From Buddy Films to From Buddy Films to Teen SlashersTeen Slashers

Genre in MoviesGenre in Movies

GenreGenre

Set of interrelated stories and their Set of interrelated stories and their associated imagesassociated images

Uses conventions – stories, Uses conventions – stories, characters, situationscharacters, situationsEnables viewers familiar with genre to Enables viewers familiar with genre to

anticipate developments and outcomesanticipate developments and outcomesEnables filmmakers to achieve highly Enables filmmakers to achieve highly

concentrated meanings within genreconcentrated meanings within genre

Movie GenresMovie Genres

Westerns

Drama

Comedy

Film Noir

Action/Adventure

Documentaries

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Gangster/Crime

Musical

Mystery/Horror

Romance

Animation

WesternsWesterns

Oldest screen genreOldest screen genreBy 1910, over 20% of movies were By 1910, over 20% of movies were

WesternsWesternsDropped off in the 1970’s, never to Dropped off in the 1970’s, never to

return to prominencereturn to prominenceExceptions – Exceptions – Silverado, Tombstone, Silverado, Tombstone,

UnforgivenUnforgiven

Conventions of WesternsConventions of WesternsDefined by:Defined by:

PeriodPeriod – from Civil War to WW1 – from Civil War to WW1SettingSetting – west of MS – allows use of – west of MS – allows use of

migration, Indian wars, railroads, cattle migration, Indian wars, railroads, cattle drives, gold rush – landscape is a drives, gold rush – landscape is a charactercharacter

ThemeTheme – conflict between civilization – conflict between civilization and the wilderness and the wilderness explain why violence is necessary explain why violence is necessary culture of honor vs. culture of lawculture of honor vs. culture of lawno social order beyond peers, familyno social order beyond peers, familyreputation is a two-edged swordreputation is a two-edged sword

Conventions of Westerns Conventions of Westerns

Opening scene – riding into town Opening scene – riding into town from wildernessfrom wilderness

Character – only have clothes on Character – only have clothes on your back, your gun, and your horseyour back, your gun, and your horse

Violence vs. LawViolence vs. LawViolent skills of protagonist tested in Violent skills of protagonist tested in

a public arena (saloon)a public arena (saloon)Conclusion – gunfight, riding back out Conclusion – gunfight, riding back out

of townof town

DramaDrama

Largest film genreLargest film genreMany subsetsMany subsets

EpicsEpicsHistorical dramasHistorical dramasRomanticRomanticBiopics – biographical filmsBiopics – biographical films

Drama - ConventionsDrama - Conventions

Serious, plot-driven storiesSerious, plot-driven storiesRealistic characters, settings, Realistic characters, settings,

situations Focus is on character situations Focus is on character development/ interactiondevelopment/ interactionHow does a character change through How does a character change through

the course of the movie? the course of the movie? What causes this? What causes this? How does the director show this?How does the director show this?

ComedyComedy

Light-hearted plotsLight-hearted plots Designed to amuse, provoke laughter by Designed to amuse, provoke laughter by

exaggerating exaggerating situationssituations, , relationshipsrelationships, , characterscharacters

SubsetsSubsets SlapstickSlapstick Satire - portray persons or social institutions as Satire - portray persons or social institutions as

ridiculous or corruptridiculous or corrupt Parody – critique from withinParody – critique from within Romantic comediesRomantic comedies ““Black” comediesBlack” comedies

ComedyComedy

Elements Elements SurpriseSurpriseIncongruityIncongruityConflictConflictRepetitivenessRepetitivenessOpposite expectationsOpposite expectations

Comedy - ConventionsComedy - Conventions

Use of IronyUse of Irony Situational – character expects one thing, gets Situational – character expects one thing, gets

anotheranother Dramatic – audience knows more than Dramatic – audience knows more than

charactercharacter ExaggerationExaggeration

SituationsSituations CharactersCharacters ActionAction LanguageLanguage

Comedy - ConventionsComedy - Conventions

Rule of ThreesRule of Threes maximum humor can be attained by creating a maximum humor can be attained by creating a

structurestructurea joke is set upa joke is set up the setup is reinforcedthe setup is reinforcedThe punchline breaks the patternThe punchline breaks the pattern

How do you get to my place? Go down to How do you get to my place? Go down to the corner, turn left, and get lost.the corner, turn left, and get lost.

