MIGRAIN: Genre

 

Task 1: Genre factsheets

Complete the following tasks using the Media Factsheets available on the Media Shared drive. You'll find them in our Media Factsheet archive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets or can access them online using your Greenford Google login here.

1) What example is provided of why visual iconographies are so important?

Someone sitting behind a desk is not genre specific. However, add high key lighting, a modern mise en scene

and a screen behind the character at the desk and the combination of media language choices creates an image we associate with a news broadcast.

2) What examples are provided of the importance of narrative in identifying genre?

Film westerns will share codes and conventions with TV westerns. Although there are many differences between films and television programmes – they have different production values and often use different narrative structures – there are certain elements within the genre that are shared that enables the audience to recognise a western regardless of the form.

3) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell? 

Period or Country, e.g. US films of the 1930s

 Director / Star, e.g. Ben Stiller Films 

Technical Process, e.g. Animation

Style, e.g. German Expressionism;

Series, e.g. Bond; 

Audience, e.g. Family Films

4) List three ways genre is used by audiences.

They use their prior knowledge of the genre to anticipate whether or not they are likely to enjoy a text. They are able to compare a text through its shared characteristics with another. They also use their knowledge of genre to reject a text.  In addition to this, the knowledge we have of genre prepares us when we start to access a media text.

5) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.

Production

Attracting an audience 

Marketing texts

Read Media Factsheet 126 - Superheroes: A Genre Case Study and answer the following questions:

1) List five films the factsheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.

Scott pilgrim vs the world

Elektra

Spider-man

Sin city

V for vendetta

 

2) What examples are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years? 

 Events of 9/11

3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?

The superhero genre has evolved through several stages:

1. Innovation: In the 1940s, comic books and early TV/film adaptations set the visual and narrative conventions for superheroes.
2. Classical: By the 1950s, superhero portrayals became more serious and formulaic, repeating established conventions in film and TV.
3. Parody: The 1960s brought a campy, comedic take on superheroes with Batman (1966), which influenced animated series like Spider-Man and Mighty Mouse.
4. Deconstruction: The 1978 Superman film, with improved special effects, treated superheroes more seriously but with irony, revitalizing the genre.
5. Cycle Continues: After Batman and Robin (1997), the genre was reimagined through darker films like Batman Begins (2005), while Marvel mixed conventional storytelling with humor in Iron Man (2008) and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).

This cyclical evolution keeps the genre fresh through reinvention and adaptation to new trends.

Task 2: Genre analysis case study

Carry out your own genre analysis using the model provided by media theorist Daniel Chandler. Choose a film or TV text and answer the following questions - brief answers/bullet point responses are fine:


I chose the film Black Swan

General
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?

It’s one of my favourite movies. I find that I myself and others my age can  relate to the main character  throughout her storyline as she strives for perfection but ends up damaging and destroying herself in the process.

2) To what genre did you initially assign the text?

Thriller. Its actually considered a psychological horror which merges drama and thriller elements.

3) What is your experience of this genre?

I thoroughly enjoy thriller movies as they’re engaging. I often watch thriller movies and search for them. Its officially considered a  horror film which i enjoy but I don’t usually gravitate towards.

4) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?

A young woman who strives to be perfect at ballet, but she destroys herself in the process and spirals out of control. The story conveys the message that the only one standing in her way is her, and she should overcome her own fears to be perfect. However this young woman spirals out of control and is in a state of psychosis as she is convinced people are out to get her and steal her role.

5) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?

This is not quite typical. I would say that this is a hybrid genre, a psychological horror- thriller. Many people dont think of this as a horror film even though its listed as one.A very similar movie is “whiplash” where a young man is so determined to me perfect at drumming, that he destroys himself and almost goes crazy, ending up with nothing.

6) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?

I’d usually expect monsters and creepy characters and a lot of gore. Perhaps the narrative of an escaped psychiatric patient- if were following the theme of psychological horror.

7) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where - try imdb.com if unsure)?

Psychological thriller/ drama. Horror

8) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?

Eerie music used and dark costume. In the film, Nina (main character) begins to grow feathers and is seen trying to rip them out which looks quite gory.

9) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?

This film is not a typical thriller or horror. It follows the life and downfall of Nina. We see a big plot twist at the end when it’s exposed that another girl wasn't trying to steal Nina’s role, Nina had schizophrenia and had imagined a threat to her. This film massively explores the psychological element and it creates a big plot twist.

10) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?

It’s considered a horror, but doesn't explore typical conventions of a horror. It’s quite slow paced and the threat to the main character is herself and her min, not an external threat like a serial killer.

11) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?

It can be considered a mystery since we are unaware and sometimes confused as to whats happening as its a psychological film and many things are going on at once in Ninas head, its only at the end we realise the plot twist.

12) What familiar motifs or images are used?

The makeup used is quite dark to signify horror and mystery.

Mode of address
1) What sort of audience did you feel that the text was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre)?

Young adults and teens. Mainly female.

2) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?

Gender- teenage girls are obsessed with body image and the need to reach perfection. Age - Teenage girls are irrational and likely to spiral over image issues and reaching perfection.

3) What interests does it assume you have?

Im interested in highly psychological complex thrillers. 

Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)? Intertextuality is when a media product references another media text of some kind.

The Red Shoes (1948). A homage to this ballet film is paid in a shot where the camera spins around while Portman is dancing

2) In terms of genre, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely? 

This film is very very similar to Whiplash. It follows the narrative of a young person who goes to extreme lengths in their activity. Whilst striving to achieve perfection in drumming, Andrew loses self control and identity and it leads to his downfall. Whiplash is considered a psychological drama.

3) What key features are shared by these texts?

The narrative of both main characters who aim to reach pure perfection after feeling rejected and not good enough. These characters push themselves to such extreme lengths to reach perfection that it ends up destroying them. 

4) What major differences do you notice between them?

In black swan, Nina is clearly mentally ill, she imagines another girl who is out to get her and steal her role, we then realise that it was Nina the whole time. In whiplash, Andrew pushes himself to become the best drummer in constant approval from his teacher.

Black swan takes a more psychological horror approach, while whiplash is more of a drama.