Genre analysis for my A-Level Media class

1. Adventure - Genre
Analysis
By Amy Wilkins

2. Adventure films and
games are normally
set in exotic places
and desert islands.
There tends to be a
lot of action
sequences, but they
always take place in
high places or at sea
(showing the
adventure genre.)

3. Characters Types
There are three main character types in this
genre.

4. The Protagonist
The Protagonist is normally a
male in his thirties. He
usually carries an iconic
weapon or wears something
that sets him apart from the
others.
Usually, he gains a love
interest within the first hour of
the game/film and ends up
getting together by the end.
Sometimes, the protagonist
is an outlaw, like Robin
Hood, who tries to help for
the good of everyone.

5. The love-Interest
This character is normally just
there to look pretty and win
the affection of the
protagonist. Of course, in
certain cases (Elena Fisher –
Uncharted) this isn’t what
happens. She actually
becomes useful, and helps the
plot.

6. The Antagonist
The Antagonist is normally tall
and threatening. Also, they
usually have an army who
fights the protagonist and co.
The end of the film normally
ends in the antagonist's demise
at the hands of the protagonist
or some weird creatures that
were introduced.
Equally, though, a lot of
adventure movies/games have
recently used women as the
antagonist. Not always men.

7. The Father/Mother - figure
This character is one of the
main ones. He or she acts as
the voice of reason to the
protagonist.
Normally, there is a major
accident involving this
character, which makes the
protagonist ‘lose his way’.
However, this is usually solved.
And everything turns out for
the best.

8. The Comedy Sidekick
This character is ALWAYS
used, no matter what. Even in
movies such as ‘Indiana jones’
and games like ‘Uncharted’.
It is used for comic relief from a
normally tense plotline.
Unfortunately, this character is
normally killed off by the end of
the film, usually in a heroic
fashion.

9. The Moral Compass
This character is only in the
films or games that the
protagonist loses control. They
need a character to calm them
down again. This could be the
protagonists child, or
someone they trust, such as a
best friend.

10. Adventure Sub-Genres
There are 3 main sub-genres. These are:

Swashbuckler

Disaster Films

Historical Dramas
All of these include the same major plot developments. They are all
set on a desert island or in a jungle, and there is always something the
protagnist AND the antagonist want to get.

11. Popular concepts

An outlaw fighting for justice on behalf of people who need
it.

Dangerous situations the protagonist manages to get
everyone out of.

PIRATES

A journey or a quest of some kind.

Protagonist discovering his identity. Or experiencing some
sort of epiphany to set him/her on their way.

12. History
The adventure film genre reached
its peak of popularity in 1930s and
1940s Hollywood, with films such
as these were in cinemas:

Captain blood

The Adventures of Robin
Hood

Mark of Zorro
This was also when stars such as
Errol Flynn and Tyrone power
were associated with the genre.

13. History part 2
At the same time as this,
Saturday morning serials
started using the same
elements as big-budget
adventure films.
Also, at this time, the
protagonist of almost every
adventure film was male. They
were courageous, often
fighting for freedom and facing
tyrants.

14. History part 3
Recently, though, these male
protagonists have occasionally
started being replaced by
female heroines, Such as Lara
Croft (in movies) and Ellie or
Tess from The Last of Us (in
games).
These are usually smart
mouthed, strong willed and not
easily overpowered, even if
they are portrayed as being
not stronger than the male
protagonists.