““Genre and Genre and the Genre System”the Genre System”

By: John BeltonBy: John Belton

Presentation By: Cassie Presentation By: Cassie BranumBranum

Outline/AimsOutline/Aims

Gain an Understanding Genres Gain an Understanding Genres (15 minutes) (15 minutes)

Watch Clips and Have Group Watch Clips and Have Group Discussion (10 minutes)Discussion (10 minutes)

Review Questions (5 minutes)Review Questions (5 minutes)

GENREGENRE

““refers to a kind, type, or category refers to a kind, type, or category of a particular phenomenon or of a particular phenomenon or thing”thing”

““used to designate various used to designate various categories of motion picture categories of motion picture production”production”

Examples of Basic Examples of Basic GenresGenres

MusicalsMusicals ComediesComedies Action and Adventure FilmsAction and Adventure Films Crime and Detective FilmsCrime and Detective Films Horror and Science-Fiction FilmsHorror and Science-Fiction Films Suspense FilmsSuspense Films Disaster FilmsDisaster Films

Examples of Various Examples of Various GenresGenres

SubgenresSubgenres

From the main genre, the movie From the main genre, the movie can be broken down into a can be broken down into a subgenre or subdivision.subgenre or subdivision.

Examples of Examples of SubgenresSubgenres

Romantic Romantic Comedies:Comedies:

Action Action Adventure Adventure

Disaster:Disaster:

Why do we have genres?Why do we have genres?

Genres stabilize the film industry, Genres stabilize the film industry, which is definitely described as which is definitely described as unstable.unstable.

Instability occurs because of the high Instability occurs because of the high costs in creating films. “In 1950, a film costs in creating films. “In 1950, a film would cost about 2.2 million. As of would cost about 2.2 million. As of 1991, films costs range from 50 1991, films costs range from 50 million” to infinite amounts as seen million” to infinite amounts as seen with Titanic.with Titanic.

Risks with Creating a Risks with Creating a FilmFilm

The Money IssueThe Money Issue

The Product Itself: A movie is not The Product Itself: A movie is not something that the consumer can something that the consumer can take home and use. A movie is not take home and use. A movie is not something that can be pin pointed something that can be pin pointed by a “brand name.”by a “brand name.”

What can help to What can help to Compensate?Compensate?

The Star System: who is who and The Star System: who is who and who is popular in current filmswho is popular in current films

The Genre System: developing The Genre System: developing films that have popular genres; films that have popular genres; “represents an attempt by the film “represents an attempt by the film industry to control the industry to control the entertainment marketplace”entertainment marketplace”

How did the genre How did the genre system occur? system occur?

““The proven success of one movie leads The proven success of one movie leads to another movie with a similar theme to another movie with a similar theme but a different essential plot.” Example: but a different essential plot.” Example: Scream leading to I Know What You Did Scream leading to I Know What You Did Last Summer & Scary Movie Last Summer & Scary Movie

Or, one movie leads to a sequel of the Or, one movie leads to a sequel of the original. Examples: Godfather, Jaws, original. Examples: Godfather, Jaws, Indiana JonesIndiana Jones

Fixed Settings within the Fixed Settings within the GenreGenre

““Each genre has fixed settings that Each genre has fixed settings that new films draw from.”new films draw from.”

These settings include: body of These settings include: body of characters, story types, settings, characters, story types, settings, situations, costumes, and propssituations, costumes, and props

If all films have specific If all films have specific similarities, what brings in similarities, what brings in

the audience?the audience? The prospect of a new twist.The prospect of a new twist.

The audience is “enticed by the The audience is “enticed by the prospect of seeing a film that prospect of seeing a film that differs in a number of respects differs in a number of respects from films they have seen before.”from films they have seen before.”

In Closing...In Closing...

““By looking at a large body of films By looking at a large body of films within individual genres, we can within individual genres, we can see how those genres help to see how those genres help to shape and are shaped by our shape and are shaped by our understanding of American culture, understanding of American culture, character, and identity.”character, and identity.”

Review QuestionsReview Questions

What is a genre?What is a genre?

Why do we have genres?Why do we have genres?

Name a few with a film example.Name a few with a film example.