By Shima Begum 12A2

GENRE

A2 Media Studies module 2735 OCR

•Many genres dominant in Britain•Comedies such as Notting Hill and drams such as Elizabeth, Much Ado about Nothing• ‘Ethnic genre’ Bend it like Beckham

Concept of genre in film•Genre means a type or category and when linked to film, it represents a group of people that are linked together •Genres have conventions, set elements within film•There can be shifts in genres• During earlier times you can come across stereotypical characters within genres•Social groups may change… women are seen to be more dominant in society

Viewers on Genre•Viewers choose a film because they enjoy that particular genre.•They expect to see certain conventions in that genre, preferably in a new way.•Therefore, producers must meet these demands but also compete with other films. •Some producers follow a genre that does not incur much financial cost• Staying with the same genres may be quite

repetitive and dull

Key concepts & skills for media studies• ‘Genre is the classification of any media text and category type’• The idea that genre is continually changing, due to social change and economic needs.• There are uses of Hybrid combinations • Iconography is used to help outline the features of a genre and attempt to define it.•Different theorists have different views of genre • Ed Buncombe• Colin McArthur• Tom Ryall

ED Buscomb 1970•He argued that film was a visual medium•He believes that reoccurring codes and conventions found in film such as, codes of dress, settings and props are factors that should be used to define Genre, Rather than a narrative structure•For example, in a western film you would have a dusty background/desert, horses, saddles, guns, Cowboys…etc.

Colin McArthur 1972/ Tom Ryall 1978

•He also believed and drew attention to the importance of cultural knowledge.•The idea of expectation the audience has in being able to recognise the conventions of a particular genre•Ryall argued that themes, characters and iconography to be considered, when studying genre.

Stephan Neale 1980•He argued that too much emphasis on iconography should not be used, genre should be anchored by narrative •And playing a lot of importance to iconography means not enough detail is used on camera angles, editing and lighting.

A2 Media Studies for OCR (Second Edition)