Preview

Analysis of Genre, Stardom, Authorship and Gender Theory.

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1290 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Analysis of Genre, Stardom, Authorship and Gender Theory.
“Apparently no strictly logical distinctions can capture the variety of factors which create the genres we have” (Nicholas and Price, 1998)
This quote demonstrates the complexity of allocating a particular genre to a film, as various aspects need to be considered. Although concrete groupings such as horror, science-fiction, crime and drama exist, the majority of movies contain more than one aspect which renders them difficult to categorise. For example, the difference between an ‘action’ and a ‘thriller’ film can be very fine. Should the length of footage of fight scenes determine them? Should the scale and intensity of adrenaline felt by the audience throughout the story line be considered?
Apart from the concrete distinctions between fiction and non-fiction, many subcategories are used. Some genres are based on literature, such as ‘melodrama’ and ‘comedy’; others on the plot, for example the ‘war film’; and still others on media such as ‘the musical’. Furthermore, some genres are categorised by their budgets, censorship rating, racial identities, location, status amongst many others (Stam, 2000).
Genres are a way of characterising a film in the simplest way, interpreting and judging without evaluating them. This allows viewers an easier choice when choosing which film to watch since the field has been narrowed down for them. Patterns such as in the plot, theme, and cinematographic technique and which branded star is used in the film are some of the ways the genres are often grouped. These are very commonly broadened because of the other forms of genre groups sometimes jumping in and out of a film are known as sub-genres.
In the second edition (Nathan Abrams, 2010) of ‘Studying Film’ it is pointed out that not only are repetitions a requirement in identifying particular film genres, but so are their differences. Viewers take into account not only similarities but also variances between previous films they have seen. Thus when comparing a few films of the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    With the large variety of interests that flourish within the society, it is no shock that genres exist, especially in film, as the definition of entertainment differs from person to person. A genre is a category of films that are characterised by similarities in the narrative elements and conventions found within the films. Genres are extremely useful to both film producers and audiences as it helps them narrow down the target audience and search for films that are in their range of interests. No one wants to watch a political drama overrun with teenagers or go into a cinema with the intentions of watching a romantic comedy, only to receive blood and gore instead.…

    • 3831 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hum150 Week3 Team Matrix

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How did each film’s elements match the genre with which it is associated? Was each film typical or atypical for its genre? Why or why not…

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    The film I have chosen to review and analyse under the theoretical frame Genre is Angels with Dirty Faces, a gangster film directed by Michael Curtiz starring James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. In Andrew Tudor’s book “Theories of Film”, he argued that genre is “what we collectively believe it to be”. I believe that when Tudor says “we” he means the audience. Audiences have an expectation of what they assume a film to be like and this is down to genre. According to Jill Nelmes, “Genre is a fundamental means by which we communicate”. Characters, setting and events are made predictable to assist the audience in fulfilling their expectations. The study of Iconography also has a lot to do regarding genre and how such things like props, costumes and settings can tell the audience what genre a film is supposed to be in. When films are placed in certain genres, recurring events and characters are expected. The likes of Al Capone and James Cagney were recurring actors on contract used for the gangster genre in the Hollywood Studio System around the 1930s and this entertained the audiences as they knew what to expect from their idealised actors from the roles they played.…

    • 1496 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Over a period of time, specific audiences construct expectations of different types of media, related to either what they have been told, or perhaps what the media have exposed them to in the past. Indeed, it could be argued that the success of a film to a large degree, rests on whether or not such expectations are met, surpassed, else the audience successfully surprised. Certainly, such expectations have to be addressed by the film, if it is to be considered satisfying for the audience, and in this way, elements within the film, such as character representations, the narrative and cinematography are all important components which allow this to be achieved. Additionally, the social and political context in which the film is being viewed must be considered, as it is against this background that their expectations will have been formed.…

    • 3110 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    According to them, genres are simply “recurring kinds of texts”. This simple explanation applies to things like parking tickets, book summaries, gossip magazines, news headlines, and so much more. As a writer, a genre outlines a general template to follow. For instance, writing a résumé for a job application, or a lab report in Biology 101. As a reader, genres tell the reader what to expect from the writing in front of them. In other words, people who read mystery novels don’t want a non-fiction essay all about the secret life of butterflies. Wardle and Downs also draw parallels between genres and maps, calling genres “maps to new situations”, since both help people navigate in a new situation, whether being lost on the road or reading through new text. Additionally, they state that maps change based on new knowledge or technology, and similarly, genres are “maps that you should not rely on rigidly without thinking for yourself about what to do in any writing situation.” I find this advice particularly helpful, because similarly to the templates available in “They Say/I Say”, genres are general guides but not absolute…

