MIGRAIN: Genre

 Read Media Factsheet 03 - Genre: Categorising texts and answer the following questions:

1) What example is provided of why visual iconographies are so important?

News broadcast

2) What examples are provided of the importance of narrative in identifying genre? 

Independence Day (1996: dir. R. Emmerich), 

Deep Impact (1998: M. Leder) and, more recently,

The Day After Tomorrow (2004: dir. R. Emmerich).

3) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell? 

Period or Country, e.g. US films of the 1930s

Director / Star, e.g. Ben Stiller Films

Technical Process, e.g. Animation

Style, e.g. German Expressionism;

Series, e.g. Bond;

Audience, e.g. Family Films

4) List three ways genre is used by audiences.

•  Using their prior knowledge of the genre to anticipate whether or not they are likely to enjoy a text. 
•  Able to compare a text through its shared characteristics with another.
• Use their knowledge of genre to reject a text.

5) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.

• Attracting an Audience
• Marketing Texts
• Templates

Read Media Factsheet 126 - Superheroes: A Genre Case Study and answer the following questions:

1) List five films the factsheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.

• X Men (1, 2 and 3)
• Wolverine (1 and 2)
• Spider-Man (1, 2 and 3)
• Batman
• The Amazing Spider-Man

2) What examples are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years?

X Men (1, 2 and 3)

Wolverine (1 and 2)

Spider-Man (1, 2 and 3)

Batman

The Amazing Spider-Man

3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?
Schatz's theory suggests that a genre passes through four primary stages in its lifecycle - Experimental Stage, Classic Stage, Parody Stage and Deconstruction Stage. The superhero genre is a prime example of this as it each of the movies go through years and future showing advanced technology and behavours and beliefs in the world and our society.

Task 2: Genre analysis case study

Carry out your own genre analysis using the model provided by media theorist Daniel Chandler. Choose a film or TV text and answer the following questions - brief answers/bullet point responses are fine:
The Perks of being a Wallflower (Romance drama)
General
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing? I love the movie
2) To what genre did you initially assign the text? Coming of age, drama, romance
3) What is your experience of this genre? Lighthearted and creates a warm calm feeling.
4) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with? Grooming, Relationships, Friendships, depression
5) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content? It's not as typical as there are some plot twists and it isn't only focused on the romantic side and focuses on other factors of life however, a few scenes were a usual love story.
6) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre? An outcast in love with someone out of their league.
7) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where - try imdb.com if unsure)? Ten things i hate about you
8) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text? Not being open about feelings on time or too late, breaking someone's heart, forgive and move on/ starting fresh.
9) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre? It makes the disruption more personal and between close friends which is more relatable for its target audience (teenagers)
10) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre? It departs because it goes in deep into the main characters life aside from the relationship stuff and goes into it's family problems and past which comes and affects his well being within the movie but not his relationship life.
11) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))? The bullying in school seems more of a high school teen drama film rather than a romance.
12) What familiar motifs or images are used? Characters gazing at eachother.

Mode of address
1) What sort of audience did you feel that the text was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre)? Teenagers to show that there will always be the perfect people for you to help and care for you.
2) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity? Working class, 13-18 years old, all races, both genders as it is set in a public high school and presented problems that happen at any age but hurt most within your teenage years and can happen to anyone but mainly within the working-class due to poor home management.
3) What interests does it assume you have? Art rock music genre, alternative aesthetic, parties
Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)? Intertextuality is when a media product references another media text of some kind. It speaks about different books and theories and the authors during the English class scene.
2) In terms of genre, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely? The Bridge to Terabithia
3) What key features are shared by these texts? The crush, not ending up together in the end, family problems, high school bullies, friendships & protecting each other
4) What major differences do you notice between them? "Bridge to terabithia" is about kids "Perks of being a Wallflower" is about teens.