GENRE, SUBGENRE, HYBRID

L/O: to be able to identify film genres, subgenres & hybrids and explain their

meanings with key terms

GENRE

• What is this?

GENRE

• Category, kind sort etc

• A way to categorize films

FILM GENRE

• Copy and complete…. (as many as you can)

FILM GENRE PURPOSE OF GENRE FILM EXAMPLES

Drama

Basic film genres (13)GENRE EXAMPLES

DRAMA My Sister’s Keeper

COMEDY Bridesmaids

ACTION/ADVENTURE The Terminator

ANIMATION Monsters Inc

ROMANCE The Notebook

FOREIGN/WORLD Pan’s Labyrinth

SCI-FI Alien

HORROR Saw

THRILLER Paranormal Activity

MUSICAL Sound of Music

WAR/HISTORICAL Saving Private Ryan

CRIME The Godfather

DOCUMENTARY Catfish

FAMILY Mary Poppins

SUBGENRE

• What do you think this means?

SUBGENRE

GENRES NEW SUBGENRE EXAMPLE

COMEDY ROMANCE/COMEDY (ROM-COM)

Bridget JonesSomething about Mary

DRAMA DRAMA + ACTION = DISASTER

2012Day After Tomorrow

HORROR COMEDY/HORROR Piranha Shawn of the Dead

THRILLER THRILLER/SUPERNATURAL Paranormal Activity The Others

When you combine 2 genres together

Hybrid

• Word?

• What do you think this means in terms of film?

Hybrid

• Word = mixture or fusion (example hybrid cars are a combination of petrol/electric)

• What do you think this means in terms of film?3 or more genres or mixtures of subgenres

HYBRIDGENRES NEW SUBGENRE HYBRID EXAMPLE

COMEDY ROMANCE/COMEDY (ROM-COM)

ROMANCECOMEDYBRITISH

Bridget Jones

DRAMA DRAMA/ACTION = DISASTER

DRAMAACTION

NATURAL DISASTER

Sweeney ToddRocky Horror Picture Show

HORROR COMEDY/HORROR COMEDYHORRORZOMBIEPARODY

Shawn of the Dead

FAMILY FAMILY/ROMANCE FAMILYROMANCE

SCI-FITHRILLER

Avatar

ACTION ACTION/KUNG FU ACTIONKUNG FUTHRILLERWESTERN

Kill Bill

When you combine 3 genres together

Conventions

• what do you think film conventions are?

• If something is conventional it means…..?

Codes and conventions• Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning.

Codes can be divided into two categories – technical and symbolic: – Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example

the camera work in a film. – Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's actions

show you how the character is feeling.

– Some codes fit both categories – music for example, is both technical and symbolic.

Codes can be divided into two categories – technical and symbolic:

CONVENTIONSConventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. OR FEATURES THAT ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED/FAMILIAR. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.

How codes and conventions apply in media studies Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.

For example, the technical code of lighting is used in some way in all film genres. It is a convention of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense – an integral part of any horror movie.

Can you name conventions?

• Let’s think of horror genre….

• Horror film conventions:• .• .• .• .

Advice: think of all 4 categories for tv drama exam

Conventions• Basic horror conventions:

– Blood and gore in violent scenes– Isolated settings such as ‘woods’– An evil villain– A tense chase scene between victim/villain– etc

• Conventions change/become more specific with subgenre:• Zombie horror

– Hero trying to save human race– Overgrown/rough settings to illustrate abondonment – etc

• Conventions constantly change over time and subgenre

Conventions checklist

• Think of a range of factors with conventions

• Plot• Theme • Character types• Setting/location• Music/sounds• Camera shots/angles• Special effects• Editing techniques• Narrative structure (the way the story is presented/structured)

Homework (Due Friday)

• Title: Assignment 1: Genre Exploration Task

• Format: Paper (by hand) or computer

• Must hand in on paper in A4 size (can fold)……computer stuff – printed out.

• No, you can’t print in the lesson – sort out before.

Assessment

• You are being marked on:

• Ability to complete on time• Understanding of genre, subgenre, hybrid• Examples of films as evidence• Effort and detail• Ability to follow instructions• Presentation and organisation

• You will receive level and grade.

Helpful websites

• http://visual.ly/complete-list-film-sub-genres genres, subgenres, hybrids

• http://www.filmsite.org/genres.html genre

• http://www.filmsite.org/subgenres.html subgenre

• Itunes/netflix – have slightly different ‘categories’….

Assignment 1: Genre ExplorationInstructions

• The purpose of this task is to show your understanding of genre, subgenre and hybrids

Step Instructions

1 Choose genre: HORROR or DRAMA

2. Put that phrase in centre or side of diagram as the central point

3. Underneath write the purpose of the genre ‘The purpose of the horror genre is to…..’

4. Underneath, purpose, identify some basic conventions of the genre ‘Some basic conventions of this genre are’

5. Give some examples of classic films in the genre (3-5) -picture of film cover -SHORT bullet points under each film to explain how it is that genre

6. Provide 3, 4, 5 subgenres of the genre, write the purpose to each subgenre and have with at least 3 film examples in each subgenre, provide brief bullet points to explain how each film is within that subgenre

7. Complete same as 6 but for hybrid (extension of subgenre)

Example diagram templates

Getting diagram templates

• Word• Insert• Smart art

Or in powerpoint or create your own

Lay out before gluing!!!!!!Don’t make it a cluttered mess!!!!!

Examples

• Next few slides……

Poor example (U)

Better example….still needs work (D)

D/E grade• Some good exploration• Chooses appropriate films• Attempt to organise text with

colour/boxes

• Presentation is poor• Writing is poor – a lot of errors• Not explaining how the films

are horror

CLUTTERED!!!!!

Too much text but some good info

Fairly good organisation

Lovely organisation

Example M - B1 grade

Always uses sentence starters

Range of correct conventions

Range of correct examples

Explains the conventions

Brief and concise text

Text and photo are linked (well organised)

Screen grab from film (not just film cover)

Identifies range of correct subgenres(not just basic genre but types!!!)

Excellent diagrams for organisation

Range of correct film examples & each of them are slightly differentExplains the conventions for each one

Explains the subgenre using sentence starters, identifying purpose and conventions

To improve: improve organisation in these boxes(too much bulky text)

Incorrectly identifying hybrid

(not 3 or more)

Film examples are correct (and good range)

Using vocab (semantics)