Genre: Categorising texts and answer the following questions:
1) What example is provided of why visual iconography is so important?
The example that is used to show the importance of iconography, is the mis-en-scene of deep space which usually indicates the sci-fi genre.
2) What examples are provided of the importance of narrative in identifying genre?
The examples provided include sitcoms and soap operas that all denote with a particular type of story line.
3) What is the difference between character representation in action movies and disaster movies?
In action films the protagonist are generally portrayed as lone wolfs and unconvential individuals who get the job done, james bond for example. In disaster movies, the protagonist is usually placed in a group of people where there individual skills help solve the bigger problem through collaboration.
4) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell?
According to bordwell, films can be categorised into several examples including,
Audience use genre to enable them to tell whether they would enjoy the media text with there prior knowledge of the genre. It enables audiences to vaguely compare texts to one another. Finally, genre allows for the audience to prepare for the consumption of the media text and have certain expectations for it.
6) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.
Media producers use genre to attract audiences as most genres have a loyal fan base to some extent which means they already have a certain viewership due to previous media texts. Genres are also a template for media producers to follow to ensure that they're successful and avoid previous mistakes that others in the genre have mad.
7) What film genre is used as an example of how genres evolve? What films and conventions are mentioned?
The Gangster film genre is used to show how genres evolve. Scarface, reservoir dogs and the sopranos are the films mentioned for the evolution of gangster films as a genre.
According to bordwell, films can be categorised into several examples including,
- Period or country, e.g us films of the 1930s
- Director/Star e.g, Steven Speilberg films
- Technical Process, e.g Animation
- Style, e.g, German Expressionism
- Audience, e.g. Family Films
Audience use genre to enable them to tell whether they would enjoy the media text with there prior knowledge of the genre. It enables audiences to vaguely compare texts to one another. Finally, genre allows for the audience to prepare for the consumption of the media text and have certain expectations for it.
6) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.
Media producers use genre to attract audiences as most genres have a loyal fan base to some extent which means they already have a certain viewership due to previous media texts. Genres are also a template for media producers to follow to ensure that they're successful and avoid previous mistakes that others in the genre have mad.
7) What film genre is used as an example of how genres evolve? What films and conventions are mentioned?
The Gangster film genre is used to show how genres evolve. Scarface, reservoir dogs and the sopranos are the films mentioned for the evolution of gangster films as a genre.
Superheroes: A Genre Case Study and answer the following questions:
1) List five films the fact sheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.
Scott pilgrim vs the world, spider man, guardians of the galaxy, x men franchise and the avengers.
2) What examples are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years?
An example of the changing values in the superhero genre is in the x men franchise with the common theme of mutants being seen as outsiders. The x men that was released in 2000 was particularly effective as the feelings and prejudice towards non-white groups and discrimiination were an improving issue but still a hot topic. An example of changing ideologies in the superhero genre is from the 1995 batman film. In this film the ideology of a villain was challenged as there was a clear difference of villains comapared to ones form the 60s to the 90s. As well as this the general idea of good/bad was also being challenged.
3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?
Schat'z theory of genre cycles can be applied to the superhero genre pretty well. The innovation of the superhero genre and its codes would have been in the 50s with the increased popularity of superman and other similar themed media texts being created. the 60s and 70s with the contiuned increase of popularity of superman would have been classical part of the cycle of the superhero genre. The late 00s would have been when the ideology and codes of the superhero genre would have become cliche and mocked. the deconstrotuction part of the cycle is in the present with the emergence of a new era of institutions like marvel and DC the superhero is rebuilding itself with new codes.
Daniel Chandler Genre Analysis
General
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?
I chose how i met your mother as i have just finished watching it and really enjoyed it.
2) In what context did you encounter it?
I had heard of how i met your mother many times before but never actually watched it until i got a netflix subscription and it was one of the shows available
3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?
There wasnt much influence to be honest, except that i had been told that the ending was disappointing which i agree with.
4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?
Romantic comedy sitcom
5) What is your experience of this genre?
quite cliche i had seen many parodys of sitcoms etc. which made me quite sceptical when watching it.
6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
The main themes in how i met your mother include
7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?
the text contains typical themes throughout the series however it does subvert many traditional codes which leaves the audience in contain suspense.
8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
Usually quite cliche, and stereotypical to the romance genre.
9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?
The generic labels of this text include, catchy theme tune, linear narratives and one liners.
10) What generic labels have others given the same text?
Others have given the same genric labels as i have and said the same things about stereotypes.
11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?
catchy theme tunes, one liners and limited cast are some of the few conventions that i recognise.
