Introduction to Film GenreIntroduction to Film Genre

► Film genre is a concept Film genre is a concept that involves a process that involves a process of categorisation and of categorisation and labelling of easily labelling of easily recognisable recognisable conventions that exist conventions that exist in any particular set of in any particular set of filmsfilms

► It is used by both film It is used by both film producing/distributing producing/distributing institutions and institutions and audiencesaudiences

Institutional use of genreInstitutional use of genre

► Film producers use genre Film producers use genre as a means of minimising as a means of minimising the economic risk in the economic risk in making filmsmaking films

► Film Film distributors/exhibitors use distributors/exhibitors use genre as a means of genre as a means of advertising and advertising and promoting filmspromoting films

► Both depend upon Both depend upon audiences’ foreknowledge audiences’ foreknowledge and past experienceand past experience

Audience use of genreAudience use of genre

► Audiences use genre to Audiences use genre to give them predictable give them predictable pleasures when pleasures when consuming/watching a consuming/watching a filmfilm

► Audiences have certain Audiences have certain expectations of genre expectations of genre filmsfilms

► Audiences expect genre Audiences expect genre films to involve films to involve innovation, innovation, inflection/subversion of inflection/subversion of the generic conventionsthe generic conventions

Generic conventionsGeneric conventions► A film genre is defined by its A film genre is defined by its

conventionsconventions► These conventions must be present to These conventions must be present to

make a film a genre film but should make a film a genre film but should involve some aspect of innovation, involve some aspect of innovation, subversion and/or inflection (otherwise it subversion and/or inflection (otherwise it becomes a formula film)becomes a formula film)

► Generic conventions will vary from Generic conventions will vary from genre to genre but will usually involve genre to genre but will usually involve such areas of repetition as:such areas of repetition as: Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene SettingSetting Visual styleVisual style ThemesThemes IdeologyIdeology StarsStars Character-types (including stereotypes)Character-types (including stereotypes) Narratives (including events and Narratives (including events and

resolutions)resolutions) IconographyIconography CinematographyCinematography Special effectsSpecial effects Sound/musicSound/music FunctionFunction

against genresagainst genres

►captive audiencecaptive audience►against innovation + originality against innovation + originality

(romanticism)(romanticism)►triviality of the interpreting activity, triviality of the interpreting activity,

“low-art”, genre works=popular=bad“low-art”, genre works=popular=bad►marketing orientedmarketing oriented

in favour of genresin favour of genres

► a work has meaning in relationship to other works (Barthes)a work has meaning in relationship to other works (Barthes)► it brings in cultural context & historical perspectiveit brings in cultural context & historical perspective► It helps us distinguish between works to avoid banal It helps us distinguish between works to avoid banal

generalizations, i.e. “generalizations, i.e. “allall games are violent” games are violent”► Genres are not simply features of texts, but are mediating Genres are not simply features of texts, but are mediating

frameworks between texts, makers and interpreters. Fowler frameworks between texts, makers and interpreters. Fowler argues that 'genre makes possible the communication of argues that 'genre makes possible the communication of content‘content‘.. Genre Genre constrainsconstrains the possible ways in which a text the possible ways in which a text is interpreted, guiding readers of a text towards a is interpreted, guiding readers of a text towards a preferred preferred readingreading..

► Pleasures of identifying genre features (uses & gratification Pleasures of identifying genre features (uses & gratification model)model)

The WesternThe Western► ““Western Films Western Films are the are the

major defining genre of the major defining genre of the American film industry, a American film industry, a eulogy to the early days of the eulogy to the early days of the expansive American frontier. expansive American frontier. Westerns are characteristically Westerns are characteristically American in their mythic American in their mythic origins. Western films have origins. Western films have also been called the horse also been called the horse opera, the oater, or the opera, the oater, or the cowboy picture. The western cowboy picture. The western film genre has portrayed much film genre has portrayed much about America's past, about America's past, glorifying the past-fading glorifying the past-fading values and aspirations of the values and aspirations of the mythical by-gone age of the mythical by-gone age of the West.” (Tim Dirks)West.” (Tim Dirks)

SettingSetting► Westerns are often set on the Westerns are often set on the

American frontier during the last American frontier during the last part of the 19th century (1865-part of the 19th century (1865-1900), in a geographically western 1900), in a geographically western (trans-Mississippi) setting with (trans-Mississippi) setting with romantic, sweeping frontier romantic, sweeping frontier landscapes or rugged rural terrain. landscapes or rugged rural terrain. However, Westerns may extend However, Westerns may extend back to the time of America's back to the time of America's colonial period or forward to the colonial period or forward to the mid-20th century, or as far mid-20th century, or as far geographically as Mexico.geographically as Mexico.

