Genre theory
Genre is the
classification of any media text into a category or type: e.g. news, horror,
documentary, soap opera, docu-soap, science-fiction or lifestyle etc.
Genres tend to have identifiable codes and conventions which have developed particular expectations, which may either be
fulfilled or denied/subverted by the producer.
All Genres have subgenres.
This means that they are divided up into more specific categories that allow
audiences to identify them specifically by their familiar and what become
recognisable characteristics.
Social realism – The realism of what someone has gotten themselves
into.
Daniel Chandler’s Genre Theory
NARRATIVE - similar plots and structures,
predictable situations, sequences, episodes, obstacles, conflicts and
resolutions.
CHARACTERS - similar types of characters
(sometimes stereotypes), roles, personal qualities, motivations, goals,
behaviour.
THEMES - topics, subject matter (social, cultural,
psychological, professional, political, sexual, moral), ideologies and values.
SETTING - geographical and historical;
ICONOGRAPHY - echoes the narrative, characters,
themes and setting, a familiar stock of images or motifs, the connotations of
which have become fixed. Includes décor, costume and objects, certain 'typecast'
performers familiar patterns of dialogue, characteristic music and sounds,
FILMING TECHNIQUES - stylistic or formal conventions
of camerawork, lighting, sound-recording, use of colour, editing etc.
