Key Media Terminology

Some basics:GenreMedia AudiencesMedia Institutions

The concept of Genre

What does the term genre mean?

What products can be defined in terms of their genre?

The concept of Genre

Genre means ‘type of’

This could refer to books, magazines, music, films, TV or radio programmes

How do know if a programme or film falls into a particular genre?

The concept of Genre

Because it contains conventions that are similar or the same to other films or programmes

Where do genres come from?

The concept of Genre

Genres develop when a pattern of similarity between a number of films or programmes becomes obvious

Genres change over time according to social change and the likes and dislikes of audiences

They are constantly evolving and adapting

Conventions

1. What does the term conventions mean?

2. Are there any other words that mean the

same thing?

ConventionsDefinition: the things you would expect to see or hear in

afilm or TV programme of a particular genre. In other

words,the things that are typical of that genre

The following words all mean the same as ‘conventions’and are appropriate to use in Media Studies: Typical Features Typical Ingredients Typical Characteristics Typical Elements

Bad word: ‘things’ – to be avoided!

The concept of genre

What is a hybrid?

What is a sub-genre?

The concept of genre

A hybrid is when two or more genres are mixed together in roughly equal amounts

A sub-genre is a sub-category of a a genre

A sub-genre will share broad conventions of the genre but will also contain other conventions that are specific only to a smaller sub-group within the genre

The concept of genre

Examples - Film

Romcom films are hybrids – equal parts romance and comedy

Zombie films are a sub-genre of horror; they are similar to many horror films in general but zombie films have their own set of conventions too

Shaun of the Dead is a zom-com

The concept of Audience

Can you define the following terms:

Target Audience

Audience appeal

Key terminology - audiences

Target Audience – the biggest group of people most likely to want to consume a particular film or programme

Primary or core audience

Secondary or ancillary audience

Key terminology - audiences

Audience appeal

Pluralistic approach to targeting the audience

Broad or niche appeal

The concept of institutions

Define the term ‘The Media Industry’

Is there more than one industry in the media?

The concept of institutions

The media industry – the people and organisations behind the production and distribution of the media

Made up of several different (but connected) industries:

Film TV Broadcasting Radio Broadcasting Print Media - Press and Magazines Web – online publishing Music Gaming Advertising

The concept of institutions

What are companies that produce and distribute the media called?

What are they responsible for?

The concept of institutions

Companies that produce and distribute the media are called Media Institutions

Media institutions are responsible for: Making the media (production) Targeting the audience (knowing what appeals to

them) Marketing the media (audience awareness) Reaching the audience (distribution) Presenting the media (broadcasting, scheduling,

publishing, exhibiting)

The concept of genre

Why is genre important to:

a)Audiencesb) Institutions

Genre and audiences

Audiences have certain expectations from the media

Audiences tend to know what they like Audiences enjoy the familiarity of conventions They also like an element of surprise Audiences like to be able to define the media by

genre Audiences use their knowledge of genre to help

them make choices

Genre and institutions

Institutions use their knowledge of genre to work out what will be successful

They use genre conventions in order to make the media appeal to audiences

They promote the media through genre They organise the media through genre They sell the media through genre They often specialise in particular genres