Research Task: What is Genre?
09:02
What
is Genre?
Media products can be classified into
categories or genre. The word 'genre' comes from the French word meaning 'type'
or 'class'. Media genres appear within a medium (film, television) such as the
"horror" film or the television "situation comedy".
A genre can be recognised by its common set
of distinguishing features (codes and conventions).
These features associated with a genre's style and content may be, for example,
a particular setting, character types, technical codes (lighting or music). You
may also find that some media texts blur genre boundaries.
Audiences recognize these features and
therefore expect certain things. For example, at the end of a romantic comedy
film the two lead characters will realise they are in love. Audiences may even
select a text on the basis of its genre.
Producers market texts according to genre
because a niche audience has already been identified as taking pleasure in that
type of text.
However, a genre is not static – it changes
all the time – resulting in hybrid (or sub-) genres and changing codes and
conventions. There is also a relationship between genres and the societies in
which they are created.
For
example, in terms of style, core film genres are:
- Action film
- Adventure films
- Art
- Biographical
- Comedy films
- Crime and gangster films
- Documentary
- Drama films
- Erotic
- Educational
- Exploitation
- Fantasy
- Epics/historical films
- Horror films
- Musical/Dance films
- Mystery
- Propaganda
- Reality
- Romance
- Thriller
- Science Fiction films
- War films
- Western films
You can also have something called subgenres/hybrid grenres where two genres combine to create a specific genre, such as:
- Action-Thriller
- Rom-Com (Romantic-Comedy)
- Action-Adventure
- Fantasy-Thriller
There are also themes in movie depending on it's genre such as:
- Bildungsroman (coming of age)
- Quest narratives
Why is Genre important for media producers?
- It gives a pattern for construction
- Genre pieces have an established audience who are easy to market to
- Individuals can develop skills and become specialized in working in a specific genre
- Stars can associate themselves with a certain genre (Will Ferrell is known for comedy so any movie poster with his face on is an indication to the genre)
Common genre conventions:
- Romance: Guy-Meets-Girl, Heart-break
- Horror: Blood, Dark lighting, 'Bad Guy'
- Thriller: Fast Paces, Running, Car Chases
- Crime: Murder, Forensic, Victims
I will continue my research by looking into popular genre in music videos.
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