Conventions of Genres
Purpose: -A) to show your understanding of the conventions of
your subgenre B) To you can identify and explain conventions in a film
PART A: Identifying Conventions
PART B: Conventions in a film
PART A: Identifying Conventions
What are conventions?
• Familiar or recognizable elements
• Things you expect to see
Link to Evaluation question 1
• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products.
• Other words: Compare the forms and conventions of your media product to real media products; explain if they use/develop/challenge forms and conventions.
Use, develop or challenge?• Use = the convention is very apparent/clear/familiar/recognizable
Example: having a young, promiscuous, attractive blond as female victim and virtuous virgin as survivor …..setting: isolated/old cabin in woods (cabin in the woods) (parody films usually play on conventions)
• Develop = the convention is perhaps slightly different/changed/evolved and is recognizable but relatively ‘new’
Example: the unsuspected killer (scream)Example: not typical settings – caves (the descent)
• Challenge = when an author or institution breaks the ‘rules’ and applies conventions in a completely different way that is very innovative and not familiar or recognizable
Example: the villain is not so ‘evil’, revealing the complexities of their character or not adhering to typical ‘vampire’ conventions (don’t even know it’s a vampire film until ¾ way in) (Let the right one in)
Example: the resolution in the end (not resolved) (cabin in woods)Example: camera techniques (whole thing in POV) and unique theme of mannequins
(maniac)
•
Context with use/develop/challenge
• Psycho = 1960 - at this time was SCARY
• Now ‘slashing a victim in shower’ isn’t so scary, the level of torture and thrill is heightened
• Now = psycho = ‘use’
• About 10 years ago we started seeing a lot of children in horror films
• Now it’s conventional or expected/familiar
• Then = challenge• Now = use/develop
In 5 mins, make a list of films your subgenre
• As many as possible!!!!!!!!!• From all decades
• (you have to have seen them or know a bit about them)
Conventions of ____________(can do subgenre if you want)
• Write them down as a group
• (yellow paper)
Prompts…..Prompts Notes
Plot? The story, what happens
Narrative? The way the story is told, how the film is structured
Characters? Types of characters and how they’re represented
Setting? Where is it placed? What does it look like (how is it represented)
MES? Costume, props, lighting, colours, character details
Camera techniques Are there distinctive camera shots, angles, movementOr EDITING
Sounds? Sound effects (diegetic or non diegetic) or music
Anything else?
Complete on orange paper
Assignment 13: Conventions of _______________
Name 1Name 2Name 3Name 4
Try prezi for a change?
Initial mind map of conventions
Conventions of ____________Details Film Examples
Plot Use:Develop:Challenge:
Narrative Use:Develop:Challenge:
Characters Use:Develop:Challenge:
Setting Use:Develop:Challenge:
MES Use:Develop:Challenge:
Camera techniques
Use:Develop:Challenge:
Sounds Use:Develop:Challenge:
Other Use:Develop:Challenge:
If too much writing, separate in 2 slides
Details Film ExamplesPlot Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Narrative Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Characters Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Conventions of ____________
PART B: Conventions in a film
2 scenes (work division)
• 2 scenes: from 1 film or 2 films as a pair
• You will identify the conventions• And explain if they use/develop/challenge
• (each pair has 2 slides)• ***** must choose ‘scenes’ that you can get screen grabs from*****
Film Name
Paste film poster / dvd cover
Description of Scene 1: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (By _____ & ______)
Description of Scene 1: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (By _____ & ______)
Film Name 1 Film Name 2
Paste film poster / dvd cover
Description of Scene 1: ………………………………………………………………………………………(By _____ & ______)
Description of Scene 1: ………………………………………………………………………………………(By _____ & ______)
Paste film poster / dvd cover
Scene 1Get 9 screen grabs from scene
Scene 1 Conventions
RED = 3 prompts
AMBER = 4 prompts
GREEN = 5+ prompts
Scene 1 ConventionsIdentify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention
By Jane & Sue
Scene 1 – Use/develop/challenge
Explanation of USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE Photo Evidence
Plot
It develops the convention of _____________ because…
Narrative
It uses the convention of _____________ because…
Characters
It challenges the convention of _____________ because…