MIGRAIN: Genre
Read Media Factsheet 03 - Genre: Categorising texts and answer the following questions:
1) What example is provided of why visual iconographies are so important?
The example of a news broadcast is used as an example to explain the importance of visual discographies. 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?
A soap opera and a sit-com. The plot of these two genres is very similar but the narratives and the way characters deal with the situation is different. For example, one of the story-lines in these genres would follow a family having to deal with a domestic situation such as a member of the family having trouble with their boss at work. However, in the soap opera, the situation would be serious and the boss would be represented like a villain and it may take a long time to solve the situation. On the other hand, the sit-com this may be an ongoing story or it may be a problem that is solved within the thirty minute episode. Either way, the sit-com will deal with the humour in the situation and it is most likely that the boss will be represented as foolish rather than villainous.
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. Genres replicate cultural myths and fears and by addressing them within stories a culture is able to play out those fears and concerns. Genres offer ideological reassurance when the narratives offer a resolution that addresses these fears and especially when the fears are overcome.
Some examples of narratives addressing a specific cultural fear include-
3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?
Schatz, uses the following terms to show how genres are dynamic and that they go through a cycle.-
Innovation- the time when genre codes are established
Classical- the time when the conventions are set and repeated
Parody- the time when the codes begin to feel cliched and mocked or undermined
Deconstruction- the time when the genre is played with or experimented with
This can be applied to the superhero genre. The superhero genre code was established with the first ever superhero movie- Mandrake the Magician, 1934, four years before Superman, was probably the first popular superhero. Mandrake's super power was his ability to “make people believe anything, simply by gesturing hypnotically". Soon after, the genre became a classic as movies like Superman, Batman, spiderman, etc were being released. The genre soon began to be mocked with parodies. An example is the 2008 film 'Superhero movie'. Now the genre has been modernised extremely, there are many new superheros being invented.
Finally, 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:
General
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?
I, personally, really enjoyed this movie and found it extremely interesting because it is a concept that has never been done before.
2) In what context did you encounter it?
I heard about it from social media sites- Instagram and Snapchat
3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?
Social media sites claimed the movie to be good and many people were excited on its release so this made my interpretation positive.
4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?
I assigned this movie to the sci-fi genre.
5) What is your experience of this genre?
This is one of my favourite genres. I have seen many sci-fi movies including- the Divergent franchise, The Hunger Games franchise, The Maze Runner franchise, Interstellar and many more.
6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
'The Martian' focuses around a man named Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon). Mark is an astronaut and he is left on Mars after being presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a small amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilise his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home.
7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?
The text is typical of the sci-fi genre in the fact that it includes outer space, astronauts and space ships. However, it is different in the fact that an astronaut has been left stranded on an outer space planet and must survive alone.
8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
I expect sci-fi movies to include the typical conventions associated with the genre (i.e- modern technology, dystopian society, space ships, etc.) I also expect them to be very interesting and action packed.
9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?
Ian Freer from the Empire stated "Anchored by another great turn from Matt Damon, The Martian mixes smarts, laughs, weird character bits and tension on a huge canvas. The result is Scott’s most purely enjoyable film for ages."
10) What generic labels have others given the same text?
A member of the public stated "4.5/5. A really excellent, and surprisingly simple tale of survival that kept me on the edge of my seat, worrying about how it was going to work out."
11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognise in the text?
I recognise many key conventions of the sci-fi genre in The Martian. For example, the use of space ships and space suits. These are very typical of the sci-fi genre.
12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
The movie is very different in the fact that an astronaut has been stranded on an island and must survive alone. The audience witnesses Mark as he finds very clever ways to grow food, create a breathable space on Mars, etc. These are conventions that aren't included in every sci-fi film and therefore make The Martian unique.
13) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
There is lots of drama in this movie that can be associated with the drama genre.
14) What familiar motifs or images are used?
Sci-fi music, sci-fi props, setting, etc.
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)?
I believe that the film was aimed at a wide audience demographic of 15-30 year olds. However, I do believe that lots of people outside this age range would also enjoy the movie as it is very family friendly and even includes comedy. This is quite typical of the sci-fi genre as they have a very wide target audience and are enjoyed by many people
2) How does the text address you?
