A Genre is a type or category of media product, for example Spy Thriller or Action, which happens to have certain distinctive main features. These features are what we understand and recognize though it being repeated over a period of time.
What is an Action Genre?
An Action genre is an area of film where action sequences, such as fighting, stunts, car chases and explosions happen to take precedence over elements like characterization or complex plotting. This involves individual efforts on the part of the heroic character in contrast with most war films. The genre is closely linked with the thriller and adventure aspects of film genres.
What do you understand by the concepts of repetition and variation of a genre?
Genre films are commercial features which use repetition and variation to tell a familiar storyline using familiar types of characters and situations. By this they may have to live up to the expectations of the genre in order to be popular. In addition to Action movies they tend to follow that heroic based story line that may happen to be at war with an army or villain or potentially putting themselves forward to save the world. For example G.I. Joe and Taken again the same features that live up to the expectations of being an action movie.
What are the Key Elements of Genre?
Protagonists – Are known as the lead character which may be a hero or a villain. The lead male character would come across as ‘courageous’ and ‘good looking’ that would most likely rescue a lady that is in distress at some point. On the oth4er hand the lead female would play a character that is a second hand to the male, being also good looking.
Stock Character - A stock character is a fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. They also happen to be those that surround the main characters.
Plots and Stock Situations – In a movie there is usually a beginning middle and end which is known as the plot. In G.I. Joe
Duke becomes the leader of the G.I. Joe unit, which is framed for stealing nuclear warheads from Pakistan by Zartan, who is impersonating the President of the United States. Duke has to prevent the nuclear warheads from exploding and hitting the other countries. When the truth comes out, Cobra Commander escapes during the battle and Storm Shadow disappears after avenging his uncle. The real President addresses the nation at a ceremony where the team is commemorated as heroes.
Icons – This is a key symbol and aspect of the genre, when we see them this is where we immediately recognize and concentrate on knowing what territory you are in. There are three main types of icons: Objects, Backgrounds and Sometime starts.
Backgrounds and Decor – When backgrounds in action movies become very distinctive then they automatically become icons. For example in G.I. Joe the teams ship is known as there safe territory where they plan, practice and solve things. We see this ship throughout the movie, which is known as an icon.
Themes - The theme is what connects the value of the messages that are projected towards the audience. All genre narrative says something about conflict being good and evil between alternative views of right and wrong.
- Truth vs. Ignorance
- Loyalty vs. Deceit
- Self-sufficiency vs. Dependency
- Persistence vs. Surrender
- Integrity vs. Temptation
What do you understand by the concept of a genre ‘formula?’
All the above elements add up to what we call the formula which is the equation. In terms of Television soaps there are other elements of the formula known as matriarchal figures, conflict through misunderstandings and emotional crises. Mary Ellen Brown describes this genre as:
- A serial form that resists narrative closure
- Use of multiple characters and plots
- Emphasis on dialogue, problem-solving and intimate conversation
- Female characters who have power outside the home
- Male characters who are ‘sensitive’ men
When you understand the formula it helps you understand what is going on which gives us the pleasure of feeling that we are on familiar grounds.
Does the fact that many products work to a formula make them boring?
No comments:
Post a Comment