This document discusses conventions in film genres and provides guidance on an assignment to identify conventions. It defines conventions as familiar or recognizable elements that are expected in a genre. Students are asked to identify conventions for their chosen subgenre, such as plot, narrative, characters, setting, and camera techniques. They are also asked to analyze whether sample film scenes use, develop, or challenge established conventions. The document provides examples and guidance to help students complete the assignment.

1. Conventions of Genres
Purpose:
-A) to show your understanding of the
conventions of your subgenre
B) To you can identify and explain conventions
in a film

2. PART A: Identifying Conventions
PART B: Conventions in a film

3. PART A: Identifying Conventions

4. What are conventions?
• Familiar or recognizable elements
• Things you expect to see

5. Link to Evaluation question 1
• In what ways does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products.
• Other words:
Compare the forms and conventions of your
media product to real media products; explain
if they use/develop/challenge forms and
conventions.

6. Use, develop or challenge?
•
Use = the convention is very apparent/clear/familiar/recognizable
Example: having a young, promiscuous, attractive blond as female victim
and virtuous virgin as survivor …..setting: isolated/old cabin in woods (cabin in
the woods) (parody films usually play on conventions)
•
Develop = the convention is perhaps slightly different/changed/evolved and is
recognizable but relatively ‘new’
Example: the unsuspected killer (scream)
Example: not typical settings – caves (the descent)
•
Challenge = when an author or institution breaks the ‘rules’ and applies
conventions in a completely different way that is very innovative and not familiar
or recognizable
Example: the villain is not so ‘evil’, revealing the complexities of their
character or not adhering to typical ‘vampire’ conventions (don’t even know
it’s a vampire film until ¾ way in) (Let the right one in)
Example: the resolution in the end (not resolved) (cabin in woods)
Example: camera techniques (whole thing in POV) and unique theme of
mannequins (maniac)
•

7. Context with use/develop/challenge
• Psycho = 1960 - at
this time was SCARY
• Now ‘slashing a
victim in shower’
isn’t so scary, the
level of torture and
thrill is heightened
• Now = psycho = ‘use’
• About 10 years ago we
started seeing a lot of
children in horror films
• Now it’s conventional
or expected/familiar
• Then = challenge
• Now = use/develop

8. In 5 mins, make a list of films your subgenre
• As many as possible!!!!!!!!!
• From all decades 
• (you have to have seen them or know a bit
about them)

9. Conventions of ____________
(can do subgenre if you want)
• Write them down as a group
• (yellow paper)

10. Complete on orange paper
Prompts…..
Prompts
Notes
Plot?
The story, what happens
Narrative?
The way the story is told, how the film is structured
Characters?
Types of characters and how they’re represented
Setting?
Where is it placed? What does it look like (how is it represented)
MES?
Costume, props, lighting, colours, character details
Camera techniques
Are there distinctive camera shots, angles, movement
Or EDITING
Sounds?
Sound effects (diegetic or non diegetic) or music
Anything else?

11. Assignment 13:
Conventions of _______________
Name 1
Name 2
Name 3
Name 4

12. Try prezi for a change?

13. Initial mind map of conventions

14. Conventions of ____________
Details
Plot
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Narrative
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Characters
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Setting
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
MES
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Camera
techniques
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Sounds
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Other
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Film Examples

15. If too much writing, separate in 2 slides
Conventions of ____________
Details
Plot
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Narrative
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Characters
Use:
Develop:
Challenge:
Film Examples

16. PART B: Conventions in a film

17. 2 scenes (work division)
• 2 scenes: from 1 film or 2 films as a pair
• You will identify the conventions
• And explain if they use/develop/challenge
• (each pair has 2 slides)
•
***** must choose ‘scenes’ that you can get screen grabs from*****

18. Film Name
Description of Scene 1:
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
…………………..
(By _____ & ______)
Paste film poster / dvd cover
Description of Scene 1:
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
…………………..
(By _____ & ______)

19. Film Name 1
Paste film poster / dvd cover
Description of Scene 1:
…………………………………………………
……………………………………
(By _____ & ______)
Film Name 2
Paste film poster / dvd cover
Description of Scene 1:
…………………………………………………
……………………………………
(By _____ & ______)

20. Get 9 screen grabs from scene
Scene 1

21. Scene 1 Conventions
RED = 3 prompts
AMBER = 4 prompts
GREEN = 5+ prompts

22. By Jane & Sue
Identify convention
Identify convention
Scene 1 Conventions
Identify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention
Identify convention

23. Scene 1 – Use/develop/challenge
Explanation of USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
Plot
It develops the convention of _____________ because…
Narrative
It uses the convention of _____________ because…
Characters
It challenges the convention of _____________ because…
Photo Evidence