Genre theories

Genre theories

Genre theories

By laura knowles

Key terms:

Genre- this is a main category in which this case a artist or a band are put into which shows the type of music that they make.

Generic- characteristic of or relating to a class or group of things (in this case music videos and music in general)

Sub-genre- This is a branch off of a genre which shares some characteristics but perhaps develops or challenges usual characteristics (for example trap music uses elements from different genres, however changes them to make a new type of music).

Genre defying- This is a term which suggests that an artist can not be easily placed in a specific genre.

Hybridhysation- as the name states, this is basically a mix of more than one genre, for example indie rock.

More key terms for genre in music/music videos:

Intertextuality- this is when a music video references to something else, this could be another music video, song, another artist or even a film. An example of this is Taylor swifts music video for shake it off. As we can see in these images, in this music video she dresses up and acts as different types of people as well as other genres stereotypes.

Pastiche- this is an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another piece of work or another artist

Parody- this is an imitation of the style of a particular artist, or genre with uses deliberate exaggeration for comic effect, they are also usually made as a comedy piece.

John hartly- 1994

This theorist argues that genres limit the potential and the creativity that media texts can give (in this case for music and music videos).

He also suggests that genre acts like a sort of straightjacket meaning that it doesn't allow the artist to do different things as they are being limited to one specific genre. (meaning that artists are usually expected to act and look a certain way due to what genre of music they are producing).

Robert hodge and Gunther kress- 1988

These theorists argue that genres control the behaviour of producers of such texts, and the expectations of potential consumers.

These also state that genre is something which again limits the creativity of an artist and that often they have to act upon the audiences expectations.

John fiske- 1987

This theorist argues that genres reflect the zeitgeist meaning that they change due to what is popular at the time (for example most music and music videos around now are usually in the pop or rap genre as they are whats popular at the moment.

When explaining his theory He states that generic conventions embody the crucial ideology concerns of the time in which they are popular.

Rick altman

This film theorist argues that there is no such thing as a pure genre anymore as genre is a progressive thing that is always changing.

In his theory he states that generic conventions are very much a thing of the past and that audiences in general have become tired of the same formula. (therefore genre keeps changing and progressing to keep audiences entertained).

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Education

Genre theories