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Genre

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What is Genre?
“a group of films having recognisably
similar plots, character types, settings and
filmic techniques, such as camera
shots, sound, music, lighting, editing and
themes…”

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Even in the early days of film, hundreds of films were
made every year in a bid to keep up with the enormous
demand for new, fresh films. This constant demand for
new material led to the necessity of imitation.
As stories were reworked and re-shot, the use of
conventions began to emerge. Conventions were a short
hand for the sort of information that pushed the story
along. E.g. the audience had seen hundreds of Westerns
and no longer needed the same intensive set-up for the
showdown. The convention was created where, when two
men face each other on the street and menacingly look at
each other, you can be sure bullets will fly.
These codes and conventions come to take on an
understood meaning (semiotics!). They hold
connotations that the viewer understands.

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What genre codes and conventions did
you notice in your chosen films?
Share them with the people on your table.
How many different genres can you
cover?
As a group, pick one film and its codes
and conventions to share with the class.

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Some Genres
• ACTION/ADVENTURE
• COSTUME DRAMA
• HORROR
• SCIENCE FICTION
• THRILLER
• WESTERN
In your groups, pick another film in the genre you chose
and compare its plot, character types, settings, filmic
techniques and themes with your chosen film. In other
words, how similar are the conventions that the filmmaker
uses and what is it that makes the two films from this
particular genre different? Why would an audience want to
go and see both?

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Genres have particular narratives associated with them: e.g.
the teen horror movie usually shows a „psycho‟ killing off a
group of friends until one, often a girl, remains. If generic
conventions are simply repeated over and over again the films
made become dull and predictable. A filmmaker relies upon
conventions but must mix them up with his or her own ideas,
adding a new element that keeps the film „fresh‟ and interesting.
Audiences respond positively to the repetition of generic film
conventions – we like to find ourselves in a familiar world. We
know what sorts of films we enjoy and we know what the
experience of watching those sorts of films will be like. It also
makes it easier for us to understand the film – we don‟t have to
think too hard to figure out what‟s happening (or what‟s going to
happen). But if a film sticks too closely to the familiar is could
seem dull and predictable. Too far away from the familiar and it
could be confusing. It‟s a balancing act.

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The Repertoire of Elements
A genre‟s repertoire of elements is the cues that let
us know what genre is it, e.g. a title sequence will
usually identify setting, main characters, „significant
objects‟ and narrative (how the story will be told). It
could also include the response the genre evokes in
an audience – comedy: laughter, melodrama:
empathy, action-adventure: excitement etc.
e.g. a teen horror movie will contain a high school
containing a variety of youth stereotypes („the nerd‟,
„the bitch‟, „the cool boy‟, „the jock‟ etc) as well as
blood, sharp objects to slash or stab the victims etc. It
will evoke fear or tension in its audience.

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Audiences and film producers both understand the
repertoire of elements and use them as a short
hand way of describing films (think of any trailer
you‟ve ever seen).
Note down the repertoire of elements, including the
intended effect on the audience, of one of the
following types of film:
• A love story
• A science-fiction film
• A horror film

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Characters
Setting
Significant
objects
Audience response

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Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of
water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and
Jill came tumbling after. Up Jack got and home
did trot as fast as he could caper. He went to
bed to mend his head with vinegar and brown
paper.
Decide on a genre and plan a scene from ‘Jack
and Jill: The Movie’. Make sure to include the
repertoire of elements for your genre – think of
lighting, framing, sound and music, setting and
location, casting and characters. How obvious
can you make it?