► '... Hollywood's West has typically '... Hollywood's West has typically been from 1865 to 1890 or so ... been from 1865 to 1890 or so ... within its brief span we count a within its brief span we count a number of frontiers in the sudden number of frontiers in the sudden rush of mining camps, the building rush of mining camps, the building of railways, the Indian wars, the of railways, the Indian wars, the cattle drives, the coming of the cattle drives, the coming of the farmer. Together with the last days farmer. Together with the last days of the Civil War and the exploits of of the Civil War and the exploits of the badmen, here is the raw the badmen, here is the raw material of the western' (Kitses, material of the western' (Kitses, 1969) 1969)

LocationLocation► The western film genre The western film genre

often portrays the often portrays the conquest of the conquest of the wilderness and the wilderness and the subordination of nature, subordination of nature, in the name of in the name of civilization. Specific civilization. Specific settings include lonely settings include lonely isolated forts, ranch isolated forts, ranch houses, the isolated houses, the isolated homestead, the saloon, homestead, the saloon, the jail, the small-town the jail, the small-town main street, or small main street, or small frontier towns that are frontier towns that are forming at the edges of forming at the edges of civilization.civilization.

PlotPlot► Usually, the central plot of the Usually, the central plot of the

western film is the classic, western film is the classic, simple goal of maintaining law simple goal of maintaining law and order on the frontier in a and order on the frontier in a fast-paced action story. It is fast-paced action story. It is normally rooted in conflict - normally rooted in conflict - good vs. bad, man vs. man, new good vs. bad, man vs. man, new arrivals vs. Native Americans arrivals vs. Native Americans (inhumanely portrayed as (inhumanely portrayed as savage Indians), human vs. savage Indians), human vs. nature, civilization vs. nature, civilization vs. wilderness, villain vs. hero, wilderness, villain vs. hero, lawman vs. gunslinger, law vs. lawman vs. gunslinger, law vs. anarchy, the rugged anarchy, the rugged individualist vs. the unknown, individualist vs. the unknown, settler vs. nomad, and farmer settler vs. nomad, and farmer vs. industrialist to name a few. vs. industrialist to name a few. Often the hero of a western Often the hero of a western meets his opposite "double," a meets his opposite "double," a mirror of his own evil side that mirror of his own evil side that he has to destroy. he has to destroy.

Generic ConventionsGeneric Conventions

Typical elements in westerns Typical elements in westerns include:include:

► hostile elementshostile elements► guns and gun fights guns and gun fights

(sometimes on horseback)(sometimes on horseback)► violence and human massacresviolence and human massacres► HorsesHorses► trains (and train robberies)trains (and train robberies)► bank robberiesbank robberies► stagecoachesstagecoaches► shoot-outs and showdownsshoot-outs and showdowns► outlaws and sheriffsoutlaws and sheriffs► cattle drives and cattle rustlingcattle drives and cattle rustling► posses and pursuit or 'search posses and pursuit or 'search

and destroy' plotsand destroy' plots► distinctive western clothingdistinctive western clothing

HeroesHeroes

► Western heroes are often Western heroes are often local law enforcement local law enforcement officers, territorial marshals, officers, territorial marshals, or a skilled, fast-draw or a skilled, fast-draw gunfighter.gunfighter.

► They are normally persons They are normally persons of integrity and principle - of integrity and principle - courageous, moral, tough, courageous, moral, tough, solid and self-sufficient solid and self-sufficient characters (often with trusty characters (often with trusty sidekicks), possessing an sidekicks), possessing an independent and honorable independent and honorable attitude.attitude.

