GENRE RESEARCH

What is genre?

Genre is a type of media, film, music that is put into a category.

Different genres has different codes and conventions which
help them to be identified by the audience. Some genres might
conform (maintain) the stereotypes behind them while some
genres might subvert ( change) the stereotypes. There are also
sub genres, where a film might have more than one genre to it
e.g. Shaun of the Dead is comedy horror.

Daniel Chandler
Daniel Chandler believes that there are certain codes and conventions when it comes
to different genres, every genre follows a specific style. The following convention are:
Narrative, Characters, Themes, Settings, Iconography and Filming techniques.
These can be shown throughout any type of movie with any genre.
For example in the film It Follows the narrative is about a high school couple trying
to defeat a curse after encountering the curse , with the help of their friends. In the
end they kill the curse but there is a plot twist at the end.
Characters: Since its set in high school there is a teen couple which are the main
characters, siblings/family members of the main characters and the ghosts/ curse/
poltergeists.
Themes: You can outrun death, but he will also catch up to you and there's no way
you can get rid of him.
Settings: Lake house, car park, high school, university.
Iconography: The intense music is easily recognised in the horror genre and during
the film there are intense moments which also conform to the horror genre.
Filming techniques: There is a lot of low key lighting and the colours are really
intense, there is an equal balance of bright and dark colours. There is a lot of shot
reverse shots in the film to show conversations but also bad things happening.

Rick Altman
Rick Altman believed that there isn't pure genres anymore that films
have different genres to them and that genre is advancing. He thinks
that people are bored of the same conventions and that genre has
survived due to hybridisation which means borrowing conventions
from different genres.
For example the film 500 Days of Summer is a romantic comedy
drama. It had the conventions of a romantic film because the main
characters end up falling for each other but at the end theres
heartbreak. The comedic elements of the film where there are
awkward moments between the main characters which the audience
may find funny. The drama elements show real life situations and the
happy/sad ending and all the hardship and pain to go with it.