24 questions

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

The example that is provided of why visual iconographies are so important is the film Star Wars and Star Trek. They both have recognisable iconographies which bring out the themes of nature and also the genre of the film which is Science Fiction.

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

The example that is provided of the importance of narrative in identifying genre is Independence Day (1996: dir. R. Chimeric), Deep Impact (1998: M. Leder) and, more recently, The Day After Tomorrow (2004: dir. R. Emmerich). In The Day After Tomorrow a father has two goals: to persuade the government to act on his advice and then to rescue his son. In both plots he accepts the help of others e.g. accepting information from other scientists or letting his colleagues accompany him as he travels to New York where his son is trapped.He is shown putting his trust in others and accepting the need for cooperation in order to solve the problems he faces.The representation of heroes is a part of the codes and conventions of the genres.

3) What is the difference between character representation in action movies and disaster movies?

The difference between character representation in action movies and disaster movies is characters, including the use of stereotypes and character roles, are also part of the narrative of texts. Certain stereotypes tend to be linked to specific genres. The ’lone wolf’ hero, for example is a convention of an action text. Here the hero tends to be positioned outside a supportive group and he works alone to fight the villains or save the world. James Bond may be a member of MI6 but he is always sent on missions alone and is often seen as being unconventional.
Jack Bauer of 24 is another stereotypical ‘lone wolf’ action hero and he is often depicted making decisions that could be seen as immoral. However his unconventional responses tend to enable him to get the job done.

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

The different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell is:

•  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 Film

5) List three ways genre is used by audiences.

The three ways genre is used by audiences is:

1) They use their prior knowledge of the genre to anticipate whether or not they are likely to enjoy a text. This helps when selecting a media text whether it is a lifestyle magazine, a film or a television programme.

2) They are able to compare a text through its shared characteristics with another. If you try to describe a TV programme to someone who has not seen it, you are likely to define its genre and then clarify what other text it is similar to.3) They also use their knowledge of genre to reject a text. For many of us there will be genres we actively dislike and therefore will avoid accessing texts we assume to hold those characteristics.

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

The three ways genre is used by institutions or producers is:

1) Production Genres are paradigms or templates media producers can follow. If a media producer wants to produce a new sit-com, there are certain ’rules’ that must be followed. This actually makes life easier for writers and producers as they don’t have to invent things from scratch. They can also look to successful examples of the genre and attempt to replicate what was popular and, of course, avoid the mistakes made by texts which have disappointed the audience.

2) Attracting an Audience Some genres have loyal fan-bases. People will try out a new sitcom simply because it’s a new sit-com and this can help media producers minimise the potential for failure.

3) 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.
Other media producers do the same. As cable TV has developed, specialised channels, e.g. Paramount, The Horror Channel and Sci Fi, have found that by broadcasting generic texts they are able to market solely through attracting interested audiences to very specific programmes. On terrestrial television this occurs in the way channels use scheduling. There are specific times of the day when certain genres tend to be shown – for example, 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. are the conventional screening times for dramas on British television.

Given the vast amount of choice now available on television, this makes the complicated job of finding a text easier for the audience and also helps the channels market their programmes effectively.

7) What film genre is used as an example of how genres evolve? What films and conventions are mentioned?

The film genre that is mentioned as an example of how genres evolve is the horror category.

The films that are mentioned are:

• vampire movies (Blade (1998: dir. S. Norrington)), 
• psychological horrors (Saw (2004, dir. J. Wan)), 
• gothic horrors (Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992: dir. F. Coppola)), 
• ghost stories (The Grudge (2004: dir. T. Shimuzu)), 
• the teen slasher (Scream (1996: dir. W. Craven)),
• haunted-house movies (The Amityville Horror (2005: dir. A. Douglas)).

The conventions that are mentioned are that each one of these sub-genres has a whole host of codes and conventions of their own. Iconographies like crosses, holy water, graveyards and gothic mansions are part of the vampire sub-genre (and are within horror codes) but are not necessarily included in the teen slasher film.
Add to this the fact that there are also hybrid genres. These are texts which deliberately mix the codes and conventions of more than one genre. Buffy the Vampire Slayer successfully blended codes of the gothic horror, comedy, romance and soap opera and so provided many different viewing pleasures for its audience.

