Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

Genre G325
Nick Lacey report from Narrative and Genre published in 1999 shows a quotation from Lyall in 1975 stating Genres can be defined as patterns/forms/styles/structures which transcend individual art products, and which supervise both their construction by artist and their readings by audiences

Question 1b G325

Name_______________________________________

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

Graeme Burtons Burtons Six Elements states that genre has six elements. His elements of genre included: Protagonists Stock Characters Plots and Stock Situations Icons Background and Dcor Themes

Write a brief response to the following questions:

What genre is the production?

What are the codes and conventions of the production? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ How is the genre established? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

How does the mise en scene support the genre? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

What is the role of the specific elements of the mise en scene? Refer to props, costume, makeup, location, theme etc. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

Have generic conventions been adhered to or subverted? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ How will the generic elements of the production appeal to the audience? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Genre is a way of categorising a text through style and form. It is vital to be able to categorise texts in this way - both for production and analysis. Most students associate genre with film, and indeed this is where categories can be most easily identified.

A text is classified in a genre through the identification of key elements or conventions which occur in that text and in others of the same genre. These elements may be referred to as paradigms, and range from costume to music to plot points to font (depending on the medium). Audiences recognise these paradigms, and bring a set of expectations to their reading of the text accordingly: the criminal will be brought to justice at the end of the police thriller. These paradigms may be grouped into those relating to iconography (ie the main signs and symbols that you see/hear), structure (the way a text is put together and the shape it takes) and theme (the issues and ideas it deals with). Genre is important for both the readers and creators of texts (ie the audience and the producers).

Audiences

select texts on basis of genre, often because texts are arranged at retail outlets by genre (just pop along to HMV). Also, certain genres are considered appropriate to certain ages/genders in society, and choices are made accordingly eg teen movie, 'chick flicks' have systems of expectations about the content and style of a text, according to its genre. This enables them to take

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

particular pleasures in the text, those of repetition, and of predicted resolution. Pleasure may also be drawn from differences. identify with repeated elements in generic texts and may shape their own identity in response (eg fans of a particular genre of music dress in a specific way - metalheads in their band t-shirts, for instance)

Producers

market texts according to genre because a niche audience has already been identified as taking pleasure in that type of text standardise production practices according to genre conventions, thus cutting costs subscribe to established conventions of versimilitude, thus reinforcing genre conventions, but also allowing creativity within a given format e.g. it is an accepted convention in science fiction that spaceships make noises, which helps create excitement in battle scenes, but it is a scientific fact that no sound travels through the vacuum that is space.

Classification by genre is seen as both positive and negative by audiences, producers and theorists. On the one hand, rigorous conformity to established conventions while giving the audience what they want, can actually lead to stagnation and the eventual ossification of a genre as a "they're all the same" judgement is passed. This is what happened to the traditional Hollywood Western and Musical - once many profitable examples of these genres were pumped out by the studio each year, but the formats became stale through over-repetition and audiences lost interest. It is now only when a new Western or Musical that challenges the conventions and defies expectation (Brokeback Mountain or Moulin Rouge) comes along that non-niche audiences are willing to watch. On the other hand, the genre of reality television has defied criticism that it is stale, contrived and predictable, and is now the basis of programming for entire networks. Although all possible variations of the same structure (contestants compete for a prize/live in the same house/go about a heightened version of their daily lives), iconography (surface realism and non-actors) and theme (aren't these people making idiots of themselves?) seem to have been run through in the space of a decade, it's still popular with audiences, who seem to enjoy the familiarity of the patterns presented onscreen. Genre can provide structure and form which can allow a great deal of creativity and virtuosity, especially when a genuine reworking of generic conventions comes along (the Coen Brothers' reimagining of the Western in No Country For Old Men). Genre provides key elements for an audience to recognise, so that they may further appreciate the variation and originality surrounding the representation of those elements. When Scream was released in 1996, writer Kevin Williamson was praised

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

for his fresh, ironic take on the conventional teenage slasher movie. He took the conventions (band of promiscuous teenagers picked off one by one by killer unknown) and turned them around, with the characters' self-awareness of their own predictability ("Oh, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel!") used as a prime point of pleasure for the audience. However, by the time Scary Movie 4 was released in 2004, it was seen as "formulaic and predictable". Thus we can see that most genre paradigms form part of a fluid system - they are constantly changing and adapting according to audience tastes, individual entries into the genre and societal influences. Richard Dyer is an influential genre theorist who, in 1973, argued that genres are pleasurable because they offer escapist fantasies into fiction worlds that remove the boredom and pressures of reality. Would Dyers theory be relevant to YOUR product? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ________________________

Genres are ideological closure; they limit the meaning potential of a given text. (Hartley) Genres are typical forms of texts, which link kinds of producers, consumers, topic, medium, manner and occasion (Hodge and Cress) e.g. Disney cartoon fairytale classic, using CGI with general release in multiplex cinemas, DVDs and internet availability. One advantage of genres is that they can rely on readers already having knowledge and expectations about the works within a genre. (Glenhill) This helps if the narrative needs to be condensed, as audiences already know what to expect.

Any text requires what is sometimes called the cultural capital on the part of its audience to make sense of it. (Allen) This means that audiences bring prior knowledge or understanding of a genre to a particular text and this helps them understand it.

