WJEC AS Media Studies, Media Language, genre, theories

1. 
Media Concepts- Genre
Genre is a term which can be applied to a variety of forms of media, ranging from music
and film, to magazines and books.
Genres split up different media into different categories, based on characteristics which
they share, for example narratives, settings, storylines, characters and themes.
In particular genres can be referred to films, and films can be classified as being a
particular genre, i.e. horror.
Genres are defined by conventions which can change over time, with new ones
becoming invented as well as old ones being modified or upgraded.
What is Genre?

2. Examples of different Media Genres
• Action (Disaster)- ‘Die Hard’
• Adventure- ‘Apollo 13’
• Comedy- ‘Ace Ventura Pet Detective’
• Crime- ‘L.A.’ Confidential’
• Fantasy- ‘Toy Story’
• Gangster- ‘The Godfather’
• Horror- ‘Halloween’
• Romance- ‘Casablanca’
• Science Fiction- ‘The Sixth Sense’
• Social Drama- ‘Schindler’s List’
• Thriller- ‘No Way Out’
The list of films down
the left have been split
up into different
genres.
In total there are 11
different genres, each
with a different film
associated to it, and all
of these genres have
different conventions,
along with ranging
storylines, narratives,
settings etc…

3. GenreTheory
Daniel Chandler: Conventional definitions of genres tend to be
based on the notion that they constitute particular conventions of
content (such as themes or settings) and/or form (including structure
and style) which are shared by the texts which are regarded as
belonging to them.
“It is difficult to make clear-cut distinctions between one genre and
another: genres overlap, and there are 'mixed genres' such as
comedy-thrillers” (Chandler, 2000) .

4. 
It is easy to underplay
the differences within
a genre. Steve Neale
declares that 'genres
are instances of
repetition and
difference' (Neale
1980, 48). He adds
that 'difference is
absolutely essential to
the economy of
genre': mere
repetition would not
attract an audience.

5. Repertoire of Elements
Nick Lacey (2000) considers the 'repertoire of elements' that
work in combination to suggest a media text belongs to a
particular genre or mix of genres.
He provides a useful framework to follow when analysing genre.
Lacey breaks a text down into these five areas to identify the
elements in each:
 Setting
 Character
 Narrative
 Iconography
 Style

6. Film genres are identifiable types, categories,
classifications or groups of films that have similar
techniques or conventions such as:
 content
 subject matter
 structures
 themes
 mood
 period
 plot
 settings
 recurring icons
 stock characters
 narrative events
 situations
 motifs
 styles
 props
 stars

7. Primary film genres include the following:
 Action Films
 Adventure Films
 Comedy Films
 Crime Films
 Dramas
 Epics
 Horror Films
 Musicals
 Science Fiction
 War Films
 Westerns

8. Are identifiable sub-classes within the larger film
genre, with their own distinctive subject matter, style,
formulas, and iconography.

9. ACTION:
Action films usually include
high energy, big-budget
physical stunts and chases,
possibly with rescues,
battles, fights, escapes,
races against time and
crises featuring non-stop
motion, break-neck rhythm
and pacing.

10.  spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time

11.  spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time

12.  spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time

13.  spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time

14.  spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time

15. Where two genres both
dominate and create a
‘mixture’
e.g ACTION-ADVENTURE

16. All media texts rely on genre conventions

17. Repertoire of elements
 Using Lacey’s list, make a note of all the genre
conventions you expect to see in:
 A news program
 Soap opera
 Documentary
 Print advert