Genre means ‘type of’. It usually refers to films, books, TV programmes etc. By grouping films by their genre; we place them in categories according to common elements of content, form, or technique. When considering the genre of a film, we tend to focus on its characteristics (the way it is made) and key features (what it is about). These are called conventions. These can be broken down into 4 categories that help us to analyse and discuss films:
- CHARACTERS: typical roles, characteristics, relationships, action and behaviour, names, dress codes etc.
- NARRATIVES: typical plots/structures, actual events i.e. what happens and how.
- THEMES: typical ideas behind the story, what the film is about, what the director wants the audience to think about, reactions and ways of thinking inspired by the film.
- ICONOGRAPHY: typical mise-en-scène, visuals, props, locations, colours, shooting and lighting techniques.
A genre can only exist if there are enough similar films to create a category (Sci-Fi, Horror, Western, and Comedy). Once a genre is large enough, sub-genres can develop from them. For example, Zombie and Vampire movies are all sub-genres of horror; each with similar characteristics but their own distinctive set of conventions.
Thriller, Romance and Comedy are also genres with distinctive characters, but more often combine with another genre e.g. Sci-Fi Thriller. These combinations of genre characteristics and conventions are called hybrids.
The key to a genre is REPETITION and DIFFERENCE. The director will take elements from other films that have worked successfully, but will combine them or use them in different ways. Genre films work by combining the familiar with the unexpected; the formula to creating a successful genre film.
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