Genre theory is used to categorize films based on various factors like storyline, director, and audience expectations. Several theorists have proposed different views on genre. Steve Neale believes genres are constantly evolving through five stages from early forms to parodies. Robert Stam argued that genres are difficult to define due to problems like categories being too broad or narrow. Rick Altman defined genres as having either semantic or synaptic elements relating to visuals/themes. Bordwell suggested there is no empirical way to classify films into genres since interpretations vary between individuals. Studying genre theory has expanded the author's understanding of the complex issue of film classification.

1. Genre Theory
Milly Clark

2. What is genre?
 Genre theory is used in the study of films in
order to facilitate the categorization of films.
Genre are dependent on various factors
such as story line, whom the director is,
what are the audience expectations et
cetera. In using genre theory we create a
short cut in how we are to describe films.
Genre theory through it's use is a method of
shortening academic works.

3. Steve
Neale:
 The belief that genre is in constant flux, changing and
evolving every, it is never at a standstill.
 He believes there are 5 main stages:
1. The form finding itself (e.g Psycho)
2. The classic (Halloween)
3. Stretching the genre boundaries (Nightmare on Elm
Street)
4. Parody (Scary Movie)
5. Homage (Scream)

4. Robert Stam:
 Robert Stam said that genre is hard to define and categorize
and that the concept of genre is made up from critics and
theorists.
 He highlighted four main problems with the classification of
genre:
1. Extension (too broad or too narrow in requirements)
2. Normavitism (preconcieved idea of criteria for genre
membership)
3. Monolithic (as if an item belongs only to one genre)
4. Biologism (a kind of essentialism in which genres are
seen as evolving through life cycle)

5. Rick Altman:
• Another genre theorist was Rick Altman, who
stated that genre was defined by either, ‘semantic’
or ‘synaptic’ elements.
1. Semantic elements are signs such as blood,
knives, dark colours and eerie music.
2. Synaptic elements are themes that take place in
the film such as fear, revenge or rage and plots,
for example, a group going on a trip and are killed
one by one.
Sub-genres such as ‘Warm Bodies’ uses horror
semantics of zombies and blood, but uses a romcom
synaptic narrative.

6. Bordwell:
 Bordwell (1989), however, suggested that
nothing will make a film fit into a genre, there
is never an empirical answer for it.
 This is because every person in an
audience has differentiating creation,
imagination and perception, therefore will
respond and form an opinion to it
individually.
 No genre can be drawn by line or
description.

7. This research into genre theory has
broadened my knowledge on the
controversial topic of classification in the
film industry. Beforehand I was unaware
of the many views of theories, but since
looking at multiple theorists, I can now
apply and use their beliefs in my own
coursework and final cut project.