genre conventions. genre a class or type of film such as the western or the horror movie. films...
TRANSCRIPT
Genre Conventio
ns
GenreA class or type of film such as the western or the horror movie. Films belonging to a particular genre share narrative , visual, and/or sound conventions
Genre ConventionsThe Rules of character, setting, and narrative that films belonging to a genre generally obey
Horror
Horror Genre Conventions
• Monster• Victim• Disorienting/Ominous Setting• Visual: Low lighting, Extreme Camera Angle• Sound: Suspenseful music, Shock cues,
Unsettling/unidentifiable sounds
SubgenresA group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. Ex: The slasher film is a subgenre of horror
HybridA film that uses the conventionsof two or more genres. Ex: Cowboys & Aliens
Westerns
Western Genre Conventions• Visual-– Props – six shooters, horses, whiskey– Costumes- Dirty/dusty, Cowboy boots, spurs etc.– Cinematography- Extreme long shots: Show
rugged/inhospitable landscape of American West• Sound: Buzzard calls, gunshots• Themes– Hero on outskirts- Rugged independence vs. Society. Code
of honor- usually emerges as hero riding off into the sunset– Restore law & Order or Struggle over land (cowboys vs.
Indians)• Generally Post Civil war
Action Films
Action Genre Conventions
• Visceral thrills• Masculine heroics• Over the top violence, spectacle, explosions, etc. • Hero put in increasingly difficult/violent conflicts• Visual: Urban setting, quick cuts, rapid transport:
ex- cars, trains, subways• Sound: Explosions/gunshots
Science Fiction
Science Fiction Genre Conventions• Thematic interest between the relationship
between technology & humanity– The potential of human ingenuity– spiritual/ physical costs of technological
advancement • Subgenres– Exploration film– Alien Film (Extraterrestrial, or Invader)– Mad Scientist– Dystopia
Musicals
Musical Genre Conventions• Generally theatrical in nature• 1920’s -1960’s • Song & Dance numbers• Lushly orchestrated music interludes• Choreography• Colorful spectacle• Character driven romance• Emotion expressed through song
Film Noir
Film Noir Genre Conventions
• Brought about by cynicism caused by WWII- departure from lavish film characters of 1930’s
• The “hard boiled detective”• Down and out protagonist– Usually winds up worse than when he began– Figure of isolation who trusts no one
• Femme Fatale• Urban landscape• Typically include Voice Over narration