PowerPoint created to capture the nature and information needed to know about what genre is in film and also personal knowledge for my project at A Level

1. Genre research

2. Genre definition
Genre is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art/culture,
for example: music, films or even games. Genres are formed by conventions
that change over time as new genres are invented and the use of old ones
were discontinued. Often, works fit into multiple genres by the way of
recombining these conventions. Audiences recognise these features and
therefore expect certain things. For example, at the end of a romantic
comedy film the two lead characters will realise they are in love. Audiences
may even select a text on the basis of its genre. Producers market texts
according to genre because a niche audience has already been identified
as taking pleasure in that type of text.

3. Urban drama examples
 Boyz N the hood
 Above The Rim
 Victim
 Ill Manors
 Top Boy (TV series)
 Kidulthood
 Adulthood
 Bullet Boy

4. Narrative Structure
The protagonist is illustrated with their environment/social class. Also, the
protagonist family and friends are shown as well so that the audience is
aware with his/hers relationships with other characters. Then a distribution of
the equilibrium is situated, founded by the environment or the antagonist
which brings upon issues for the protagonist.

5. Why is genre important to audiences?
 Genre creates familiarity amongst audiences so that they know what type
of film they like to watch and what to expect from a certain film genre.
Audiences are the main influence on genre in terms of how they’re
created and distributed in order to make them appealing upon their
release at multiplexes as well disc and digital formats. By including typical
key conventions within a film that are linked to a genre, a film will become
more appealing to an audience as well being more to recognise which
will ultimately mean they will end up watching it. If a film was not to have
any clear genre to it, it’s likely that few people will even watch the film in
the first place.

6. User and gratifications
 Recognising iconographies and conventions due to recurring familiarity
 Emotional and physical pleasures in response to certain film genres
 Character judging and relation
 A sense of community when watching and enjoying films with others
 Shifting expectations via manipulated genres
 Predictions and expectations being met

7. Sub-Genres
 Sub-Genres are categories of films which originate from a main key film
genre such as Horror, Comedy or Action. They use conventions from a
mixture of genres so they can’t be branded as on in particular.
 Comedy/Action/Adventure – Road Films
 Romance/Dramas/Comedy – Chick Flicks
 Horror/Comedy/Science Fiction – Supernatural
 Action/Fantasy – Superheroes
 Drama – Biopics
 Science Fiction/Horror - Fantasy

8. Genre theories
 “Conventional definitions of genre are based on the idea that they share
particular convention of content e.g. Themes or setting” – David Chandler
 “Genres are instances of repetition and difference; this is what pleasure
for the audience is derived from” - Steve Neale
 “The same text can belong to different genres in different countries or
times” – John Hartley
 “Genre is a constant process of negotiation and change” – David
Buckingham

9. Urban drama – Definition
As a sub-genre of ‘drama’ urban drama is known for it’s illustration of a realistic outlook in
society and expressing social issues. Urban drama films began in the late 1980s to 90s and
currently hitting mainstream in the 00s. In a explicit manor ‘hood films’ often show aspects of
urban ‘black culture’ such as rap, gangs, drugs, racism and murders. The protagonist in
urban dramas films tend to be a reflection of where he/she originates from, almost building
them as a ‘product of the environment’. Films that portray this prominent role is ‘Ill Manors’
and ‘Kidulthood’.

10. Urban drama – Narrative Structure
The protagonist (main character) is illustrated with their environment/social
class. Also, the protagonists, family and friends are shown as well so that the
audience is aware with his/hers relationships with other characters. Then a
distribution of the equilibrium is situated, founded by the environment or the
antagonist (rival – main character) which brings upon issues for the
protagonist. Protagonist undergoes through life-threatening encounters or
chooses a decision to even issues out. For example: Seeking revenge.

11. Urban drama – Archetypes
Protagonist:
Main character or plot based character, either in a group or as single person.
Tends to be more serious or sensible than his/her friends. From a dysfunctional
home. E.g. No father figure. Possibly in a current relationship.
Antagonist:
Considered the rival of the protagonist or a trouble-maker/dangerous person.
Traitor or an ex friend, rival gang member or a possibly a sibling.
Environment:
Urban deprived areas/inner-city/ghetto area that contains negative aspects, that
the protagonist tries to overcome or survive in. E.g. Council estates, cages or
parks.

12. Comedy – definition
Comedies are light-hearted plots consistently and deliberately designed to
amuse and provoke laughter (with one-liners, jokes, etc.) by exaggerating
the situation, the language, action, relationships and characters.
There are sub categories of comedy films such as slapstick, screwball, spoofs
and parodies, romantic comedies, black comedy/dark satirical comedy and
more.

13. Comedy – Setting
Comedy films can be set almost anywhere, however the most typical setting
for comedy films is suburban areas in places such as high schools and bars.
The areas that they are set in are usually happy, sunny town s or
neighbourhoods. These areas could also be slightly more rural and have nice,
large houses.

14. Comedy - Examples

15. Urban-comedy
 An urban comedy is a comedy using the urban genre conventions, this
means that the demographics is usually lower-middle class teens. The
typical conventions would include, an estate, a protagonist, police, a
disturbance of the equilibrium and young characters. The costume would
probably consist of hoodies, jeans and trainers. The comedic genre usually
includes Strauss’ theory of binary opposites which also links in to the film
‘Anuvahood’. Urban comedies will also usually include a bully who plays a
big part in the way the film is played out.
 For my film I’ll be looking to attempt to include all key conventions
expected from a urban-comedy, things like the theme would be similar,
characters, equipment, clothing and also a soundtrack with same genre
that most urban films would use.