    • 1891 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Searchers

    • 2093 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Development and adaptation of the western genre has occurred throughout the twentieth century in relation to the shift in context, this is still relevant. Stereotypes of a western genre and the context are determined by the time in which the film is being produced. The time in which they were produced determine how social construction, gender ideas, values and attitudes, the setting and SWAT codes are demonstrated. I have chosen to present this speech by looking at the film studied in class, and a film of my choice and how the difference in context has changed in the tie of these two films.…

    • 2093 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    ENG 225 WEEK 2 Assignment

    • 1090 Words
    • 1 Page

    The film industry is an industry that has many demands from its audience. The writers of modern movies have a great task to ensure that their story lines are not recycled or reused. It is apparent that the writer gives the viewers a new story and stay in line with the topic that they decided to write about, in order to keep the audience interested. Films are made in the genres types, the type of genre the movie is, determines the audience the writer is facilitating. “Genre or category, and genre films are usually easily recognizable as part of a certain genre. It is because they tend to usefamiliar story formulas, character types, settings, and iconography…

    • 1090 Words
    • 1 Page
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Close Analysis Vertigo

    • 2648 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Elsaesser, Thomas, and Malte Hagener. Film Theory: An Introduction through the Senses. New York, New York: Routledge, 2010. Print.…

    • 2648 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    Each of the film produces has made a different type of film in a different type of genre. Genre is the type of film that it is, based on the camera angles and movements, the content, the adaptations and the interpretations as well as other general features that help to determine the genre.…

    • 2812 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Many different methodologies are vital when examining film. Different aspects and methods of cinema analysis provide critics and audiences with various approaches to establishing certain genres or films. This essay will examine the specific methodologies of the action genre, a consideration of the art cinema and an auteur study. These styles are recognized in Kathryn Bigelow 's Point Break (1991) which provides strong examples of these techniques.…

    • 1195 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Genre fiction, also known as popular fiction, refers to plot-driven fictional works written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre, in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Genre fiction is generally distinguished from literary fiction. Fiction is mainly known as literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary events and people. Fiction is an out for two people: the reader, and the author. It allows the reader to escape from their reality and engulf themselves in a fantasy world. It helps to calm their worries. Or getaway from them for the time being. For the author, fiction allows them to put out their feelings by putting them into a fantastical…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Genre theory is the “stereotype” of the genre. Meaning, what one expects from a specific genre. For instance, a horror film is expected to illicit fear in the audience, while a musical is expected to have minimal spoken dialogue, and a dramatic tragedy is expected to have conflicts and end in a tragic or sad manner. Genre conventions and attributes contribute to the fulfillment of the genre theory. The genre conventions or techniques of a horror film such as recurring plot points featuring multiple murders, keeps the film grounded in the genre of horror, and gives definition and depth to the film. While the genre attributes or specific details like the back story of the main character that lead to the villainy, refine and accentuate the genre. When genre conventions and attributes are balanced, it is possible to cohesively combine multiple genres that would not normally go together, like horror, musical, and dramatic tragedy. An excellent example of the balance of these three genres is Sweeney Todd (Burton, 2007).…

    • 1416 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Telotte’s article (2001) discusses the genre of science fiction and there meaning in our culture. Telotte (2001) discusses how while there are hallmarks of the genre such as creative and technical limitations of the film medium, iconography, themes, and narrative, the genre is still too diverse to be properly defined . These hallmarks however allow audiences to identity elements of science fiction by observing the iconography in them such as space ships, future technology and aliens. Even though this iconography is associated with science fiction it does not inherently make it sci-fi. This science fiction iconography can be used as a template for other genres such as drama and action. Telotte (2001) uses Horror films as another example as these films generally use multiple types of other genres.…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    50 First Date

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Genre theory is used in the study of films in order to facilitate the categorization of films. Genre also allows viewers to have an idea of what they will be watching before even watching it. Genres are dependent on various factors such as story line, whom the director is, and the audience expectation. Today there is a greater diversity in film; there are more alternatives that allow for more genres to be presented. For example, the romantic comedy genre can also overlap with subgenres such as screwball comedy, teen comedy, or gross-out comedy (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014, table 4.1). This paper will focus on the romantic comedy genre, specifically the gross-out comedy, 50 First Dates, to help viewers gain a better perspective on the elements of this film, as well as the how this film expands the boundaries of romantic comedies.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Анализ

    • 2920 Words
    • 12 Pages

    The text under analysis is a novel entitled “Tess of the D’urbervilles”. It belongs to the belles letters style,sub-style is emotive prose.…

    • 2920 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays