MIGRAIN: Genre

  

Media Factsheet 03 - Genre: Categorising texts

1) What example is provided of why visual iconographies are so important? The example provided is 'Star Trek' and 'Star Wars' where both use iconographies from Science fiction, but they use it in different way. Star Trek uses more futuristic settings which relates to a more glorified world of the future. The Star Wars universe is far less ideal, but they both come under the same genre of Science-fiction. For example, both films are set in outer space, use space ships, use aliens as characters, use laser guns and high tech devices, but they use different setting in order to make their film distinct. 

2) What examples are provided of the importance of narrative in identifying genre?

The examples that are used is soap operas and sit-coms. In soap operas, the story takes a long time to develop because that are lots of underlining issues being dealt with at the same, which will continue throughout future episodes, and the boss is portrayed to be a villain. However, in a sit-com, the issue is normally dealt with during one episode, and the boss is presented to be humorous and less of a villain. Although both soap operas and sit-coms deal with issues throughout their series, they alter their narrative to make it slightly different, even though they come under the same genre.

3) What is the difference between character representation in action movies and disaster movies?

In action movies, the character is presented to be 'the lone wolf' where they fight the villain by themselves without the help of any other character, such as James Bond. However, in disaster movies, the characters work together in a group, where everyone's strengths and ideas are put together and they defeat the villain together.

4) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell? 
Bordwell believed that film could be organised into the following categories: Period or Country (e.g. US films of the 1930s), Director/Star (e.g. Ben Stiller Films), Technical Process (e.g. Animation), Style (e.g. German Expressionism), Series (e.g. Bond) Audience (e.g. Family Films).


5) List three ways genre is used by audiences.
One way in which audiences use genre is using prior knowledge of a particular genre; they build expectations according to other films/magazines/TV programmes that they have seen and decide whether to watch a film or purchase another magazine according to whether or not they enjoyed the first one. Another way is by comparing others people opinions where they define the genre of the particular movie/magazine and you compare it to similar texts. The last way an audience can use genre is by completing rejecting the text; this is when someone rejects a genre such as horror or romance and will not watch/read any text that comes under that genre.  


6) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.Production; a producer can use a certain genre as a template when directing their own film. They can also refer to other movies that come under the genre they are using, and include aspects that have been successful and avoid aspects that have been unsuccessful according to the audience. Another way genre is used by institutions or producers is attracting and audience by using a popular genre that has a large fan base. People will go see movies due to the fact that it is a particular genre, which leaves very little room for failure for the producers. The last way genre is used is marketing text; the producer will include as many snippets of the film in a trailer that portrays the genre to attract fans and build expectations. 


Media Factsheet 126 - Superheroes: A Genre Case Study

1) List five films the factsheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.
The 5 films that are discussed are Superman, Batman Forever, X-Men, Spider-Man 3 and the Dark Knight Rises.

2) What examples are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years?Superman, Batman Forever, X-Men, Spider-Man 3 and the Dark Knight Rises.

3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?
Innovation: As soon as film and TV began to use the comic book characters other codes and conventions regarding the presentation of the genre in moving image were set. 
Classical: By the 1950s the superhero genre could be seen to be in its classical stage with the codes and conventions being replicated in the film and TV programmes of the time.
Parody: Batman for example was intentionally funny and camp and wouldn’t let its audience take the superhero too seriously. It had an ironic tone that flagged up the daft nature of the genre and allowed the audience to enjoy the awareness of that.
Deconstruction: Superman started a new cycle in the superhero genre with technology leading the innovation with special effects creating more realistic visual ‘miracles’.

General
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?

I chose this text because I really enjoyed this movie and it is one of my all time favourites.
2) In what context did you encounter it?I encountered this movie when I was going through my recommendations on Netflix and decided to watch it after reading the  movie summary. 
3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?I thought the movie was going to be very funny (as it was under the comedy genre) and enjoyable to watch as it was highly recommended by Netflix and the ratings were very high. 
4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?The genre I initially assigned to the text was comedy. 
5) What is your experience of this genre?I have watched many comedy movies in the past as it is my favourite genre.
6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?The basic themes of this movie is a man who lies to his girlfriend about an ex-wife and they all go on a holiday together in order to bond with the children. The subject matter of this movie is family issues. 
7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?It is very typical because the movie is very funny.
8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?I expected this movie to be enjoyable to watch as well as being humorous as it was said to be a comedy. 
11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?The conventions I recognise are a group of people going on an adventure, which turns out to go horribly wrong. Also the main characters are very dopey and sarcastic.
12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?This movie doesn't stretch the conventions of this genre at all. 
14) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))

Another genre that this movie is similar to is romance because people fall in love and live 'happily ever after'.

Mode of address
1) What sort of audience did you feel that the text was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre)?I felt as if this movie was mainly aimed at 13+ because it is a family friendly movie, however it can be hard to understand at times, which younger children would have a difficult time understanding. 
2) How does the text address you?This text addresses me as a typical comedy movie. 
3) What sort of person does it assume you are?This type of movie might present assumptions that you have a good sense of humour and don't take things so seriously. 
5) What interests does it assume you have?The interest that it may assume you have is having a god time with family and friends, laughing and enjoying each others humour.

Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?National Lampoons Vacation because they both include a family going on holiday.

3) What key features are shared by these texts?A family going on holiday. 
4) What major differences do you notice between them?

'Just go with it' is a movie about fooling the girlfriend into thinking that the man is happily divorced with two children and 'National Lampoons Vacation' is about the Griswold family's cross-country drive to the Walley World theme park.