An Introduction To 'Genre'

Genre - A set of conventions, recognisable usually through iconography, familiar narratives, mise-en-scene, actors and style of representation.

I have learnt that genre is a way of categorising films, books, music etc. Audiences recognise genre in films through different conventions. These type of conventions consist of things like:
- Visual Imagery
- The Plot
- Music and stars
- Modes of narrative development

- Character
- Setting
- Iconography


I have learnt that genres are not static but constantly renegotiated between industry and audience through the 'Genre Cycle'. This resulted in films of a certain genre having  a combination of familiar reassurance but with new and slightly altered plots and new twists. Genre is constantly developing, we can see this as, for example, if a horror film is shown to audiences today that was made 40 years ago its not scary as the type of characters and story's in the films are no longer scary. Film producers constantly have to be thinking of new ideas to keep the audiences interested whilst still trying not to push them away.

Genre is a way of working through important myths and fears by repetition, a variation and resolution. I've realised that genre offers comforting reassurance in an uncomfortable world. Threat is resolved, outlaws become civilized, gangsters are punished. Genre is a way of tidying up the mess of life within film.

Producers of film, tele, books ect. use genre to target specific audiences, they know if they produce a piece of text of a certain genre the same audience and new ones will spend there time and money on the text. For example: if producers of a sci-fi film make sure they include science fiction icons, familiar plots and settings, fans of sci-fi will recognise this and want to go and see that film.

The concept of genre also expands into the original 'Hollywood Studio System'

The hollywood studio system started in the 1930's with the 5 major film studios at the time: 

-Warner Bros

-RKO

-Paramount

-20th Century Fox

-MGM. 

As well of the 'Big 5', there was also three small studios known as the 'Little 3':

-Columbia

-Universal

-United Artists.

Each studio were known for there own 'house style'. For example, Universal was known for horrors. This is when genres were prominently static and there was no change in the genres, they had the same narrative structure and the audiences had expectations of the particular studios and this is how each studio targeted their particular audience. In 1948 this system took a big hit due to the introduction of the television and colour view. This resulted in actors not being associated with one studio. They became freelance causing actors and producers to start making different genres of films with different studios.