I know three French words: Bonjour, merci, I know three French words: Bonjour, merci, and surrender.and surrender.

Film NoirFilm Noir

Means “Black Film”Means “Black Film”More of a mood, styleMore of a mood, styleOften black and whiteOften black and white

Creates mood of melencholy, bleakness, Creates mood of melencholy, bleakness, moral corruption, evil, guiltmoral corruption, evil, guilt

Evolved in the 1940’s through 1960’sEvolved in the 1940’s through 1960’s

Film Noir - ConventionsFilm Noir - Conventions

Cynical, loner hero – the anti-heroCynical, loner hero – the anti-heroHard-boiled detectiveHard-boiled detective

Femme FataleFemme FataleLocationsLocations

Seedy, big citiesSeedy, big citiesThe underworld – class of people we The underworld – class of people we

normally do not see/interact withnormally do not see/interact withThemes of fate, hopelessness, Themes of fate, hopelessness,

desperationdesperation

Action/AdventureAction/Adventure

High-energy, big budgetHigh-energy, big budgetEscapismEscapismExciting stories, locationsExciting stories, locationsSubsetsSubsets

Serialized films (James Bond)Serialized films (James Bond)EpicsEpicsBlaxploitation filmsBlaxploitation films

Action/Adventure - Action/Adventure - ConventionsConventions

2 Dimensional characters2 Dimensional charactersGood guys, bad guysGood guys, bad guys

Unrealistic situations, proving Unrealistic situations, proving abilities of heroabilities of hero

Locations, situations are usually Locations, situations are usually exotic, original, or outside of viewer’s exotic, original, or outside of viewer’s experiencesexperiences

MusicalsMusicals

A product of sound films – came to fruition A product of sound films – came to fruition with the development of soundwith the development of sound

Emphasize full-scale scores or song and Emphasize full-scale scores or song and dance routinesdance routines

Combinations of music, dance, song, or Combinations of music, dance, song, or choreographychoreography

Will often be combined with another genreWill often be combined with another genre Musical comedyMusical comedy Dramatic musicalDramatic musical Romantic musicalRomantic musical Musical WesternMusical Western

Musicals - ConventionsMusicals - Conventions

Often center on the courtship ritualsOften center on the courtship ritualsSong/dance expressed desire for each Song/dance expressed desire for each

otherotherDialogue scenes shot in realistic style Dialogue scenes shot in realistic style

– song sequences are far from realistic– song sequences are far from realisticBifurcated styleBifurcated style

Belong to a less cynical age – Belong to a less cynical age – optimism and innocenceoptimism and innocenceAntirealism – story is least important of Antirealism – story is least important of

the elements – just connects the songsthe elements – just connects the songs

GangsterGangster

Developed around the sinister Developed around the sinister actions of criminalsactions of criminals

Rise and fall of a career criminalRise and fall of a career criminalOften with immigrant originsOften with immigrant origins

Most famous – Most famous – Little CaesarLittle Caesar with with Edward G. RobinsonEdward G. Robinson

Gangster - ConventionsGangster - Conventions

A perversion of the American Dream A perversion of the American Dream – Horatio Algers– Horatio Algers

A sustained critique of societyA sustained critique of societyWhat is wrong with a society if it What is wrong with a society if it

produces people like this?produces people like this?Death of the protagonist must be Death of the protagonist must be

spectacularspectacularThe American Nightmare

HorrorHorror1930’s – the Golden Age1930’s – the Golden Age

Dracula, Frankenstein, Mummy, Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein, Mummy, Wolfman, etc.etc.

