This document analyzes the genre elements of films using Nick Lacey's framework of setting, characters, narrative, iconography, and style. It provides examples of each element from the film trailer for Taken, noting the setting is New York and Washington D.C., the main character is Liam Neeson as a former cop, and the narrative leaves questions unanswered to intrigue the audience. Iconography includes landmarks and a girl in a red coat. The film's style uses techniques like fast editing and diegetic sound to build suspense. Overall, the text uses Lacey's elements to define Taken as an action thriller genre based on its trailer.

1. Analysis of Genre: Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements
In his book Narrative and Genre: Key Concepts in Media Studies, (Palgrave, Macmillan), Nick Lacey
defines genre elements as constituting the 5 key areas below:
 setting
 character
 narrative
 iconography
 style
When analysing texts, use Lacey’s repertoire of genre elements as a guide. Fill in the boxes below,
making notes on the genre conventions that you see
Genre elements Conventions
Setting- mise en scene/
location
New York/ Washington D.C
Characters –
representations,
stereotypes, behaviour,
body language, specific
actors/stars
Liam Neeson (protagonist),/victim
Narrative events –how
is the narrative ordered
and structured?
Is it elliptical/enigmatic
(elements left out to
intrigue/entice the
audience)
The way the film is narrated is in a way where it makes the audience
want to see the film to find out why he isn’t a cop anymore and why
there girl in the red coat is there and also why then man jumps off the
building when Liam asks him if her knows where the man’s wife is.
Iconography –Well
known or recognisable
people/objects/buildings
mise en scene/ props,
costume, setting,
symbolic codes
Empire state/ bar/crowded city/girl in the red coat
STYLE: Technical and
audio codes – camera
use, editing,
diegetic/non diegetic
sound, sfx. Mise en
scene/lighting, colour
Camera use: still, tracking.
Editing: fast pace editing.
Diegetic: then things are placed down or the scenes change the sound
gets amplified to build suspense.
Non diegetic: sound from the very start is used build suspense and the
song which only comes in towards the end is used to show that he has a
heart.
Sfx: the diegetic sound is over amplified sound of the voice recorder
being placed on the table.
Mise en scene: set in a big city as that is conventional to action thriller
movies.

2. Analysis of Genre: Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements
Lighting: the lighting used is very dark and gloomy.
Colour: The colours used are quite dull.
Summarise how the above helps to define genre in the text
Everything about this trailer makes you see the film as an action thriller because most of these kinds
of films are shot in a big city, and by watching the trailer it comes across that Liam neeson is the
protagonist and it leaves you wondering who the girl in the red coats is as it is symbolic to these kind
of films.

3. Analysis of Genre: Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements
Target audience for walking amount the tombstones;
The overall setting of the film is New York/ Washington D.C, the characters in this are Liam
Neeson who is the protagonist and the victim, The way the film is narrated is in a way where
it makes the audience want to see the film to find out why he isn’t a cop anymore and why
there girl in the red coat is there and also why then man jumps off the building when Liam
asks him if her knows where the man’s wife is. The iconography in this trailer is the empire
state, a saloon a crowded city and a girl in a red coat all these are in the trailer because the
film is an action thriller and all those things are conventional to this genre.
.
The technical and audio codes of this trailer are; the camera use is mainly still or tracking,
the editing is mainly fast pace editing, the diegetic sound used in the film is heard when
things are placed down or the scenes change the sound gets amplified to build suspens e,
the non-diegetic sound is heard from the very start is used build suspense and the song
which only comes in towards the end is used to show that he has a heart, the sfx in this
trailer is when the diegetic sound is amplified over when the voice recorder gets placed on
the table.

4. Analysis of Genre: Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements
I feel the target audience for this movie is 15 – 35 year old, both male and female as the
female audience would watch the fil because of Liam Neeson because of the way he is
where as the men would want to watch this film because they aspire to be like him, the way
the character is portrayed is as a protagonist and that is what catches the audiences eye as
the protagonist is Liam Neeson as he is a well-known for his role as a ‘hero’, I think the social
class for this film would be B-C.