This document provides past exam questions from 1997 to 2007 related to film genres and conventions. The questions assess understanding of genre elements, conventions, how genres change over time, ways films provide predictable and unexpected elements, how genre enhances appreciation, criticisms of genres being formulaic, how genres help or restrict filmmakers, and reasons for genres' continuing success. Students are expected to analyze specific films in their responses and consider social and technological factors that influence genres.

1. MEDIA ISSUES AND DEBATES UNIT 2735
PAST EXAM QUESTIONS
Always remember you have to discuss the genre elements alongside
L.I.A.R
JUNE 1997
Referring to at least two films show how variations of conventions are found
alongside familiar elements in genre films
This question is asking you to consider what the horror conventions are; these are
the familiar elements that the audience expect to see and the elements that are
continually used by the industry when making a horror film.
So you would have to provide textual examples that are strong examples of films that
use familiar genre elements.
Key word in this question is variation (deviation from the normal or recognized form),
so therefore there is now a need to provide examples of films that deviate (step
away) from using the traditional horror conventions, but still manage to use them
alongside the conventions that the audience have come to expect of horror films.
JUNE 1998
Does a film genre change over time? Answer with reference to specific films
that you have studied
This question is asking you to consider the horror genre and the changes that have
occurred to it. This can be due to technological advancement, e.g. sound, lightweight
cameras, special effects, the social climate remember a films narrative is always
rooted within the social climate it will set out to reflect certain ideologies about the
time period it was produced in. e.g. pre 1970s there was a lot of censorship and film
makers were restricted in what they could produced but after the 1970s and
introduction of the new ratings system horror film became more violent. Now in the
new age of audiences you should consider why films have become more violent
we’ve come from Psycho (Hitchcock alluding to violence) to SAW (Wanner in your
face gore)
MAY 1999
With reference to specific films of a genre that you have studied discuss ways
in which they provide elements of the predictable and the unexpected
This question is similar to June 1997 – what’s present that the audience would
expect and what is present that they wouldn’t expect?
JUNE 2000
With close reference to at least two films that you have studied, discuss how
an understanding of particular genre conventions enhances your appreciation
of them
Se e photocopy from OCR book
JUNE 2001

2. MEDIA ISSUES AND DEBATES UNIT 2735
Film genres have often been criticised for being too formulaic with little scope
for innovation or change. With specific reference to films that you have
studied, discuss how far you think that this is so
By saying a film is formulaic the question is telling you that genre films stick to rules,
to a blueprint, this causes all horror films to be the same – or does it? You would
need to discuss to what extent all horror films are the same and predictable in nature.
There is no right or wrong answer you should try and present balanced argument.
JUNE 2002
What aspects of a film determine its genre? Refer to at least two films in your
answer
How do you know a horror film is horror film? Is it clear cut defining a horror as a
horror?
JUNE 2003
Why is the idea of genre important? Refer to at least two films in your answer
Who is genre important to? The audience and the industry, why is it important to
these groups?
JUNE 2004
Discuss the reason why films adhere to and extend the conventions of a
particular genre
This question is similar to June 1997 & May 1999 – But now they want to now why
some films stick to the rules and give the audience what they expect and why are
there some films that try to add a little something extra and provide the audience with
elements of the unexpected.
JUNE 2005
Do generic conventions help or restrict filmmakers?
Similar to June 2001 – Is it good to stick to the rules or not?
JUNE 2006
Discuss how and why film genres change over a period of time
Similar to June 1998
JAN 2007
Account for the continuing success of certain genre films
Why is the horror genre still around today?
Discuss how an understanding of film genre might contribute to one’s
enjoyment of a film
Similar to June 2000