2. What Do You Think Of?
Adventure Non-Fiction
Fiction Thriller
Comedy Fantasy
3. Genre is a broad term…
Thriller Adventure Political
Romance
Paranoid
Comedy Fiction
Mystery
Drama
Country Western
Satire
Historical
Action Documentary
Science
Faction Crime
Horror
Fantasy
Poetry Novels
4. From the Syllabus…
Genre:
Derived from the French word meaning 'type'.
Genres can be broad categories such as
novels, drama or poetry, or they can be quite
specific types such a 'the detective novel'.
The categories of genres are fluid and
change depending on who is using them and
the context in which they are being used.
5. Genre and Audience
Establishes the target audience
Genre leads to target audience which leads
purpose which leads to your own personal
response
It all starts with the genre!
6. Genre and Personal Response
Helps formulate your own opinion of a text
Genre creates expectations of the text
Can help position us to respond in a certain
way
7. The Turning – Tim Winton
Fiction anthology of short stories
Entertaining and Engaging
Characters not people
Not a true story- however based on Winton’s
childhood.
8. Pans Labyrinth (2006) – Directed by
Guillermo Del Toro
Complex genre- combination
War = realistic/historical elements
Ending = fairytale
Violent scenes; Bashing and Amputation =
horror
Quest narrative = fantasy
9. True Grit (2010) – Directed by
Joel and Ethan Coen
Country/Western/Adventure film
Music, costume and setting all reinforce our
expectation for this genre.
Female protagonist is unusual for the genre,
able to discuss gender roles
10. Cinderella Ate My Daughter (2011) –
Peggy Orenstein
Non Fiction/Expository
Purpose is to inform
Use of facts, information, expert opinion,
statistics etc to back up ideas.
We are positioned to agree because it is
understood that the information is accurate
and often clinically presented.
11. No Sugar (1988) – Playwright:
Jack Davis
Stage Drama, based on historical events
Faction (uses real life events for the bases of
a fictional dramatisation)
Greater degree of realism and emotional
connection with audiences because of the
reference to real life events (Billy’s emotive
account of the massacre)
12. Bran Nue Dae (2009) – Directed
by Rachel Perkins
Genre: Musical/comedy
Elements of Western Australian historical
context- references the dislocation and
oppression of Aboriginal people as a result of
European colonialism in the night time dream
sequence. (Could be seen as similar to the
historical elements in No Sugar)
Adapted from a stage musical
13. Food Inc – Robert Kenner
Informative documentary
Provides information whilst still being
entertaining
Constructed to evoke certain emotions from
audiences- eg lingering shots on
uncomfortable animals show the negative
and cruel consequences of heavily doctored
mechanicalized farming processes and invite
an emotive response.
14. In The Exam…
Sample Question: Reading Section
“How has text 2 used genre to position you to
respond to it’s ideas about _______”
15. How To Answer:
Read the question and read text 2
Identify the genre and the conventions that
support it
Identify the big ideas
Explore your personal response and how the
genre positioned you to feel that way about
it’s ideas
16. In Conclusion
Genre is derived from the French word meaning
‘type’
There are many many different genres, some are
broad (novel) some are specific (mystery)
Genres have certain expectations which can provide
an assumed audience
Understanding genres can shape your own personal
response as to whether or not you like a text
Show and understanding of genre in the exam to
show your depth of understanding of the texts
