Compilation of my introduction to Genre notes
- Genre is a way of categorising a piece of media through its contents.
- Genre and actors like to stick together, because its reassuring for the audience, and therefore the film does well.
- E.g. The actor Martin Freeman always plays a guy dragged on an adventure.
- Many different stereotypes make up a genre and mise-en-scene classify a film.
- Each genre has its own set of rules (conventions).
- Genres can be warped into propaganda. its a way of controlling the masses, and what they think.
- E.g. you cant have a crime film without punishment.
- Violent video games go the other way, allowing people to release energy, but they may however give the wrong ideas, that people may replicate. There have been multiple debates on this issue.
- There is a constant cycle of genre so audiences don't get bored.
- Audience gets satisfaction when "bad" gets punished, and therefore the film will do well. Films offer comfortable reassurance in an uncomfortable world.
- E.g. in the popular horror and action TV show "Supernatural" the main protagonists nearly always defeat the monster/ supernatural being of the week. This stops the audience being scared, they are more comfortable, so Supernatural does well.
When I am making my film I will think about the conventions, and stereotypes of the thriller genre, and I will try to include them.
