This document provides an overview of film genres and subgenres, including their purposes and conventions. It defines key terms like genre, subgenre, hybrid, and conventions. Genres are categories that films can be grouped into, while subgenres combine elements of multiple genres. Conventions are generally accepted or familiar elements within a genre that audiences expect to see. The document uses examples like horror and disaster films to illustrate subgenres and how their conventions can evolve over time as audiences change. Students are assigned a group project to research a subgenre, identify examples, and present its conventions.

1. GENRE & SUBGENRES
L/O: to be able to identify film genres
& subgenres and explain their
meanings with key terms

2. GENRE
• What is this?

3. GENRE
• Category, kind sort etc
• A way to categorize films

4. Genre Purpose (horror)
• ALL GENRES HAVE A PURPOSE – example horror:
• To frighten/disgust the audience
• Create negative emotional reactions by playing on audience’s
– primal fears and vulnerabilities
– Terror of unknown
– Fear of death/injury
• Startle the viewer (key scenes)
• Cause dread or alarm
• Invoke worst hidden fears
• Yet…..Captivate and entertain!

5. FILM GENRE
• Copy and complete…. (as many as you can)
FILM GENRE PURPOSE OF GENRE FILM EXAMPLES
Drama

6. Something to ponder…..
-How do you know the films fit under a specific
genre?
-What makes them that genre?

7. Basic film genres (13)
GENRE EXAMPLES
DRAMA My Sister’s Keeper
COMEDY Bridesmaids
ACTION/ADVENTURE The Terminator
ANIMATION Monsters Inc
ROMANCE The Notebook
FOREIGN/WORLD Pan’s Labyrinth
SCI-FI Alien
HORROR Saw
THRILLER Paranormal Activity
MUSICAL Sound of Music
WAR/HISTORICAL Saving Private Ryan
CRIME The Godfather
DOCUMENTARY Catfish
FAMILY Mary Poppins

8. SUBGENRE
• What do you think this means?

9. SUBGENRES
• Sub-genres are genres that combine or share elements or characteristics of multiple genres.
• Sub-genres seem inevitable that films (and genre) are ever changing and evolving; they don’t stay the same
• They develop their OWN familiar codes/conventions/elements/characteristics to make meaning to an audience
– There are many reasons for this = Why do you think?
• Example: THRILLERS (which are made to create intense thrill, suspense, anticipation and excitement on audience)
– There are different TYPES of thrillers….action thrillers, sci-fi thrillers, crime thrillers
• DISASTER
(natural/weather, alien, creature, accident, planets/apocalyptic, criminal/terrorist,disease/zombie
.

10. SUBGENRE
GENRES NEW SUBGENRE EXAMPLE
COMEDY ROMANCE/COMEDY
(ROM-COM)
Bridget Jones
Something about Mary
DRAMA DRAMA + ACTION =
DISASTER
2012
Day After Tomorrow
HORROR COMEDY/HORROR Piranha
Shawn of the Dead
THRILLER THRILLER/SUPERNATURAL Paranormal Activity
The Others
When you combine 2 genres together

11. Hybrid
• Word?
• What do you think this means in terms of
film?

12. Hybrid
• Word = mixture or fusion
(example hybrid cars are a combination of petrol/electric)
• What do you think this means in terms of
film?
3 or more genres or mixtures of subgenres

13. HYBRID
GENRES NEW SUBGENRE HYBRID EXAMPLE
COMEDY ROMANCE/COMEDY
(ROM-COM)
ROMANCE
COMEDY
BRITISH
Bridget Jones
DRAMA DRAMA/ACTION =
DISASTER
DRAMA
ACTION
NATURAL DISASTER
Sweeney Todd
Rocky Horror
Picture Show
HORROR COMEDY/HORROR COMEDY
HORROR
ZOMBIE
PARODY
Shawn of the Dead
FAMILY FAMILY/ROMANCE FAMILY
ROMANCE
SCI-FI
THRILLER
Avatar
ACTION ACTION/KUNG FU ACTION
KUNG FU
THRILLER
WESTERN
Kill Bill
When you combine 3 genres together

14. Conventions
• what do you think film conventions are?
• Extension: If something is conventional it
means…..?

15. Codes and conventions
• Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning.
Codes can be divided into two categories – technical and symbolic:
– Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text,
for example the camera work in a film.
– Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's
actions show you how the character is feeling.
– Some codes fit both categories – music for example, is both technical and symbolic.
CONVENTIONS
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something.
OR FEATURES THAT ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED/FAMILIAR.
There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print
article, but conventions are also genre specific.
How codes and conventions apply in media studies
Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a
technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
For example, the technical code of lighting is used in some way in all film genres. It is a convention
of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense – an
integral part of any horror movie.

16. Genre & Conventions - Horror
• Familiarity causes agreement/understanding
• Conventions function as agreement between: author + audience (for what to expect in a genre)
• In a survey, the horror genre had the most agreed components than any other genre
– Blood & gore, Weapons & Murder/killing
– Presence of supernatural
– Jump scares with sudden and loud music/sounds to frighten
– Silence = danger
– Final girl is often a virgin
– etc
• Iconic symbols of horror:
– Haunted house
– Unknown creatures
– Dark places
– Flashing images
QUESTION: Why do film conventions in a genre or subgenre change over time?
These icons still exist in modern films but they evolve over time according to the era and audience (what
terrified an audience 10 years ago does not terrify one now as the world is different)

17. Convention questions
Read the following questions and discuss in groups
(3 mins)
• Why do conventions become predictable in film?
• What happens when conventions become
predictable?
• Why do conventions have to be predictable?
• Yet, why do they have to adapt and evolve?

18. Change with subgenre
A paranormal horror will have different conventions
from a slasher horror as their purposes are
different.
• i.e. Zombie horror
– Hero trying to save human race
– Overgrown/rough settings to illustrate
abondonment
– Survival theme
– etc

19. Can you name conventions?
• Let’s think of disaster-thriller film genre….
Disaster-thriller film conventions:
• .
• .
• .
• .
Advice: characters, the narrative or technical codes

20. Conventions checklist
• Think of a range of factors with conventions
• Plot
• Theme
• Character types
• Setting/location
• Music/sounds
• Camera shots/angles
• Special effects
• Editing techniques
• Narrative structure (the way the story is
presented/structured)

21. Homework (Due next Mon)
• Title: Assignment 1: Genre Exploration Task
• Format: Computer – powerpoint or other
presentation program (present to class)
• In 3’s (1 pair if needed)
• 1 week to complete, save on Office 365 or USB

22. Task
• Choose a group (wisely)
• Choose a subgenre from hat
• Do research on subgenre
• Watch some clips/trailers too
• Choose 3 solid films as examples
• After research, decide and record conventions of the subgenre
• Complete worksheet together
• Then construct a powerpoint to present to class
• Slide 1: title page with names
• 2: name of subgenre
• 3: 3 or more films in the subgenre
• 4: explanation of the conventions with screen shots from films (everyone
in group do/present 1-2 each)

23. Assessment
• You are being marked on:
• Ability to complete on time
• Examples of films as evidence
• Understanding of conventions
• Effort and detail
• Ability to follow instructions
• Use of visuals in powerpoint, BRIEF text (no bulky
paragraphs)
• Presentation and organisation of powerpoint
• You will receive level and grade.