Genre Theory...

In our class discussion we talked about the 'Theory of Genre'

The first question was: What is Genre?
Genre means a kind or a type.

We were asked to list as many genres we could, here is a list of mine and a few of my classmates:

• Vampires (Twilight)
• Documentary
• Horror
• Thriller
• Action
• Comedy
• Romance
• Cartoons
• Romantic Comedy
• SCI-FI
• Western 
• Fantasy
• Musicals

Music Genres:

• R & B
• Classical
• Pop
• Rap
• Hip-Hop 
• Jazz

Genres have characteristics features (certain things are linked/ the style of it)that are known to and recognized by audiences. (If they are aware of the genre). This formula is reproduced again and again. For example in Western we see similar characters, situations and settings. (A man on a horse with hat in a countryside)

Audiences and Genres

Why do audiences find genres satisfying?

Audiences develop an understanding that certain expectations may be fulfilled and they may find pleasure in predicting what will happen next. "It is not always about Narrative"

Example:

The Film 'Scream' tells us the 'rules' (Highlights genre- what the game is) of the genre- what's going to happen and the shows it happening. This movie is extremely clever postmodern movie as Scream begins within a film and the characters continuously talks about horror movies. It constantly makes references to other horror movies and it reminds the audience that it is just a movie.

Audiences recognise the key elements or conventions of a genre and respond accordingly. These key elements are called Paradigm. (Villain coming back from the dead)

There are two types of paradigm:

1. Iconographic: signs and symbols. (e.g the costumes, props and settings in a western) In Scream, the props were masks, knives and telephones)

2. Structural: how structures in the text deals with issues such as ideology and gender (e.g how gender is represented in a Rom-Com) This could be the representation of characters, e.g Women that are pure survived and those who are sexually active were killed. The women are seen as "an object of erotic desires" through the male triple gaze.

Genres appeal to a certain target audiences. For example Soap Operas such as Eastenders, Coronation street and Romantic Comedies, Sex and the City apply mainly to females. Whereas BBC News or Sports will apply to males.
Genre tends to become "tired" over a time (They go out of fashion however few years late they are re-introduced)  with the audiences becoming less interested. Dracula was a movie releases years back and the fashion of vampires came back with 'Twilight Saga"

Christina Metz identified four phases:

1. The Initial Phase
2. The Classical Phase
3. The Declining Phase
4. The Parody Phase (Comedy) 

An example of these four phases:

• The Disaster Movie
• Initial- Airport
• Classical- The Towering Inferno
• Declining- Airport' 80 The Concorde
• Parody- Airplane 

Clearer examples are found in more of the western and horror movies.

EXAMPLE!

Questions:

-Which genres on television are currently the most popular?

-Why are they popular?

-Which Genres are most popular in the cinemas?

INSTITUTION AND GENRE

 Types of institution:

-Recording studios

-TV studios

-TV Company

Producers are of generic narratives depend in a certain amount of immediate communication with the audience. They want the narrative to be easily comprehensible. Genres that use key components that are easily recognisable are particularly important. E.G All 6 movie of 'STAR WARS' start exactly the same way.

Audiences know what to expect from a genre but at the same time they want some variations to prevent dissatisfaction and even boredom. Thus any text in a genre is a combination of the familiar and the unexpected. -(Too predictable = boring!) 

Key Components of Genre:

• STOCK CHARACTERS
• STOCK PLOTS, SITUATIONS, ISSUES AND THEMES (e.g McGuffin)
• STOCK LOCATIONS AND BACKDROPS
• MUSIC AND SOUNDS
• GENERIC CONVENTIONS 
• Female Fatale - Thriller?

Problems of Genre:

• Actually defining a genre is inherently problematic.
• E.g What is the difference between an action/adventure film and a Thriller? or between a thriller and horror film?
• Is 'Seven' a thriller, a horror film or a Film Noir?
• Is Film Noir a Genre?!

How can the audiences identify the genres?