genre theory 1
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Genre Theory 1TRANSCRIPT
What is genre?
Genre films are commercial features which use repetition and variation to tell a familiar story line using familiar types of characters and situations (Grant: 1986: xi).
Genre is helpful in limiting the scope of the film for the viewer, writer and director. Film genre helps the cinematic industry as a whole by helping the audience choose which film they want to see.
Why is genre important?
New and familiar media text Characters and locations
Genre gives the audience familiarity Feel comfortable watching a
particular genre We can predict throughout the film
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Soldiers = bandits Bandit = undercover police
Any other films that challenge genre conventions?
Challenging genre?
Knowledge of genre Enjoy the unexpectedness
Evolution of genre
Film noir – modern cinema E.g. Pulp fiction
Do audiences create genre? If an audience like a particular film,
what do producers do?
Proliferation of the same film thus creating a trend, the same genre
What films can you think of? Horror Epic
Auteur
French word for author Andre Basin developed idea of
Auteur The director/producer becomes a
pioneer of a particular style
E.g Alfred Hitchcock Quentin Tarintino Tim Burton
Genre and Audiences
Why do you think genre changes and evolve?
Audiences want something new Desensitised Want to be challenged
But not too much!
Lesson 2 Genre
Quick fire What is genre? What was the first film to challenge
genre? Why do institutions challenge genre?
Representation essay question for Wednesday
Why do film makers like genre? It’s easy to
market to make (director) to get a guaranteed audience Choose a star Market your star