The document discusses several film genres - comedy, action, thriller - and provides examples for each. It also analyzes the openings of two comedy/action films, Step Brothers and Hot Fuzz, noting their artistic camera work and parody elements that effectively set the tone for the films in a comedic way. The document examines genre conventions and how some films blend or subvert genres through parody and artistic style.

1. Exploration of Genre for Media
Coursework
By Harry Bladen

2. Comedy
• Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and
entertain the audiences. The comedy genre humorously exaggerate situations,
the way of speaking, the action and characters. Black comedies are often have
the gag line revolving around a social situation which is not immediately or
obviously funny; it refrains from typical comedy. Comedy is one of the oldest
genres in film, some of the very first silent movies were comedies, most starring
Charlie Chaplin. Many comic films are light-hearted stories with no intent other
than to amuse. The comedy genre can be considered the oldest film genre (and
one of the most prolific and popular). Comedy was ideal for the early silent
films, as it was dependent on visual action and physical humour rather than
sound. Slapstick, one of the earliest forms of comedy, poked fun at physical
mishap, usually in practical jokes, accidents and water soakings. A good
example of this early are the Laurel and Hardy films. This genre could draw it’s
advantages by offering an interesting, possibly abstract plot. The narrative
doesn’t necessarily have to make sense for the audience to gage the fact that it
is a comedy (e.g. Pineapple Express). However it is extremely difficult to
accurately execute. Perhaps an original take on a silent slapstick film could be
an interesting an unique direction to take with this project. Yet this lacks in
audio, therefore reducing the editing skills that could be exhibited.

3. Action
• Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of
challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases.
They occasionally have a resourceful character struggling against incredible
odds such as, life-threatening situations, an evil villain, and/or being chased
in several ways of transportation (car, bus, truck, etc.), with victory achieved
at the end after difficult physical efforts and violence. Story and character
development are generally secondary to explosions, fist fights, gunplay and
car chases. This genre is generally expensive to create with lots of
pyrotechnics and special effects. Also safety when filming on such a low
budget should be taken into consideration. A large number of action films,
contraire to the stereotype, portray the protagonist as initially weak or in
some way lesser to ‘normal’ society. Comedy is often incorporated in this
type of film to enable the plot to flow and remain interesting in point of low
action. Hot Fuzz (2007) is a good example of the Action-Comedy genre,
which also falls partially under the parody genre. With this being said, I feel
parody is a weak and uninspiring form of comedy.

4. Thriller
• Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, and television programming that
uses suspense, tension and excitement as the main elements. Thrillers
heavily stimulate the viewer's moods giving them a high level of anticipation,
ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and/or terror.
Thriller films tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced.
Literary devices such as red herrings, plot twists and cliff-hangers are used
extensively. A thriller is villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents
obstacles that the hero must overcome. The aim for thrillers is to keep the
audience alert and on the edge of their seats.

5. Step Brothers
• The 2008 Adam McKay directed film, ‘Step
Brothers,’ opens with very simplistic,
genre orientated and contextually modern
titles. The typography enables this to be
evident from the viewer’s point of view.
The camera angles and the non-diegetic
soundtrack (A-Punk by Vampire weekend
offer an artistic aspect to this piece,
where most comedy orientated film
would be lacking. Adam McKay has
cleverly merged comedy and film making
together to give an obvious comedy
introduction to the film.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sczh_
KjjFNU

6. Hot Fuzz
• In the opening of Simon Pegg’s 2007 film
‘Hot Fuzz’ Lots of camera angles are put to
parody use, by imitating the sound effects
and fast action cuts, mixed with artistic
camera angles. The narration by Pegg mocks
the hard, rough stereotypical voice used in
American Action Films. Notably, this opening
contains little to no gags and in fact uses
obscure mockery of an authoritative social
group (the Metropolitan Police) via use of 3
‘stooge’ like characters (including the actors
Steven Coogan and Bill Nighy). This style of
action parody is common yet effective in this
instance.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVcOVgf
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