A genre is a category. Media texts fall into a category or genre. Film genres are identifiable categories and classifications or groups of films that have similar conventions such as situations, themes, props, plot, mood, setting and stock characters.
Film Genres
- Action - include energy, tend to be big-budget physical stunt and chases, possibly with rescues, battles, fights, rhythm and pacing.
- Adventure - exciting stories, similar to the action genre.
- Comedy - light-hearted plots, designed to amuse and provoke laughter through situations, jokes, language and characters.
- Crime - showcase the sinister actions of criminal and underworld figures, include crimes such as stealing, murder and fraud.
- Drama - serious, plot driven, realistic characters, settings, include real life situations and intense themes and plots.
- Fantasy - incorporates imaginative and fantastic themes such as magic, supernatural and even fantasy worlds.
- Horror - provoke fear, shocking finales, cathartic experience,
- Musical - songs, dance routines, centred on combinations of music, dance, song and choreography.
- Science Fiction - visionary and imaginative, complete with aliens, quests, new technology.
- War - acknowledge the horror and also the heartbreak of war.
- Westerns - early days of America. The oldest of the genres, recognisable plots, elements and characters.
Because of genre, audiences know what to expect from the genre but also some variations to prevent dissatisfaction. Therefore any media text within a genre can be a combination of the familiar and also the unexpected.
The Five Functions of Genre
- Reinforcement of a cultures ideas and values
- Creation of a set of audience expectations
- Creation of characteristics by producers which audiences recognise
- A relationship between audiences and producers which minimises the risk of financial failure
- Dynamism and flexibility - constantly transforming with new examples
Daniel Chandler - "Conventional definitions of genre are based on the idea that they share particular convention of content e.g. themes or setting"
Steve Neale - "Genres are instances of repetition and difference; this is what pleasure for the audience is derived from"
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