The text addresses me as I am very interested in science and enjoy sci-fi movies.
3) What sort of person does it assume you are?
It assumes that I am a person who is fascinated by science. This is clearly evident as there are many concepts in the movie that only scientifically devoted people would understand or be willing to learn more about.
4) What interests does it assume you have?
It assumes that I might have interests in technology and university.
Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?
The story of a man stranded on a planet has been told a few times before. Some examples include the story of Robinson Crusoe, the teens of Flight 29 Down, the fearless crew of the SS Minnow, Gary Paulsen’s Brian Robeson, and the Odyssey.
2) Generically, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?
The Martian most closely resembles the 2000 drama/thriller 'Mission to Mars'.
3) What key features are shared by these texts?
They both contain a very similar story line- astronauts go to Mars and one gets stranded on the planet.
4) What major differences do you notice between them?
The Martian takes the route of telling its story mainly from the perspective Mark, who’s stranded on Mars, while Mission to Mars tells the story from the perspective of the stranded man’s rescuers.
1) What example is provided of why visual iconographies are so important?
The example of a news broadcast is used as an example to explain the importance of visual discographies. 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?
A soap opera and a sit-com. The plot of these two genres is very similar but the narratives and the way characters deal with the situation is different. For example, one of the story-lines in these genres would follow a family having to deal with a domestic situation such as a member of the family having trouble with their boss at work. However, in the soap opera, the situation would be serious and the boss would be represented like a villain and it may take a long time to solve the situation. On the other hand, the sit-com this may be an ongoing story or it may be a problem that is solved within the thirty minute episode. Either way, the sit-com will deal with the humour in the situation and it is most likely that the boss will be represented as foolish rather than villainous.
3) What is the difference between character representation in action movies and disaster movies?
In action movies there is usually one person who takes the role of the 'hero'. He works alone in order to save the world. The opposite is said for disaster movies. The heroic role is usually in the hands of a group of people- they all have particular strengths which play a part in solving the problem. They put their strengths together in order to achieve their desired outcome.
4) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell?
According to Bordwell, films can be categorised in terms of their media language, plots, narrative structures, characterisation and in the values and ideologies they conform to.
Examples include-
• 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
5) List three ways genre is used by audiences.
- Using prior knowledge to anticipate whether or not they are likely to enjoy a text.
- Compare a text through its shared characteristics with another. - example when describing a TV show or film to someone who has not seen it before.
- Use their knowledge of genre to reject a text.
6) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.
- Production- Genres are paradigms or templates media producers can follow. This makes it easier when producers want to create a certain genre as there are certain rules that must be followed. They can also use previous films as examples and duplicate something successful or reject something that had disappointed audiences.
- Attracting an Audience- Some genres have loyal fan-bases. Some people might watch a new action film simply because they are action movie fans this can help media producers minimise the potential for failure.
- 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. This acts to attract fans of the genre and set up the expectations of the film.
7) What film genre is used as an example of how genres evolve? What films and conventions are mentioned?
Media producers have to try to balance ‘repetition and difference’ (Neale) in order to keep the genre identifiable but also give the audience something new and unpredictable. One example given in the fact sheet is the gangster genre. The genre focuses on groups of criminals, often romanticises the gangster lifestyle and the texts within this genre are violent and deal with conflict between the police and the criminals. They also focus on conflicts within the gangster community such as rivalry between opposing gangs or internal power struggles. (Movie examples include- Scarface, Reservoir Dogs and The Sopranos.)
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.
- The X Men Franchise (Marvel)
- Batman (DC)
- Watchmen (Alan Moore)
- Sin City (Frank Miller)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel)
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. Genres replicate cultural myths and fears and by addressing them within stories a culture is able to play out those fears and concerns. Genres offer ideological reassurance when the narratives offer a resolution that addresses these fears and especially when the fears are overcome.
Some examples of narratives addressing a specific cultural fear include-
- Superman- battles against Lex Luther who is a wealthy businessman and media magnate. Luther appears in both the 1930s film and the 1978 film. This is a reflection of economic depressions that were suffered in both these times.
- X Men (2000)- Mutants are outsiders who are seen as freaks by ‘normal’ people. This is a metaphor for the intolerance of racism and/or homophobia.
