1. Genre Investigation
What is genre?
Dictionary definition:
Dictionary.com
Defines genre as “a class or category of artistic endeavor having a
particular form, content, technique or the like, of or pertaining to a
distinctive literary type”
What genre theorists can you find?
Daniel Chandler: conventions definitions of genres tend to be based on
the motion that they can constitute particular conventions of content
(such as setting and theme) or form (including structure and style)
which are clearly shared by texts that are regarded as belonging to
these genres.
Tom Ryall: Genres provide frame work and helps with structuring rules,
in the shape of patterns/forms/styles/structures which act as a form of
supervision/guidelines over the work of film makers during production,
this also adapts how the audience will interoperate the production.
Steve Neale: Argues that Hollywood’s generic regime performs two
interrelate functions:
1. To guarantee meanings and pleasures for audiences
2. To offset the considerable economic risks of industrial film
production by providing cognitive collateral against innovation
and difference.

2. What genre theories link to the horror genre?
Daniel Chandler’s theory of genre can be linked to the horror genre as
in any typical horror film there is typical conventions used such as
setting and theme.
A typical setting could be:
- Haunted house
- Graveyard
- Woods
- Deserted town
A typical theme could be:
- Ghost
- Haunting
- Return of a family member
- Revenge on a bully
- Vampire
- Werewolf
- Murder
- Kidnap
- Demons/Satan (Exorcism)
- Religion/Faith/Culture