Superheroes: A Genre Case Study and answer the following questions:

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

The five films the fact sheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre is:

• The X Men Franchise (7 Films since 2000 – 4 more planned)
• The Avengers and its franchise including: Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk etc. (11 Films since 2000 – 3 more planned)
• Spiderman (5 Films since 2000)
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Agents of Shield (TV Series)

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

The examples that are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years is:

•X Men (1, 2 and 3)
•Wolverine (1 and 2)
•Spider-Man (1, 2 and 3)
•Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman and Robin

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

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

Schatz says that during the innovative and classical parts of a genre’s development, genres are ‘transparent’ - that is the audience does not see the genre, rather they ‘look through it’ to the story being told. During the parody and deconstruction phases genres become ‘opaque’ - audiences look at the form itself. They are aware of the genre rather than just the story being told. Deconstruction is a crucial time because if there is no successful deconstruction of the genre there cannot be a return to innovation and the genre may (sometimes temporarily) disappear as it cannot move beyond parody, Sometimes a genre disappears for a while and then comes back at the innovation stage (horror has done this many times). Sometimes a genre struggles to re-innovate itself and then it can struggle to find an audience. The Western is often used as an example of a genre that has never really made it past the parody stage other than in a few single examples and it struggles to innovate in a way that allows it to become a genre that modern audiences want to see. This cycle can be applied to any genre but in this case it will be applied to the Superhero genre.

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:

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

I chose this text to analyse because it is a series that I enjoy watching so I will know a lot about the series. Also, I enjoy watching the series so I will enjoy analysing the series in a lot of detail and concentrating on the protagonist and the genre of action.

2) In what context did you encounter it?

The context that I encountered it in was when I was introduced to drama series and once I started watching the first episode of this series I really started getting in to it and I couldn't really stop watching it because it was too interesting and I was very Intrigued to find out what happens next.



3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?
This context made changed my view on the series because originally thought this series wasn't really interesting but now once I got into this series it had changed my interpretation of this text from negative to positive.

4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?
The genre that I would assign this text to is action/drama because it contains action scenes, fighting and chasing scenes and saving people.

5) What is your experience of this genre?
I have a lot of experience in this genre because I have watched similar films and shows such as king Arthur and also I have watched the show vikings which is a similar series.

6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
The subject matter of the series is that The heroes dad was killed because he was the rightful air to the throne but the kings wife and children disagree so the hero and his brothers and sisters must live in hiding to avoid being killed.This brings the theme of heroism and bravery which helps them through this journey.

7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?
This text is typically action/drama series because it contains heros and villains and the heros are trying to kill the villain and take back whats theres a lot of chase scenes and fighting scenes and the heros are trying to survive and make it to the throne

8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
I expect texts in the genre to be full of action and moments that make be intrigued to fid out what happens next as its what normally happens in action films or tv shows and the drama aspect should be the point that intrigues me to find out whats next.

9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?
Yes I did fine some generic labels on the cover of the series. where it said it was in the genre of action or drama.


10) What generic labels have others given the same text?
Other people have given generic labels such as action and drama because of the way the series explores death and troubles.

11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognise in the text?
The typical convention in this text which represent action is that there is a lot of fighting scenes and chasing scenes where the villain is trying to run a way or fight the hero and the hero is trying to defeat the villain.

12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
This text really stretches the conventions of its genre because its not a typical action series where the hero is trying to catch the villains but instead the heroes are at first running from the villain trying to get a army to come back and survive the winter and dethrone the villain

13) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?
I think that where this text departs the convection of the genre is that there is hero who runs from the villain at first and the initial hero is killed by the villain.


14) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
The genre that this series is similar to is thriller because a typical thriller film or series would contain a hero and villain and the villain is trying to ruin the peace of the protagonist and the hero intially is running but later overcomes their fears and fights back.

15) What familiar motifs or images are used?
The familiar motifs and images that are used is the crown which is sitting on a throne this relates the crown to power and control over the people and having wealth.

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)?
the text was aimed towards adults and young adults who have a interest in history and wars

2) How does the text address you?
The text addresses me as an member of the audience who wants to know how the story will unfold and who will end up on top because it wants the audience to feel like they are involved and that the decisions made in the series may also affect them emotionally.

3) What sort of person does it assume you are?
The text will assume that I am a person who is interested in adventure and action where the heroes are trying to come out on top but not without obstacles as they face a long journey ahead of them

4) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?
the text assume people who watch this are of the younger population around teenage years and young adults and people of middle class will be likely to watch it.

5) What interests does it assume you have?
It assumes i have and interest in gore and wars that are not entirely based on truths but more so fantasies.
Relationship to other texts

1) What inter-textual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?
The inter-textual references that are in this text are that it combines with genre and it is similar to a series called vikings.

2) Generically, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?
The other text that it resembles quite closely to is Vikings because it has a lot to do with wars and killings for power.

3) What key features are shared by these texts?
The key features shared in both texts is that both have wars and kings or leaders and also they are both exploring the use of weapons and a lot of action taking place.

4) What major differences do you notice between them?
A  major difference is that one is not factual and the other is.