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Genre: blog tasks

Genre: blog tasks



The author addresses the importance of visual iconographies. They state that codes and conventions, most commonly, are considered as coming from the iconographies. They continue to say that visual iconographies are enough to act alone however they can also work together to indicate the genre. 


The importance of narrative has been discussed in the article. The author states that narrative, apart from visual and aural codes, can be a way of identifying genre. Some genres have particular types of storylines. However, different genres might have the same plot but they will have a different narrative, this is what makes the two genres distinguishable.


In an action movie, there is typically one 'heroic' person, a lone wolf. Whereas disaster movies feature a group of heroic people that all have different characteristics and/or one distinct strength.



Different ways that films can be categorised according to Bordwell:


  • Period or Country (US films of the 1930s)
  • Director / Star (Ben Stiller Films) 
  • Technical Process (Animation)
  • Style (German Expressionism)
  • Series (Bond)
  • The audience (Family Films)


Three ways genre is used by audiences:


  • Audiences will 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 their shared characteristics with another. 
  • Lastly, they also use their knowledge of the genre to reject a text.


Three ways genre is used by institutions or producers:


  • Production: Genres are paradigms or templates media producers can follow. 
  • Attracting an audience: Some genres have loyal fan-bases.
  • Marketing texts: Good examples of this are film trailers which usually attempt to clearly define the genre of the film and then show as many of the codes and conventions in the trailer.


The gangsta genre is used in this article as an example of how genres evolve. Within this genre, many key conventions are repeated. The genre focuses on groups of criminals, often romanticises the gangster lifestyle and the texts within this genre are violent and deal with the conflict between the police and the criminals.



Media Factsheet 126 - Superheroes: A Genre Case Study 



Five films mentioned when discussing the superhero genre:


  • The X Men Franchise 
  • The Avengers & its franchise
  • Green Lantern
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Superman


The superhero genre has to fit in with the dominant values of the day if audiences are going to be able to relate to such a fantastical story. For example, in the 1940s, Superman was portrayed as a hero that was needed to battle European villains; this contextually links to the event os World War II in 1939, when the US felt as if they would have to intervene in what they believed to be a 'European war'. 

However, In The Dark Knight Rises (2012) shows the billionaire Bruce Wayne saving Gotham from its own people who have been taken in by a promise of power. Which contextually links to 2011, when Occupy protested against the transfer of global wealth from the increasingly impoverished 99% of the population to the increasingly wealthy 1%.




Schatz's theory of genre cycles applied to the Superhero genre:



  • Innovation: The visual codes for the superhero genre were largely established via the comic books. As soon as film and TV began to use the comic book characters other codes and conventions regarding the presentation of the genre in moving image were set. Seen in the early superhero shorts of the 1940s.
  • Classical: By the 1950s the superhero genre could be seen to be in its classical stage with the codes and conventions being replicated in the film and TV programmes of the time.
  • Parody: Batman (1966) was intentionally funny and camp and wouldn’t let its audience take the superhero too seriously. It had an ironic tone that flagged up the daft nature of the genre. After, Batman, the classical and parodic versions of the genre were largely located in children’s animation
  • Deconstruction: Superman (1978) started a new cycle in the superhero genre with technology leading the innovation with special effects creating more realistic visual ‘miracles’. Both the Superman series and the Batman franchise treated the world of the superhero seriously but they also used the camp comedy and parody to show how the genre had been deconstructed and remade in an attempt to revitalise the genre and help it find a new audience.
  • The Cycle Continues: After 1997’s Batman and Robin received a less than positive reception, the genre again needed to deconstruct and re-innovate. 




General - Ready Player One 



I chose this text to analyse because I really enjoy this movie, I have watched this movie multiple times and I recently watched it within this week as it has been added onto Netflix. 


The first time I encountered this movie was when I was browsing through sky movies and I recognised the name as many people had spoken about it and I saw the trailer. 


I instantly knew I would enjoy this movie as the trailer excited me and made me want to watch it when I had the time 


When I first encountered this movie, I thought it was a sci-fi movie with some components from the action or adventure genre.


I have had a positive experience with all of the sci-fi movies that I have seen


Unity and embracing your true character are the basic themes in this movie. References to multiple video games and movies are seen in this movie. 


This movie has many typical aspects of the sci-fi genre. Advanced technology is seen throughout. Other sci-fi conventions such as; fictional worlds and Interplanetary warfare. It also contains a lot of key conventions from adventure movies such as a protagonist and plot twists. This movie stretches the typical conventions of the sci-fi action genre. Easter eggs from horror movies, other action movies, classic moves and well-known video games are included within the movie and this distinguishes this movie against other sci-fi movies. This provides the viewers with the audience pleasure of nostalgia in some cases.


Movies from the sci-fi/adventure genre typically are high action and keep audiences engaged. And that is what I received when watching this movie



Mode of address


This movie was definitely aimed at an audience between the ages of 13-45. It contains characters and settings from movies that would've only be seen by people from an older generation. Even if nostalgia isn't gained, the high action and emerging storyline will make this pleasurable for all ages. This text addresses to me as I gained nostalgia from most of the references. The producers of this movie will assume viewers, including me, are people that are very engaged with the advancement of technology and the potential it has. The producers will also assume that audiences have an interest in other sci-fi movies



Relationship to other texts


This movie intertextually references to movies such as; Chucky, Blade Runner, The Breakfast Club, The Shining, the list goes on...


This movie slightly reminds me of Jumanji (2017) as it has a common theme of being inside of an alternate world. However, there are very large differences to them, Ready Player One deals with issues such as loss of family and a corrupt government whereas Jumanji does not. 

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