Genre InvestigationGenre Investigation

Leah FisherLeah Fisher

What is genre?What is genre? Genre is a way of categorising text through style and form. Genre is a way of categorising text through style and form.

Genres are formed by conventions that change over time Genres are formed by conventions that change over time as new genres are invented and the use of old ones are as new genres are invented and the use of old ones are discontinued. Often, works fit into multiple genres by way discontinued. Often, works fit into multiple genres by way of borrowing and recombining these conventions. of borrowing and recombining these conventions.

A text is classified in a genre through the identification of A text is classified in a genre through the identification of key elements which occur in that text and in others of the key elements which occur in that text and in others of the same genre. These elements may be referred to as same genre. These elements may be referred to as paradigms, and range from costume to music to plot points paradigms, and range from costume to music to plot points to font (depending on the medium). Audiences recognise to font (depending on the medium). Audiences recognise these paradigms, and bring a set of expectations to their these paradigms, and bring a set of expectations to their reading of the text accordingly: the criminal will be brought reading of the text accordingly: the criminal will be brought to justice at the end of the police thriller. These paradigms to justice at the end of the police thriller. These paradigms may be grouped into those relating to iconography (i.e. the may be grouped into those relating to iconography (i.e. the main signs and symbols that you see/hear), structure (the main signs and symbols that you see/hear), structure (the way a text is put together and the shape it takes) and way a text is put together and the shape it takes) and theme (the issues and ideas it deals with). theme (the issues and ideas it deals with).

Genre provides key elements for an audience to recognise, Genre provides key elements for an audience to recognise, so that they may further appreciate the variation and so that they may further appreciate the variation and originality surrounding the representation of those originality surrounding the representation of those elements. elements.

Genre theoristsGenre theorists

Daniel ChandlerDaniel Chandler: Chandler proposed : Chandler proposed that conventional definitions of genres that conventional definitions of genres are normally based on the notion of the are normally based on the notion of the contents an form of a film. These are contents an form of a film. These are then shared by the media texts which then shared by the media texts which are regarded as belonging to them. So are regarded as belonging to them. So this means that for the audience to get this means that for the audience to get a better understanding of the film, the a better understanding of the film, the producers need to stick to themes of producers need to stick to themes of other films in that genre for it to be other films in that genre for it to be successful. successful.

David BuckinghamDavid Buckingham: Traditionally when : Traditionally when thinking about genres, they tend to be thinking about genres, they tend to be regarded as fixed and permanent, but the regarded as fixed and permanent, but the contemporary theory emphasises that their contemporary theory emphasises that their forms and functions are dynamic. forms and functions are dynamic. Buckingham contradicts this idea and Buckingham contradicts this idea and suggests they are not fixed and the suggests they are not fixed and the conventions will change over time. conventions will change over time.

DeborahDeborah KnightKnight: Knight suggested that : Knight suggested that satisfaction is guaranteed with genre; the satisfaction is guaranteed with genre; the deferral of the inevitable provides the deferral of the inevitable provides the additional pleasure of prolonged additional pleasure of prolonged anticipation. Within each genre, there are anticipation. Within each genre, there are many emotional pleasures which can many emotional pleasures which can feature, such as empathy and escapism.feature, such as empathy and escapism.

Steve NealeSteve Neale: Neale believes that : Neale believes that pleasure through films is derived by pleasure through films is derived by repetition and difference. repetition and difference.

David BordwellDavid Bordwell: Bordwell : Bordwell contradicted all ideas about contradicted all ideas about categorising genres as he said that categorising genres as he said that any theme can appear in any genre. any theme can appear in any genre. This can also be considered as This can also be considered as hypobirdising which is a mixture of hypobirdising which is a mixture of genres.genres.

Genre in horror filmsGenre in horror films

Most of these theories can be related Most of these theories can be related to the horror genre as there are to the horror genre as there are certain conventions that are used in certain conventions that are used in horror films that tell the audience horror films that tell the audience what to expect through the use of what to expect through the use of iconography and other elements.iconography and other elements.