GENREGENRE

What is Genre?What is Genre?

Genre is originally a French word Genre is originally a French word meaning ‘kind’, ‘sort’ or ‘type’.meaning ‘kind’, ‘sort’ or ‘type’.

A category of things distinguished by A category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or some common characteristic or quality.quality.

GenreGenre

The term ‘Genre’ can be used to The term ‘Genre’ can be used to ‘categorise’ almost anything.‘categorise’ almost anything.

For example; film, music, television, For example; film, music, television, art, literature, computer games, etc.art, literature, computer games, etc.

GenreGenre

Its purpose it similar to that of a filing Its purpose it similar to that of a filing system where a product can be filed system where a product can be filed under a certain category with similar under a certain category with similar products.products.

Next time you are in your local HMV, Next time you are in your local HMV, notice how this is done so the customer notice how this is done so the customer (you) can find the film they are looking (you) can find the film they are looking for with other films that are similar in for with other films that are similar in content.content.

Defining GenreDefining Genre

John Fiske describes genre as John Fiske describes genre as ‘attempts to structure some order ‘attempts to structure some order into the wide range of texts and into the wide range of texts and meanings that circulate in our meanings that circulate in our culture for the convenience of both culture for the convenience of both producers and audiences’.producers and audiences’.

Genre is a way of categorising texts Genre is a way of categorising texts in our media-saturated culture.in our media-saturated culture.

Culture & GenreCulture & Genre

Genre is a dynamic concept, which Genre is a dynamic concept, which changes over time and in different changes over time and in different cultural contexts. Because the cultural contexts. Because the changes are gradual and culturally changes are gradual and culturally dependent, you may not realise that dependent, you may not realise that the change has taken place.the change has taken place.

Culture & GenreCulture & Genre

The changes may be due to wider The changes may be due to wider issues such as desensitisation or issues such as desensitisation or institutional development.institutional development.

QuestionQuestion

How do we know How do we know

Which text belongs Which text belongs

to which Genre?to which Genre?

Genre ClassificationGenre Classification

If we start by thinking of television If we start by thinking of television genres, programmes within the same genres, programmes within the same genre will have similar, familiar, or genre will have similar, familiar, or instantly recognisable patterns, instantly recognisable patterns, techniques or conventions that techniques or conventions that include one or more of the following:include one or more of the following:

Genre ClassificationGenre Classification

SettingSettingPlotPlotMotifsMotifsFormatFormatMise-en-sceneMise-en-sceneTechnical FeaturesTechnical FeaturesCharactersCharactersSituationsSituations

ExampleExample

A soap opera, crime serial or reality A soap opera, crime serial or reality TV programme sets up certain TV programme sets up certain expectations for the audience as to expectations for the audience as to what the programme will be about, what the programme will be about, and how it will be constructed.and how it will be constructed.

Film genres can include Action / Film genres can include Action / Adventure, Sci-Fi, Westerns, Horror Adventure, Sci-Fi, Westerns, Horror and Film Noir.and Film Noir.

No mass media text is made in No mass media text is made in isolation.isolation.

All texts operate within a genre, All texts operate within a genre, although many texts can be hybrid of although many texts can be hybrid of more than one genre. For example, more than one genre. For example, the docu-soap being a mixture of the the docu-soap being a mixture of the codes & conventions codes & conventions of the of the documentary and soap opera.documentary and soap opera.

Codes & ConventionsCodes & Conventions

Associated with any genre, are its Associated with any genre, are its codes & conventions.codes & conventions.

This means the textual codes which This means the textual codes which give meaning to an audience and the give meaning to an audience and the conventions of the genre, such as conventions of the genre, such as themes / ideologies or narratives, themes / ideologies or narratives, which are used or subverted by the which are used or subverted by the text.text.

Codes & ConventionsCodes & Conventions

These codes and conventions are These codes and conventions are important for the audience and also important for the audience and also for the producer because there is a for the producer because there is a genre framework for the text and it is genre framework for the text and it is more likely to attract audiences.more likely to attract audiences.

The AudienceThe Audience

Genre is a useful ‘hook’ for an audience. Genre is a useful ‘hook’ for an audience. Trailers for a new television serial will Trailers for a new television serial will clearly identify the genre and, along with clearly identify the genre and, along with establishing an enigma which the establishing an enigma which the audience will want to resolve, this genre audience will want to resolve, this genre identification attracts an audience.identification attracts an audience.

Just think about the number of similar Just think about the number of similar programmes when any genre becomes programmes when any genre becomes popular with the audience.popular with the audience.

ExamplesExamples

After the first ‘Big Brother’ programme, After the first ‘Big Brother’ programme, came many more reality TV shows.came many more reality TV shows.

The success of ‘Changing Rooms’ was The success of ‘Changing Rooms’ was followed by a range of property followed by a range of property programmes.programmes.

How long till we have programmes such How long till we have programmes such as ‘I’m a celebrity chef’s big brother in as ‘I’m a celebrity chef’s big brother in the jungle get me out of my changing the jungle get me out of my changing room and into my garden force’ !!!room and into my garden force’ !!!

Background to Genre TheoryBackground to Genre Theory

Generally thought to have developed as Generally thought to have developed as a result of Andre Basin’s work on a result of Andre Basin’s work on Westerns in the 1950’s. He was the first Westerns in the 1950’s. He was the first to explore the very significant to explore the very significant advantages of genre from an advantages of genre from an institutional perspective.institutional perspective.

Genres make film making more efficient Genres make film making more efficient (by allowing the re-use of plots, sets, (by allowing the re-use of plots, sets, etc) as well as more marketable.etc) as well as more marketable.

Background to Genre TheoryBackground to Genre Theory

Robert Altman argues that genres Robert Altman argues that genres are usually defined in terms either of:are usually defined in terms either of:

• Certain media language (For Certain media language (For example, the Western: Guns, horses, example, the Western: Guns, horses, wagons, landscapes, or even wagons, landscapes, or even Western stars such as Clint Eastwood Western stars such as Clint Eastwood or John Wayne), known as or John Wayne), known as ‘Semantic’.‘Semantic’.

• Or certain ideologies and narratives, Or certain ideologies and narratives, known as known as Syntactic’Syntactic’..

To summarise, Genre is…To summarise, Genre is…

A way of categorising texts.A way of categorising texts.

A way of defining codes & A way of defining codes & conventions for a category of texts.conventions for a category of texts.

A way of setting up audience A way of setting up audience expectations.expectations.

To summarise, Genre is…To summarise, Genre is…

Culturally dependent – different Culturally dependent – different cultural groups construct different cultural groups construct different genre expectations.genre expectations.

Constructed through a series of signs Constructed through a series of signs (visual & aural) associated with the (visual & aural) associated with the genre or through use of generic genre or through use of generic narratives and ideologies.narratives and ideologies.

GameGame

Here is a series of film posters. Here is a series of film posters.

Your task is to determine which Your task is to determine which genre the film belongs to.genre the film belongs to.

You must explain HOW you know You must explain HOW you know that this film belongs to a particular that this film belongs to a particular genre.genre.