Genre!

• There are three main purposes which categorise texts into genres. They are:

• to influence production in order to fit into a particular genre• to give insight into ways audiences consume texts• to help consider texts from an academic perspective. This creates a chicken and egg effect, asking which comes first? Do they all happen at the same time? Do the directions shift? And if they do, what causes them to shift?

Theories

• Todorov said: ‘All media production takes place in the light of other media production and represents partly a response to the pre-existing world of production’

• So does this mean there can never be any originality? Are we doomed to experience the same text over and over again?

How do we define a genre?

• We can break texts into genres and sub-genres to show the groups of texts that share common features and the relation of the groups to one another.

• The truth is that there is no single perfect way to trace the relationships between these categories and any graph made will be far too simplistic to reflect the complex interactions media texts have. It is the chicken and the egg but on a grand scale with lots of chickens and lots of eggs.

• If we recognise that genre is a flawed idea, then perhaps the way forward is the hybrid, the text that mixes genres and is therefore, original.

• If we recognise that genre is a flawed idea, then perhaps the way forward is the hybrid, the text that mixes genres and is therefore, original.

• There are two types of hybrid: • Regressive• This is when a text attempts to take on elements ‘original’ to a genre by resisting change that

has already happened within the genre and attempting to go back to an earlier state. Inevitably, this is difficult because the audience’s expectations are often based on these changes, so although they are not used in the text, these elements can be conspicuous by their absence.

• Progressive • This is when a text is created by melding aspects of different genres. This is generally an

attempt at originality, but typically all the elements used have been used before, so all that is original is the blending of them, and often this is nothing new in itself.

• But what if a text is attempting to be entirely different and innovative? What if it defies

categorisation? These texts are the Mavericks, and there are few true ones as most texts have some affinity with a genre.

• Conventions• This is a broad term for any element associated

with a particular genre. This includes media language, narrative style or anything else really associated with it.

• Iconography• These are the visuals associated with a genre.

What scenery, lighting or mise-en-scene makes a genre?

• So how do you apply all this theory within the exam? It is no good just writing a theoretical essay, it needs to be firmly based in texts. We have studied a range of texts in lessons and these are a good place to begin tracing the development of and definition of a genre. But you need to do your own personal viewing to flesh out your response. Watch texts on the net, look at new or upcoming programmes or films that fit into the genres we’ve studied.

SALT

• The film Salt is within the genre of action, however it has the subgenre of suspense, mystery and thriller.

• It is a progressive film as the text is created by melding aspects of different genres.

• Salt has the typical conventions of an action thriller such as fight scenes, chases, a mission, and destruction.

• How does this text build on the traditions set out by earlier genre texts?

• What conventions and iconography that you expect from this

genre appear in this text? • Who is the intended audience of this text? What impact do

you see this having on the text’s production and reception? • What predictions would you make about the future of this

genre based on this text?

How does this text build on the traditions set out by earlier genre texts?

• Salt builds on the traditions set out by earlier genre texts as it follows the typical conventions of an action/thriller, however, it has a big twist near the end. This can also be a typical feature within this genre.

What conventions and iconography that you expect from this genre appear in this text?

• The typical conventions of an action film appear in this text such as fights, chase scenes, destruction and a mission.

• Salt is set in a large city and then travels, this is typical iconography for an action/suspense thriller.

Who is the intended audience of this text? What impact do you see this having on the text’s production and reception?

• Salt is a 12A which suggests it is aimed at anyone older than 12, it is most suited to young adults onwards as there is violence and a confusing story.

What predictions would you make about the future of this genre based on this text?

• I would predict that action thrillers will continue to do well as the equipment keeps improving, for example in Salt, many stunts would have needed certain equipment and that is what attracts viewers to action films.