WHAT IS GENRE?

O Genre………

Steve Neale O Steve Neale researched into different theories of genre, being

responsible for the idea that pleasure derives from ‘repetition and

difference’. Neale said that “there would be no pleasure without

difference”, meaning we enjoy to see variety and changes in content in

films as we notice the fluctuating conventions which are manipulated

and orchestrated in an unfamiliar fashion . Neale suggests that the

stretching of genres in new directions expand out expectations and

excite us greatly as we notice new conventions and explore ever-

changing concepts within films.

O In addition, he also suggested that we gain pleasure through the use of

repetition of genre conventions, due to them being comforting and our

viewing expectations will be met, allowing us to select films based on

our mood, feelings and personal emotions and by sharing our

experiences of films and their genres with others in a ‘interpretive

community’ which can be categorised with a level of familiarity.

Christine Gledhill O Christine Gledhill researched into the ways in which differences

between genre and the conventions they use means that

different audiences can be identified and catered for based on

their desires, wants and personal needs. Through the use of

conventions and the categorising of different genres, it makes it

easier for film companies to standardise production and in

relations to the mass media, group audiences together and

target them through the use of different expectations in

conventions in which different films would incorporate.

“There are no ridged rules of inclusion or exclusion”

Pam Cook O Pam Cook suggested three things about classic

narrative:

1. Enigma resolution- All the mystery characters/themes are identified

2. Narrative closure-the questions brought up by the narrative are answered by the end of the film

3. A fictional world however still contains true/realistic aspects

Pam Cook

Christine

Gledhill

Steve Neale

How certain

audiences enjoy

certain

conventions/genre

s

Looked at

classic

narrative and 3

stages: enigma

resolution,

narrative

closure and

realistic aspects

to fantasy

worlds.

Understood that

audiences like variety

between conventions,

however also enjoy set

conventions/genres.