Genre notes

Genre

Major Genre – Dominant, important category.

Subgenre – Minor category or subdivision

Hybrid Genre – Combination of major genres

We identify genre by looking at:

·         Generic codes and conventions – signifiers that have been established through time.

·         Signifiers – Physical aspects that we see or hear in a film.

·         Mise-en-scene – what we see in the frame of the film.

Examples

Horror – Human Centipede

Thriller – Shutter Island

Action – Bourne Identity

Comedy – Superbad

Western – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Romance – Dear John

Sci-fi – Star Trek

Period – The King’s Speech

Noir – Night of the Hunter

Silent – The Artist

Musical – Sweeney Todd

Sitcom – The Inbetweener’s Movie

Documentary – March of the Penguins

Romcom – Love Actually

Comic book – Ironman

Christmas – Elf

Biography – The Death of the Sugarman

War – Black Hawk Down

Animated – Up

Adventure – Raiders of the Lost Ark

Fantasy – The Neverending Story

Gangster – American Gangster

Detective – Sherlock Holmes

Mockumentary – Football Factory

Genre – Western

See: Cowboys, horses, guns, cans of beans

Hear: Bullet ricochets, clicking of spurs, smashing bottles, horses trotting

Characters: Cowboys, native Americans, sheriff, deputy

Storyline: ‘This town ain’t big enough for the two of us’

Morals: Kill people, revenge, good vs evil

Examples: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, 3:10 to Yuma

Genre – Gangster

See: Italians, black cars, suits, hats, violin cases, police, cigars, slicked back hair

Hear: Italians, screeching tyres, police sirens

Characters: Head gangster, henchman, policemen, Italians

Storyline: Gang member wants to leave, money owed, police trouble, revenge, Italians

Morals: Gangs mess people up, Italians are involved with the Mafia.

Examples: Scarface, The Godfather, American Gangster