The document discusses genre theory and analyzes several films through this lens. It defines genre theory as categorizing films based on their storyline or plot elements. Common genres mentioned include romantic comedies, musicals, action films, crime dramas, teen comedies, and horror. The document also discusses several genre theorists and their perspectives on repetition, expectations, and differences within genres. It then analyzes the films Leon, Mean Girls, and Napoleon Dynamite, examining their genre classifications and how they adhere to or subvert genre conventions. The concept of the auteur director is also introduced through the examples of James Cameron and Tim Burton.

1. Angel Southwell
Introduction
What is Genre theory?
Genre Theory is used for categorizing films so people are aware of what kind of film it is. The genre
depends on what the storyline of the film is.
If a filmwas the genre romantic-comedy you would expect some kind of love story going on. You
would also expect funny comments/moments in the film that generally make you laugh. For
example, Bridget Jones diary is a rom-com and it has everything you expect to see in that genre
which is sarcasm/funny comments.
If a filmwas the Genre Musicals you would expect singing/dancing and happy atmosphere. You
would expect it to be set in a high school/camp or a talent show. In most musicals there’s a love
story between 2 people who either end up working as a duet or do a talent show together. An
example of this is High School Musical as it includes everything you would expect to see as it has
shown for them to perform in which include singing and dancing.
Genre Theorists
Nick Lacey defines genre in 5 key areas which are setting, character, narrative, iconography and
style. This is a good way to analyse a filmas you can also see if there is similarities or any
stereotypical things for the same genre.
Daniel Chandler says genres are made up of what you expect to see. So before you watch a film
depending on the genre you know what you’re about to see.
Steve Neale mentions about how film genres have a lot of repetition. He does thinks that
differences are very much needed to make it its own film.

2. Angel Southwell
Part 1
Leon
Leon was made in 1994 and it was directed by Luc Besson. Leon is in the Action, Crime and Thriller
Genre. By watching the film, you can pick up why Leon is the genre it is. The genres part action
because weapons are used throughout the film for example guns/knifes that are then used to kill
or threaten people. The crime is part of the genre as there is drugs involved which are illegal and
also money is also owed for the drugs but there not payed for and that starts threats that turn into
murder that’s a crime. What you see in Leon is weapons, drugs and money which is the miss en
scene as it is seen throughout the film which you expect to see for an action genre which is also a
part of Daniel Chandlers theory. An example of Steve Neale is that it is very different in a way as
Leon has a relationship with a 12-year-old girl which could have turned into a romance and this
was never in a filmbefore and people didn’t agree and didn’t expect that to come out of the film.
Also girls are normally sexualised in films but obviously in Leon she is only 12 so it is very different
to other films.
Thisis a Drama/Actionfilm. Onthe frontthere issoldiers
whichmeanswar/fighting/weapons.The gunwiththe
soldieralsogivesitawaythatthere is a lotof actioninthe
film. FromthisposterI expecttosee somethingbased
aroundthe war because of the imagesandisalsoin black
and white thatgivesitthe effectthatitssetin the past.
Thisis a Horror film.The postergivesthe genre away
as it hasdark coloursand a hauntedhouse inthe
background.Atthe front there isa girl victimwhich
ismostlythe one that isthe maincharacter. From
thisposterI expecttosee somethinghappening
inside the house particularlysomethingscary/weird
that alsoinvolvesthe girl somehow more likea
victim.

3. Angel Southwell
The story of Leon is set in New York which is the iconography of the film. Leon is the main
character who is a hitman, he goes and kills people for money. In the building he lives in there is a
girl named Matilda whose family all get killed for not paying the money for the drug, so Leon takes
her into he’s apartment. After a while Matilda wants to be like Leon and do what he does, so they
end up doing it together and going to kill people. Along the way though there is some romantic
connection between Leon and Matilda but Matilda is 12. At the end Leon is killed and Matildas left
with his money.
Leon and James Bond are the same genre, but have many differences between them both. Leon is
not all about having the best cars and best houses, as Leon does not even have a car and he also
has a little apartment. Whereas James Bond does have them and he also goes to different
countries like Mexico. In James Bond the Woman Is sexualised but also has power whereas in Leon
the girl is very much underage. Leon and James Bond do both have weapons involved and some
kind of violence involved which are the similarities.
Part 2
Mean Girls
Mean girls is a teen comedy which was directed by Mark Waters in 2004. The filmis very
stereotypical as all the characters were introduced as Plastics, Jocks, Nerds and the Rich
students. The characters were introduced in the film by showing where the characters were
sat in the food area and saying all the types of people that are on which table. In Mean Girls
there is a linear narrative so there’s a clear beginning, middle and end as there is no part
that is confusing or that has a twist. There is an inciting incident as Cade has been invited to
to the plastics which was unexpected. It is set in many places that are stereotypical as its set
in an American High School, Mall and a party scene which are always in a teen comedy. This
is also a part of Daniel Chandlers theory as it is what people expect to see. Mean Girls is very
repetitive to other teen comedy’s as it includes high school, teen love and different types of
characters and there are differences as the teacher is actually one of the main characters
and is very different as people like her as she’s actually nice and this is a part of the Steve
Neale Theory. The iconography in Mean Girls is the American flag and the jock jackets this is
because this is what you always expect to see. There is a split screen used in mean girls
when there in a joint call it shows the characters during the time on the phone. This adds an
effect because you can just see them all even though there not in the same place.

4. Angel Southwell
This is the Front cover of Mean Girls and straight away you can
tell what the storylines going to be and know what kind of
characters there going to be like. On the front cover there’s is 4
girls who are good looking and also stood with a posture that
gives off a vibe of sassy.
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is a Teen Comedy which was directed by Jared Hess in 2004. This film is
not stereotypical in any kind of way as the main character in the film is not popular in school
in any kind of way but he is likeable as he is a funny character. There are characters
however that you do expect to see so jocks, some kind of bully and teachers. Napoleon
Dynamite is mostly set in an American high school and also has a scene where a talent show
takes place. The iconography of this filmis the school lockers as it is what you would expect
to see in an American high school. The Daniel Chandler theory is used in Napoleon
Dynamite as what you expect to see in this genre is the American high school which you do
see. Steve Neale’s theory is ls also used as he thinks films should be made their own and not
so much repetition in my comparison to Mean Girls you can see that theory is used as it is
very different.
This is an image from Napoleon Dynamite and
just from this photo you can see the iconography
which is the school lockers. You can also tell that
the main character is not popular by just looking
at this photo.
Jared Hess is an auteur director because he made this film his own style and not similar to
the other Teen Comedy’s so he’s not following other people. The image he creates is to be
unique and get people speaking about it as its very original.
Napoleon Dynamite is similar to Mean Girls as it has the same genre so it has similar settings
and characters and other little significant scenes. Both are set in an American high school
and they both have talent shows where the main characters perform in them. However,
both films are more different then similar for example the main characters in Mean girls are

5. Angel Southwell
popular, pretty and rich where as the main character in Napoleon dynamite is not popular
and does not have the looks.
Part 3
Auteur Theory
An auteur director is a director who creates a certain image for each one of their films for
example they might have them a particular style and people may notice that when they
watch their films.
James Cameron is an auteur director because in his films they all have special effects which
he created added on to them which he did. A few examples of his films that use special
effects are Titanic (for it sinking), Avatar is mostly done in special effects.
An image from Avatar which obviously has the
special effects added on which James Cameron
created.
Tim Burton is an auteur director because in his films they all have the same kind of genre
that is very odd as its child fantasy but it has elements of horror. A few examples of his films
are Edward Scissor hands which goes in to the horror elements as he is very different and
comes across as someone you should be afraid of but infact he is the opposite. Miss
Peregrines Homes for Peculiar Children also has this genre to it as it is fantasy as there’s
children with some kind of powers and then there is horror elements to it as some evil
unrealistic kind of creature comes after the children.
This is an image of Edward Scissorhands and just from the photo you can
see it is unrealistic and also very freaky which gives it the horror
element.