts that are
formulaic and popular entertainment.
The ‘auteur’ (director) uses elements in film and
develops them in a very distinct way, placing
their ‘thumb print’ or mark on the movie, so
that it stands out from the crowd. (answers)
4. • Auteurism is an early approach, which has been taken from
literature and categorizes films through their author or director of
films.
• “Belief in the primary creative importance of the director in
filmmaking, often combined with a critical advocacy of the works of
certain strong, distinctive directors. Also called auteurism.”
• (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/auteur+theory)
• The theory is still used today, however it has encountered many
problems as films are now seen to be the result of a collaboration
and unique process that the entire company and boards set out to
complete. It is not really seen as the artistic vision, of just that one
person.
6. Who is supposed to have used the
term genre first of all in the context of
arts?
• The term genre was first introduced by the Greek
Philosopher Aristotle, who first used genre in the
context of art, rather like scientist trying to
categorize plants and animals.
• The genres Aristotle discusses include the epic,
the tragedy, the comedy, dithyrambic poetry, and
phallic songs.
• (http://www.english.hawaii.edu/criticalink/aristot
le/terms/genre.html)
7. • For example, the novel is a large genre of narrative
fiction; within the category of the novel, the detective
novel is a sub-genre, while the "hard-boiled" detective
novel is a sub-genre of the detective novel.
• http://www.english.hawaii.edu/criticalink/aristotle/ter
ms/genre.html
• It is said that the genre theory was supposed to have
devolved as a results of Andre’s basin’s works on
Westerns in the 1950’s.
