Analysis of Genre: Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements

In his book Narrative and Genre: Key Concepts in Media Studies, (Palgrave, Macmillan), Nick Lacey defines genre elements as constituting the 5 key areas below:

setting character narrative iconography style

When analysing texts, use Lacey’s repertoire of genre elements as a guide. Fill in the boxes below, making notes on the genre conventions that you see

Genre elements ConventionsSetting- mise en scene/ location

The first trailer shows a panning shot of Washington Heights New York which instantly tells you the film is going to be based there. Also new York has a representation of being a quite rough city in most films where a lot of crime happens so it relates to the kidnaping and killing.

Characters – representations, stereotypes, behaviour, body language, specific actors/stars

Ex-cop (Liam Neeson) who is the good guy or protagonist throughout the film kills bad people as favours. Instantly you suspect that Liam Neeson is going to be the good guy because he has a representation of playing similar roles in a majority of films, and being an ex-cop is a stereotype of an action horror.The woman that gets kidnapped is a beautiful woman a stereotype character for someone who usually gets abducted in action horror type films.

Narrative events –how is the narrative ordered and structured?Is it elliptical/enigmatic (elements left out to intrigue/entice the audience)

There was a lot of scenes during the trailer which makes you want to know more, for example it tells you about a man’s wife being kidnapped but she wasn’t chose at random but they took her for a reason. So that instantly makes you want to know why…Also there was a clip of man throwing himself of a building which is kind of intense and eye catching but also makes you want to see the movie to find out more.

Iconography –Well known or recognisable people/objects/buildingsmise en scene/ props, costume, setting, symbolic codes

An iconic scene I noticed in the first trailer was that the good guy usually does something bad to make him lose or to quit his job, in the trailer he accidentally shoots an innocent bystander whilst trying to save the day which then explains why he’s an ex-cop. Another iconic prop used in most action thriller movies is that the good guy always seems to wear a big black coat as a type detective stereotype.

STYLE: Technical and audio codes – camera use, editing,

During the trailer I noticed a secret hidden behind the story of the film, I noticed it relates to the fairy tale ‘Little red riding hood’ by having the woman getting kidnapped is wearing a blood red coat which represents

Analysis of Genre: Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements

diegetic/non diegetic sound, sfx. Mise en scene/lighting, colour

the little red riding hood character and the people who kidnap and kill her are the big bad wolfs.

Summarise how the above helps to define genre in the textWhat I’ve wrote above defines the genre of the film as an action thriller how I mentioned all the specific thrilling stuff which leads you wanting to watch more during the trailer. First of all the start off the trailer instantly tells you the film will be thrilling by having violence, guns, alcohol all shown in the first 15 seconds off the trailer. They show mise en scene in the first 5 seconds of the trailer by having tall buildings in a city wise area and dark morbid colours which describe to the viewer that the film will be a cold dark killing thrilling movie.

Name of text: Genre:

Target Audience

I think the target audience for this film is more appropriate for middle aged teens up to older adults, preferably around the age of 15-35 year olds. I think this because its tense and thrilling which most people between that age enjoy when viewing the trailer, what I found intense and want to know more was when the suspicious man throws himself of the building when asked the question “ Where can I find them” which immediately makes people want to go and see it.