Genre Conventio

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GenreA class or type of film such as the western or the horror movie. Films belonging to a particular genre share narrative , visual, and/or sound conventions

Genre ConventionsThe Rules of character, setting, and narrative that films belonging to a genre generally obey

Horror

Horror Genre Conventions

• Monster• Victim• Disorienting/Ominous Setting• Visual: Low lighting, Extreme Camera Angle• Sound: Suspenseful music, Shock cues,

Unsettling/unidentifiable sounds

SubgenresA group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. Ex: The slasher film is a subgenre of horror

HybridA film that uses the conventionsof two or more genres. Ex: Cowboys & Aliens

Westerns

Western Genre Conventions• Visual-– Props – six shooters, horses, whiskey– Costumes- Dirty/dusty, Cowboy boots, spurs etc.– Cinematography- Extreme long shots: Show

rugged/inhospitable landscape of American West• Sound: Buzzard calls, gunshots• Themes– Hero on outskirts- Rugged independence vs. Society. Code

of honor- usually emerges as hero riding off into the sunset– Restore law & Order or Struggle over land (cowboys vs.

Indians)• Generally Post Civil war

Action Films

Action Genre Conventions

• Visceral thrills• Masculine heroics• Over the top violence, spectacle, explosions, etc. • Hero put in increasingly difficult/violent conflicts• Visual: Urban setting, quick cuts, rapid transport:

ex- cars, trains, subways• Sound: Explosions/gunshots

Science Fiction

Science Fiction Genre Conventions• Thematic interest between the relationship

between technology & humanity– The potential of human ingenuity– spiritual/ physical costs of technological

advancement • Subgenres– Exploration film– Alien Film (Extraterrestrial, or Invader)– Mad Scientist– Dystopia

Musicals

Musical Genre Conventions• Generally theatrical in nature• 1920’s -1960’s • Song & Dance numbers• Lushly orchestrated music interludes• Choreography• Colorful spectacle• Character driven romance• Emotion expressed through song

Film Noir

Film Noir Genre Conventions

• Brought about by cynicism caused by WWII- departure from lavish film characters of 1930’s

• The “hard boiled detective”• Down and out protagonist– Usually winds up worse than when he began– Figure of isolation who trusts no one

• Femme Fatale• Urban landscape• Typically include Voice Over narration