Genre Theory
What is genre?
Genre is a concept which involves a categorisation and labelling of matching characteristics and conventions which exist in certain sets of films.
It is useful for film production and distribution institutions and audiences.
Institutional use -
- Minimises economic risk - This means that making and producing a film from a known successful genre means it will succeed due to people knowing they like the genre. Because of this no money would be wasted on making the film, producing it and also advertising it.
- Advertising/promoting - This attracts the correct audience to the film, one who know they already enjoy this particular genre so are the most likely to appreciate and enjoy this film.
- Depend on past experience and foreknowledge - They rely on already successful films to capture their collective audiences.
- Predicable pleasure they know they will enjoy - Already large fans of the genre to know/expect to enjoy the new film in the same way that they have enjoyed previous films from the same genre.
- Known expectations - They know what to expect so look forward to it, knowing they'll enjoy it.
- Generic conventions - Expect a similar, generic plot or story lines but enjoy individual innovations and variations to make each film its own.
- Each genre is specifically defined by its individual characteristic. For example, a thriller's typical characteristics and conventions would vary greatly from those of a romantic comedy or even a horror film genre.
- Each film within a certain genre carries the same conventions however individual innovation is key in order to make each plot and film different to the other in order to keep it interesting for the audiences.
- Each genre's own conventions involve areas such as setting, iconography characterisation themes, narrative and film technique. All of the above allow genres to portray their individual characteristics but also maintain variety for individual films.
- Each different gene is culturally dependant. This means that different groups construct different expectations of what they want to watch and what they enjoy watching.
- Constructed through a series of signs (visual/aural) associated with that genre or through use of generic narratives and ideologies
- Dynamic concept which changes over time and cultural context
- Not gradual so could go unnoticed
- Changes may occur due to institutional developments
- Hybrid genre - a branch of more than one genre.
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