7a. What Is Genre?

This website gives examples of many different types of genres as well as a descripion of what conventions make up each particular genre. I used this website to help research for the information I used in my mind map. http://www.filmsite.org/genres.html
Genre

Film genres are identifiable types, categories, classification or groups of films that have similar techniques or conventions.

Things that make up each genre are :

• Narrative
• The actors that are used
• Setting
• Situation that appear within the film
• Props
• Subject Matter
• Stereotypical characters
• Themes
• Mood
• The period it is set in
• Plot
• Structure
• Narrative Events

Genre Definition:  http://www.mediaknowall.com/gcse/keyconceptsgcse/keycon.php?pageID=genre

Conventions

What you expect to see or hear in any given media product. These are what define what genre a film is. E.g. in action adventure films we expect to see Hero's Vs Villains and a big set piece.

Paradigms

Paradigms are the patterns which are formed within a genre by the co0nventions which are used. Overtime, these formulas and pattens may acquire a typical or archetypal force, domination ways of seeing and representing the world around us.

Archetypal Definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetypal_literary_criticism

How are Paradigms grouped?

Paradigms may be grouped into those relating to:

• Iconography - the main signs and symbols that you see or hear.
• Structure - the way the text is put together and the shape it takes.
• Theme - the issues and idea the film/programme deals with.

Why is Genre important?

For audiences: Genre is important for audiences as it means they are able to gain a clear idea of what the film is about and means they only see films that they want to see.

For industry: Genre was created around the 1920's when all the major film studios were starting up.

Positives and negatives of genre  

How has the Western Genre change overtime?

Why do Genres change over time? 
Target audience of different genres change over time and the type of people viewing films at the cinema gets younger. This is called 'juvenilisation' and may be because young people now have a larger income than young people in the past. This means that the target audience will change and the studios will have to change the content to make sure the content is acceptable for the age the audience and also make sure they interest the target audience. 

Some people like to watch genres because they like having their expectations of the codes and conventions of the film met. This means that if genres just stayed the same forever then films would become predictable which is why another reason why genres need to change overtime.

Another reason that genres may change overtime is because society and the roles of different people in society change overtime. The changes roles of women, international conflicts, immigration and disease. The dominant ideologies of society changing overtime may have caused film genres to change overtime.

The censorship of codes and conventions may be another reason why genres change overtime. When genres were first created, nudity, violence and swearing was banned because society consider it unacceptable. Since then the views of society have now changed and these things are now considered more acceptable and are allowed to be shown in film. This means that genres have had to change overtime so that they are not old fashioned and are still able to interest audiences. For example, when Jaws was first shown, it was classified as an 18 film certificate. However, since then, violence in films has become more acceptable and the certificate has changed to be classified as a 12 certificate.

Some stars, authors and directors have effected the conventions of genre overtime. For example, Hitchcock is often described as the master of suspense and this continues to be seen in contemporary thrillers. For example, The Night Of The Living Dead was the first film to use a non-white actor as the protagonist and not as a villain.

Genre has also changed overtime because of the changes in technology. Since genres were first introduced to films when the industry just started the advanced in film technology has been dramatic. This has lead to the creation of the Steadicam which is important in horror films ans also editing ha changed as fast paced editing is now easier. CGI has also made special effects in films to be more realistic. I saw examples of the technology changing over time when i visited the Harry Potter Film Studios. This showed how the special effects of films were made and how this had changed in the time between the first and last film. Technical advances in animation has been used a lot in Harry Potter as it helps to create all the realism of the creates.