Genres and generic conventions

Genre is a French word that means type or kind. In media studies, genre is a way of putting media texts into categories which share similar characteristics.

Genre helps to sell a film to an audience. Audiences like to have a general idea of what type of film they are going to see. They need to know what genre so they know if they would enjoy it. E.g. you would not choose a horror film if you do not like to be scared.

Genre can change and evolve as society changes. They need to take into account current tastes and fashion.

Film producers like to use generic formulas that have proved successful in the past. If they use a similar genre to a popular film, then hopefully it will be a good box office success.

Many film producers work on the same genre of film. For instance Martin Scorsese works with gangster genre. Many actors work in a particular genre and often combine with a writer to produce a number of successful productions of a similar genre. For example Hugh Grant and Richard Curtis have worked successfully on RomComs which have similar lines in their plots. To be successful, the writer must take the core aspects of the genre but adapt it slightly to keep the audience interested.

Often producers mix genres; for example action / thriller combines these two genres and so the producer believes he will appeal to audiences who enjoy both types. Ugly Betty was called a dramerdy, a combination of comedy and drama.

Major Genres

Science Fiction …… Men in Black

Musicals ….. Moulin Rouge

Gangster ….. Goodfellas

Western ….. Unforgiven

Romantic Comedy ….. Notting Hill

Thriller ….. Se7en

Horror ….. Dracula

Situation Comedy ……The Vicar of Dibley

Animation …… Ratatouille

 

Each genre is easily recognisable by its own components such as story and plot, locations, themes and characters. These are called generic signifiers because they point to a particular genre. For instance a Stetson hat would be associated with a Western. Producers use iconography to identify a particular genre.

Codes and conventions are customs that are accepted by both producers and audiences as acceptable in certain genre. E.g. A convention of a musical is that people just break out into song.

Particular storylines are associated with particular genre. E.g. in Romcoms, a boy meets a girl, but strange situations constantly get in their way. However they usually end up together. Horror plots often involve vampires, zombies or monsters.

Genres tend to have the same themes or values running through them. In gangster films the gangster tends to be greedy for power which flaws his character. In fantasy / action genre, there is a superhero who can save the world. All audiences like good to conquer evil.

Locations also tend to be reused in genres of a particular type. For instance Sci Fi has endless blue skies and galaxies.

A parody film mocks films of a particular genre. E.g. Hot Fuzz makes fun of the cop action films.
 
Generic conventions in film openings

Films of all genres tend to start in a similar way, regardless of their genre. The majority of films open with a shot of their logo of the company that has been responsible for funding and distributing the film e.g. 20^th century fox. Some film openings begin with an establishing shot to set the scene. If there is no establishing shot this gives the audience a sense of mystery.

The opening credits give the most important members of the actors, the directors and producers. It also gives the name of the film. These are usually given in order of importance.

The theme of the opening credits will contain conventions found in the genre of the film itself. E.g. in Love Actually a lot of love is shown in the opening scene. The main characters are often introduced in the opening sequence. This helps the audience to be aware of who is important in the film and to get a first impression of their characters.

Narration or text is often included in the opening sequence. This gives the audience important information and can take the form of a non-diegetic voice or written text.

The opening scene often contains its own story which leads in to the main film. This action will correlate with the genre of the film. Music is often used to create atmosphere which is in keeping with the genre of the film. The music may be diegetic or non-diegetic. Certain genres may have particular sound effects associated with them eg a war film might contain gunfire.

Conventions associated with horror films

Sudden sound effects- used to scare, make people jump

Sound track-sets a scary mood

Titles /credits- often in red to signify blood

Death- presented in a gory way

Lighting- dark

Setting- isolated/ dark/ use of night

Insidious is an example of a horror film using these conventions in the opening sequence. Scary unnerving music is played to set the mood. Titles and credits are in red and drawn to show effects of blood. The lighting is dark and insidious.