Download - Genre research2013
Film Genre Research
Create a Popplet to present your findings.
GenreNick Lacey uses the following categories when exploring genre. You can use these categories to organise your research:
• Setting• Narrative• Characters• Iconography• Style
Films of particular genres have recognisable elements that can be explored using the categories above.
GENRE - Lacey’s repertoire of elements• Narrative: This refers to the story structure as
well as the specific narrative devices, which genres employ (car chases, gunfights, weddings, etc.).
• Characters: Narrative is usually developed through characters and their functions (hero, villain etc). Some characters are so closely associated with a genre that they become generic types. For example, in horror movies, the ‘final girl,’ who maintains her personal dignity, usually defeats the psychopath.
Nick Lacey
GENRE - Lacey’s repetoire of elements• Setting: Some genres have a distinct location but
this can be subject to change, for example horror films have moved from the gothic to the suburban. Genres can also be associated with time periods like the gangster films set during prohibition in America but successful films have updated this.
• Iconography: Films contain visual and audio images, which become instantly recognisable and associated with the genre. Eg: Gangster films feature the iconic ‘Tommy’ gun spraying bullets in the hands of a man in a sharp suit usually standing on the running board of a car.
Nick Lacey
GENRE - Lacey’s repetoire of elements• Style: Iconography refers to the objects but style
describes the way they are presented. Camera angles, editing, lighting and the use of colour all contribute to the style of a film.
Nick Lacey
TASK: Create a Popplet that shows the conventions of your chosen genre or sub-genre using Lacey’s categories, i.e.
Here is an example – you should have more detail for some of the categories in your version! Also include film examples.
• Post your completed Popplet to your journal with a summary of the elements you think you could include in your own marketing campaign.