► The Western hero can The Western hero can usually stand alone and face usually stand alone and face danger on his own.danger on his own.

Binary OppositionsBinary Oppositions► Levi-Strauss’ theory of narrative Levi-Strauss’ theory of narrative

based upon the principle of based upon the principle of conflicting ideologies in the conflicting ideologies in the form of filmic elements is form of filmic elements is particularly apposite for the particularly apposite for the WesternWestern

► Consider location, character Consider location, character and plots of the Western, for and plots of the Western, for example:-example:- Civilisation vs. savageryCivilisation vs. savagery Wild landscape vs. settlements Wild landscape vs. settlements

(towns/homesteads)(towns/homesteads) Indians vs. cavalryIndians vs. cavalry Sheriff/lawmen vs. outlawsSheriff/lawmen vs. outlaws Cattle baron vs. the Cattle baron vs. the

homesteaderhomesteader

All of these are based on the All of these are based on the conflicts which existed in the conflicts which existed in the

frontier basis of the West.frontier basis of the West.

SummarySummary► In no other genre is setting the real In no other genre is setting the real

basis for all other generic conventions.basis for all other generic conventions.► The landscape is an element which The landscape is an element which

characterises the genrecharacterises the genre► It is savage (the desert) and uncivilised; It is savage (the desert) and uncivilised;

it contains elements which are opposed it contains elements which are opposed to civilised human existence (heat, to civilised human existence (heat, expanse, dust, Indians)expanse, dust, Indians)

► Within this landscape settlers try to Within this landscape settlers try to impose law and order (a Garden) and impose law and order (a Garden) and live together in peace and harmony, live together in peace and harmony, pursuing the American Dream of pursuing the American Dream of equality of opportunity, freedom and equality of opportunity, freedom and individual liberty to pursue happinessindividual liberty to pursue happiness

► Opposed to this American Dream are Opposed to this American Dream are the Indians and outlaws who emerge the Indians and outlaws who emerge from the outside desert; thus there are from the outside desert; thus there are insiders and outsiders.insiders and outsiders.

► Individuals have their place in this but Individuals have their place in this but are only seen as virtuous if they help the are only seen as virtuous if they help the ‘insiders’ achieve this Dream.‘insiders’ achieve this Dream.

► The Christian concepts of purgation and The Christian concepts of purgation and reform (salvation?) are key concepts; reform (salvation?) are key concepts; thus an outsider can reform if he takes thus an outsider can reform if he takes on these principles.on these principles.

The Western is dead…long live The Western is dead…long live the Western…the Western…

► By the 1970s the western was in full By the 1970s the western was in full decline and apart from the European decline and apart from the European spaghettis, and a handful of films like spaghettis, and a handful of films like Dances with Wolves (1990)Dances with Wolves (1990) and and Unforgiven (1992)Unforgiven (1992), died as a genre., died as a genre.

► However, because the western themes However, because the western themes are so close to the American way of life, are so close to the American way of life, culture and ideology, they live on in culture and ideology, they live on in other genres, notably in Science-fiction other genres, notably in Science-fiction and action/adventure films.and action/adventure films.

► Frayling argues that the ‘man with no Frayling argues that the ‘man with no name’ character played by Eastwood in name’ character played by Eastwood in the Dollars trilogy is the prototype for the Dollars trilogy is the prototype for the roles that Stallone, Schwarzenegger the roles that Stallone, Schwarzenegger et al have played in countless action et al have played in countless action films. They are the equivalent of the films. They are the equivalent of the individual who comes from the outside individual who comes from the outside to reinforce/restore the morality of the to reinforce/restore the morality of the community, essentially the same as the community, essentially the same as the lone rider helping the small community lone rider helping the small community being terrorised by the outlaws.being terrorised by the outlaws.

► Consider SF films, where an outside Consider SF films, where an outside threat (alien, invasion, natural threat (alien, invasion, natural catastrophe) is nullified/neutralised by catastrophe) is nullified/neutralised by our single hero and his deputies.our single hero and his deputies.

► Therefore, I would conclude that all films Therefore, I would conclude that all films are westerns!are westerns!