Began as a storytelling convention; has Began as a storytelling convention; has developed into shock theaterdeveloped into shock theater

Targets a specific audience, but utilizes Targets a specific audience, but utilizes universal fearsuniversal fears

Represents a confusion/violation of social Represents a confusion/violation of social categoriescategoriesNormal/abnormal, human/animal, living/deadNormal/abnormal, human/animal, living/dead

Horror - ConventionsHorror - Conventions

Basic narrative situation – Basic narrative situation – “normalcy” is threatened“normalcy” is threatenedOften a romantic couple or a Often a romantic couple or a

parent/childparent/childBest monsters are human and Best monsters are human and

inhumaninhumanModern horror is more unsettlingModern horror is more unsettling

Monster doesn’t die, and endings are Monster doesn’t die, and endings are not always happynot always happy

Fantasy/Science FictionFantasy/Science Fiction

Visionary movies – what might the Visionary movies – what might the future hold, what alternatives might future hold, what alternatives might have beenhave been

Often deal with the potential of Often deal with the potential of technology to destroy humanstechnology to destroy humans

Quasi-scientific – best movies seem Quasi-scientific – best movies seem realistic (realistic (Minority ReportMinority Report))

Fantasy/Science Fiction - Fantasy/Science Fiction - ConventionsConventions

Settings are fantastic – futuristic, Settings are fantastic – futuristic, other dimensions, strange other dimensions, strange environmentsenvironments

Complete with heroes, impossible Complete with heroes, impossible quests, great villains, futuristic quests, great villains, futuristic technology, extraordinary monsterstechnology, extraordinary monsters

Transcends the bounds of human Transcends the bounds of human possibility and physical lawspossibility and physical laws

Element of magic, myth, wonder, and Element of magic, myth, wonder, and the extraordinarythe extraordinary

Romance - ConventionsRomance - Conventions

Affairs of the heartAffairs of the heartMay overlap with dramas, comedies, May overlap with dramas, comedies,

westerns, etc.westerns, etc.Center on passion, emotion, and the Center on passion, emotion, and the

romantic involvement of the main romantic involvement of the main characterscharacters

Journey of love from courtship to Journey of love from courtship to marriagemarriageThe love story is the main plot focusThe love story is the main plot focus

DocumentariesDocumentaries

Cinema VeriteCinema Veriteused to show “true” storiesused to show “true” stories

1922 – Nanook of the North – first full 1922 – Nanook of the North – first full length documentarylength documentary

Documentaries - ConventionsDocumentaries - Conventions

Archival Footage and PhotographsArchival Footage and PhotographsTalking Heads – apparent “experts” Talking Heads – apparent “experts”

and eyewitnessesand eyewitnesses Jiggly Camera – use of handhelds Jiggly Camera – use of handhelds

allowed for intimacy with actionallowed for intimacy with actionVoiceover Narration – often an Voiceover Narration – often an

authoritative narratorauthoritative narratorReal People and Re-enactments – not Real People and Re-enactments – not

actorsactors

Animated FilmsAnimated Films

Individual drawings, paintings, or Individual drawings, paintings, or illustrations are photographed frame illustrations are photographed frame by frameby frameStop-frame cinematographyStop-frame cinematography

Earliest films were created by hand-Earliest films were created by hand-drawn imagesdrawn images

A technique, not a genreA technique, not a genreOften appeal to children, but not Often appeal to children, but not

strictly for childrenstrictly for children

Animated FilmsAnimated Films Sinking of the Lusitania - Sinking of the Lusitania -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-KdPBhyjchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-KdPBhyjc Steamboat Willie – first Disney film – cartoon with Steamboat Willie – first Disney film – cartoon with

sound – first one with post-produced synchronized sound – first one with post-produced synchronized soundtrack. The birth of Mickey Mousesoundtrack. The birth of Mickey Mouse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEEaT_UQnVMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEEaT_UQnVM Pixar – computer animated moviesPixar – computer animated movies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHI0--lbRBMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHI0--lbRBM – –

for the birdsfor the birds lamp - lamp - http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=iuMAsRTf-iQ&feature=relatedv=iuMAsRTf-iQ&feature=related