12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
How i met your mother stretches the conventions of its genre to a certain extent as it subverts the predictable cliche story line convention, as there is numerous times throughout the series where the plot is completely flipped. This probably what made the show so unique and successful.
13) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?
The text departs from the conventions of the genre when it allows for the show to do something new or strengthen the story arch or character development.
14) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
catchy theme tune, this a convention used in most genres to a certain extent.
15) What familiar motifs or images are used?
not many.Mode of address
1) What sort of audience did you feel that the text was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre)?
young adults and middle aged people. 18-30. which is very typical of the genre.
2) How does the text address you?
the text addresses you through the narrator telling the story to the children and it almost feels like we are the children learning about the narrators love life
3) What sort of person does it assume you are?
the same as the characters. middle aged and going through major stages in there life
4) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?
not many.
5) What interests does it assume you have?
the same as the characters. socialising, going out love life etc.
Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?
there are many references to old films and hipster films that were popular in the 90s to relate to the character childhoods. also the mainstream titles that are referenced include star wars and star trek.
2) Generically, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?
Friends
3) What key features are shared by these texts?
they both are about a group of friends and there love lives and how it effects them
4) What major differences do you notice between them
one is happening in the moment and the other is a re telling where the narrator can use hindsight which is appeals to the audience.
1) List five films the fact sheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.
Scott pilgrim vs the world, spider man, guardians of the galaxy, x men franchise and the avengers.
2) What examples are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years?
An example of the changing values in the superhero genre is in the x men franchise with the common theme of mutants being seen as outsiders. The x men that was released in 2000 was particularly effective as the feelings and prejudice towards non-white groups and discrimiination were an improving issue but still a hot topic. An example of changing ideologies in the superhero genre is from the 1995 batman film. In this film the ideology of a villain was challenged as there was a clear difference of villains comapared to ones form the 60s to the 90s. As well as this the general idea of good/bad was also being challenged.
3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?
Schat'z theory of genre cycles can be applied to the superhero genre pretty well. The innovation of the superhero genre and its codes would have been in the 50s with the increased popularity of superman and other similar themed media texts being created. the 60s and 70s with the contiuned increase of popularity of superman would have been classical part of the cycle of the superhero genre. The late 00s would have been when the ideology and codes of the superhero genre would have become cliche and mocked. the deconstrotuction part of the cycle is in the present with the emergence of a new era of institutions like marvel and DC the superhero is rebuilding itself with new codes.
Daniel Chandler Genre Analysis
General
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?
I chose how i met your mother as i have just finished watching it and really enjoyed it.
2) In what context did you encounter it?
I had heard of how i met your mother many times before but never actually watched it until i got a netflix subscription and it was one of the shows available
3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?
There wasnt much influence to be honest, except that i had been told that the ending was disappointing which i agree with.
4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?
Romantic comedy sitcom
5) What is your experience of this genre?
quite cliche i had seen many parodys of sitcoms etc. which made me quite sceptical when watching it.
6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
The main themes in how i met your mother include
7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?
the text contains typical themes throughout the series however it does subvert many traditional codes which leaves the audience in contain suspense.
8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
Usually quite cliche, and stereotypical to the romance genre.
9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?
The generic labels of this text include, catchy theme tune, linear narratives and one liners.
10) What generic labels have others given the same text?
Others have given the same genric labels as i have and said the same things about stereotypes.
11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?
catchy theme tunes, one liners and limited cast are some of the few conventions that i recognise.
12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
How i met your mother stretches the conventions of its genre to a certain extent as it subverts the predictable cliche story line convention, as there is numerous times throughout the series where the plot is completely flipped. This probably what made the show so unique and successful.
13) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?
The text departs from the conventions of the genre when it allows for the show to do something new or strengthen the story arch or character development.
14) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
catchy theme tune, this a convention used in most genres to a certain extent.
15) What familiar motifs or images are used?
not many.Mode of address
1) What sort of audience did you feel that the text was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre)?
young adults and middle aged people. 18-30. which is very typical of the genre.
2) How does the text address you?
the text addresses you through the narrator telling the story to the children and it almost feels like we are the children learning about the narrators love life
3) What sort of person does it assume you are?
the same as the characters. middle aged and going through major stages in there life
4) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?
not many.
5) What interests does it assume you have?
the same as the characters. socialising, going out love life etc.
Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?
there are many references to old films and hipster films that were popular in the 90s to relate to the character childhoods. also the mainstream titles that are referenced include star wars and star trek.
2) Generically, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?
Friends
3) What key features are shared by these texts?
they both are about a group of friends and there love lives and how it effects them
4) What major differences do you notice between them
one is happening in the moment and the other is a re telling where the narrator can use hindsight which is appeals to the audience.
