Question 1b: Genre

L.O. To understand how

to apply genre theory
to your own production
work
 Genre
Genre is the classification of any media text into a
category or type
It can describe the way that companies producing and
trading in media goods try to minimise risk by grouping
and selling their products through established
expectations.
3 types of genre - major, subgenre and hybrid genre
A media text is classified in a genre through the
identification of key elements (genre signifiers) which
occur in that text and in others of the same genre.
Audiences recognise these genre signifiers and bring a set
of expectations to their viewing of the text. These
expectations may either be fulfilled, denied or subverted
by the producer.
What is the point of
genre for institutions
and audiences?
 GENRE THEORY DANIEL
CHANDLER
NARRATIVE- similar plots and structures, predictable situations,
sequences, episodes, obstacles, conflicts and resolutions.
CHARACTERS- similar types of characters (sometimes stereotypes),
roles, personal qualities, motivations, goals, behaviour.
THEMES - topics, subject matter (social, cultural, psychological,
professional, political, sexual, moral), ideologies and values.
SETTING- geographical and historical;
ICONOGRAPHY - echoes the narrative, characters, themes and
setting, a familiar stock of images or motifs, the connotations of
which have become fixed. Includes dcor, costume and objects,
certain 'typecast' performers familiar patterns of dialogue,
characteristic music and sounds,
FILMING TECHNIQUES- stylistic or formal conventions of
camerawork, lighting, sound-recording, use of colour, editing etc.
List the genre signifiers you used in
your chosen media product.
You should consider typicality and
subversion, as well as sub-genres or
 GENRE THEMES AND
IDEOLOGIES
Values in a media product are not the same as codes and conventions. Values are
the ideological and cultural ideas embedded in a film. In a Western, the lone
gunslinger represents the power of good to destroy evil.

In gangster films greed and the lust for power or wealth undermine the possibly
attractive, but deeply flawed, central gangster character. Jealousy, revenge, loyalty
and deception are themes of many thrillers and crime movies.

In horror films the monsters and zombies can be interpreted as metaphors for
serious diseases, death or destiny. In the end the films give some hope that the
audiences worst fears can be overcome.

In Bond films the audience feel safe in knowing that Bond (or his British MI5
equivalent) will save them from the political evils of the world whatever they may
be at the time

In Pop videos, the audience will often see good being represented as pop icons
are often considered as role models for young children
List the themes or ideologies that are
conventional to your product. Have you
developed these in any way? Have you
borrowed themes from another genre?
 What does this quote mean?
What do you think should stay the same?
What is easy to change?

Task:
Buddy Cop trailers. What do you expect from this kind of
film?
Watch the trailers and identify:
Genre conventions used
Any differences that make the
film unique. How does your product use
genre conventions?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yltSJYF How is it
lscY
unique?
How does your product show cultural
change? Does it hark back to an older
style of film making? Or does it
subvert it in a new way?
 Now

Look at the A grade exemplar.

Together, lets make a success
criteria of what you will need to do in
your exam answer for genre.
 Analyse one of your
coursework productions
in relation to genre.