3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?
Schatz, uses the following terms to show how genres are dynamic and that they go through a cycle.-
Innovation- the time when genre codes are established
Classical- the time when the conventions are set and repeated
Parody- the time when the codes begin to feel cliched and mocked or undermined
Deconstruction- the time when the genre is played with or experimented with
This can be applied to the superhero genre. The superhero genre code was established with the first ever superhero movie- Mandrake the Magician, 1934, four years before Superman, was probably the first popular superhero. Mandrake's super power was his ability to “make people believe anything, simply by gesturing hypnotically". Soon after, the genre became a classic as movies like Superman, Batman, spiderman, etc were being released. The genre soon began to be mocked with parodies. An example is the 2008 film 'Superhero movie'. Now the genre has been modernised extremely, there are many new superheros being invented.
Finally, 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:
The Martian (2015)
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?
I, personally, really enjoyed this movie and found it extremely interesting because it is a concept that has never been done before.
2) In what context did you encounter it?
I heard about it from social media sites- Instagram and Snapchat
3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?
Social media sites claimed the movie to be good and many people were excited on its release so this made my interpretation positive.
4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?
I assigned this movie to the sci-fi genre.
5) What is your experience of this genre?
This is one of my favourite genres. I have seen many sci-fi movies including- the Divergent franchise, The Hunger Games franchise, The Maze Runner franchise, Interstellar and many more.
6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
'The Martian' focuses around a man named Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon). Mark is an astronaut and he is left on Mars after being presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a small amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilise his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home.
7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?
The text is typical of the sci-fi genre in the fact that it includes outer space, astronauts and space ships. However, it is different in the fact that an astronaut has been left stranded on an outer space planet and must survive alone.
8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
I expect sci-fi movies to include the typical conventions associated with the genre (i.e- modern technology, dystopian society, space ships, etc.) I also expect them to be very interesting and action packed.
9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?
Ian Freer from the Empire stated "Anchored by another great turn from Matt Damon, The Martian mixes smarts, laughs, weird character bits and tension on a huge canvas. The result is Scott’s most purely enjoyable film for ages."
10) What generic labels have others given the same text?
A member of the public stated "4.5/5. A really excellent, and surprisingly simple tale of survival that kept me on the edge of my seat, worrying about how it was going to work out."
11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognise in the text?
I recognise many key conventions of the sci-fi genre in The Martian. For example, the use of space ships and space suits. These are very typical of the sci-fi genre.
12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
The movie is very different in the fact that an astronaut has been stranded on an island and must survive alone. The audience witnesses Mark as he finds very clever ways to grow food, create a breathable space on Mars, etc. These are conventions that aren't included in every sci-fi film and therefore make The Martian unique.
13) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
There is lots of drama in this movie that can be associated with the drama genre.
14) What familiar motifs or images are used?
Sci-fi music, sci-fi props, setting, etc.
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)?
I believe that the film was aimed at a wide audience demographic of 15-30 year olds. However, I do believe that lots of people outside this age range would also enjoy the movie as it is very family friendly and even includes comedy. This is quite typical of the sci-fi genre as they have a very wide target audience and are enjoyed by many people
2) How does the text address you?
The text addresses me as I am very interested in science and enjoy sci-fi movies.
3) What sort of person does it assume you are?
It assumes that I am a person who is fascinated by science. This is clearly evident as there are many concepts in the movie that only scientifically devoted people would understand or be willing to learn more about.
4) What interests does it assume you have?
It assumes that I might have interests in technology and university.
Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?
The story of a man stranded on a planet has been told a few times before. Some examples include the story of Robinson Crusoe, the teens of Flight 29 Down, the fearless crew of the SS Minnow, Gary Paulsen’s Brian Robeson, and the Odyssey.
2) Generically, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?
The Martian most closely resembles the 2000 drama/thriller 'Mission to Mars'.
3) What key features are shared by these texts?
They both contain a very similar story line- astronauts go to Mars and one gets stranded on the planet.
4) What major differences do you notice between them?
The Martian takes the route of telling its story mainly from the perspective Mark, who’s stranded on Mars, while Mission to Mars tells the story from the perspective of the stranded man’s rescuers.
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