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

The assignment of a text to a genre influences how the text is read (Fiske) If we understand certain generic conventions, we understand how the text may end and be prepared for the various events in the storyline. Genre constrains the possible ways in which the text is interpreted, guiding readers towards a preferred reading. (Fiske) We may know the ending of the particular text.

Genre may offer various emotional pleasures such as empathy and escapism. (Knight) We enjoy identifying with characters and imagine ourselves living their experiences.

Pleasure is derived through repetition and difference. (Neale). We like to feel secure in this familiarity of the genre but we also enjoy a surprise.

We derive pleasure from observing how the conventions of a genre are manipulated (Abercrombie) Knowing what to expect makes us enjoy the unexpected.

Enduring genres reflect universal dilemmas and moral conflicts and appeal to deep psychological needs. (Konigsberg) The essential dilemmas of human life transcend generations e.g. family, economical survival, life, death, war, conflict)

Quick Question: Pastiche media text made up of lots pieces of other texts/imitation of other styles. Parody- an imitation of one media text by another for comic effect. Hybrid/ cross genre a cross between two genres. Do any of these terms apply to YOUR product?

Genres and Producers:

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

Producers like genres because: they are constructed for a know audience and predictable responses they use repeated storylines and stock characters they allow reuse of sets, props, actors with financial savings they are tried and tested and are therefore more security is offered for investors budgets and financial returns are easier to predict they allow for clear product and audience differentiation and market segmentation

Genre and Audience An audience likes genres because: it knows what to expect it can plan viewing with certain expectations it enjoys certain variations within a predictable framework it finds genres a consistent form of release and escapism it can engage quickly with easily recognisable plots and characters it can enjoy predicting outcomes it can easily follow the narratives within genres, requiring only a short attention span it increases a sense of cultural and emotional security it finds the choice of entertainment easy

Why do you think genres develop? ( Hint: Does an audience always stay the same?) ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ________________ Are genres too predictable and unimaginative? How did you address this? ___________________________________________________________________

Music Video Though music video is a genre of short film making, within that genre there are a variety of sub-genres including Performance clips Abstract styles Narrative based

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

Underpinning this is the diverse range of visual codes associated with individuals styles of music, including

Hip-hop R and b Hard rock Goth Teen pop Indie Adult-orientated rock etc

Conventions of music videos dependent on genre

Rock/Metal - The hue of the videos are usually quite dark, but with high contrast levels, to
give the video an overall dark and edgy tone. The music videos are usually incredibly performance based, shots covering the whole band playing, yet focusing mainly on the front vocalist. Narrative music videos are also used, althoughit is very likely that a narrative video would also show many shots of the band performing. The story lines are usually dark, to match the dark sound of the music, and dark meaning of the lyrics. The performance itself usually has a dark and 'scary' tone to it, the performers are usually dressed in completely in black, appearing as stereotypical rock/metal listeners/performers with multiple piercings, dark makeup, and a dark and edgy demeanour. The editing is usually snappy and fast paced, to match the normally fast tempo of rock/metal songs.

Pop Music videos that belong to the genre of pop are usually extremely performance
based, with the singer, or band lip syncing throughout the song, as well as performing via dancing or in a narrative story that reflects the meaning of the lyrics. The overall tone and hue of the video will be very bright, with the artist wearing bright trendy mainstream clothing. If the lyrics are or a more sad nature, the overall tone of the video may be brought down a little, but will still be quite bright. In pop music videos the main artists are almost always present in their music video in some shape of form. Pop music videos are usually fun and light hearted to appeal to a younger audience.

RnB - This genre of music video usually has a light tone to it, the hue is usually bright
similar to pop videos. Typically the video will involve the artist in a narrative setting or simply performing in a setting such as a nightclub, mansion, beach etc. There are usually dancers present, to reflect the sound of the music. The clothing is usually revealing on women, and show the wealth of the artist, with lavish jewellery and expensive cars. The narrative of the

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

story usually reflects the lyrics of the song, and like pop videos usually the artist will lip sync throughout the video. Again similar to pop music videos RnB videos have a good, positive, light-hearted feeling to them.

Indie - This genre of music videos has a huge variety of conventions, the hue can be dark,
bright or black and white depending on the tone of the lyrics. Indie music videos are also split generously between being solely narrative, and performance based, sometimes the artists do not even feature in the music video for their songs. However Indie music videos can be performance based either featuring the entire band, or simply featuring the main vocalist. Narrative music videos in the Indie genre are typically quite arty, and symbolic, rather than spelling out exactly what the lyrics say.

Analyse one of your productions in relation to genre

Things to consider

Use of Theory - how have you used the reading you have done to inform your thinking - have you incorporated concepts such as repetition and difference, systems of expectation, conventions, standardised practice, paradigms, intertextuality? Vocabulary- Is your language appropriate? It should be formal, objective in tone, and not contain any slang. You should also be using as much specialist terminology as you can at this stage; use your glossary to help you. Evidence - you need to prove that each one of your assertions is true by quoting evidence from your chosen text. You want to give as examples; short extracts of dialogue, individual events or actions, brief description of a particular shot, the way music is used to highlight a key moment, the artistic design of the mise en scene in one scene, a character's costume, the way a character uses props, etc. You may want to explain why these examples are typical of the genre by comparing them to another video product. Make some initial notes below: ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

Mrs Abrahamson

G325

Question 1b

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