GENRE

 Genre

Task 1:

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

     Genres are categories or types of media text. Genres are recognizable

     through the repeated use of generic codes and conventions.Most commonly, codes and conventions are considered as coming from the iconographies (specific visual or aural media language choices).

    eg: mise en scene and high key lighting.

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

     Genre can also be indicated in the way the story is told via its narrative (the structure of the story telling) and plot (the events and occurrences within the story)

     eg: Some genres have particular types of story lines. For example, in a soap opera it would not be unusual to see one of the story-lines follow a family having to deal with a domestic situation such as a member of the family having trouble with their boss at work.

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.

   1) They use their prior knowledge of the genre to anticipate whether or not they are likely to enjoy a text.
   2) They can compare a text through its shared characteristics with another.

   3) They also use their knowledge of the genre to reject a 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?

    Innovation: In the 1940s, comic books and early TV/film adaptations established the visual and narrative templates for superheroes.

   Classical: By the 1950s, superhero portrayals grew more serious adjusting to the conventions set by earlier works in film and TV.
   Parody: The 1960s introduced a comedic spin on superheroes, most notably with Batman (1966), which influenced animated series such as Spider-Man and Mighty Mouse.
   Deconstruction: The 1978 Superman film, with enhanced special effects, approached superheroes with greater seriousness, but included irony, making the genre better.
   Cycle Continues: After Batman and Robin (1997), the genre was reimagined through darker films like Batman Begins (2005), while Marvel blended conventional storytelling with humor in Iron Man (2008) and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).

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:

        The Dark Knight (2008)

1. Why did you choose the text you are analyzing?
   It’s a key film that changed how superhero movies are made, mixing realism with superhero elements.

2. To what genre did you initially assign the text?
   Superhero/Crime Thriller.

3. What is your experience of this genre?
   I’ve seen many superhero and crime thriller films, including other Batman movies and Marvel films.

4. What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
   It deals with chaos, morality, justice, and heroism.

5. How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?
   It’s less typical—darker and more complex than most superhero films.

6. What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
   I expected clear heroes and villains, lots of action, and a battle between good and evil.

7. Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where - try imdb.com if unsure)?
   Yes, IMDb lists it as Action/Crime/Drama.

8. Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?
   The hero (Batman), a masked villain (Joker), and intense action scenes.

9. To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
   It focuses on deeper themes like ethics and psychology, not just action.

10. Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?
    It gives more attention to the villain and explores moral dilemmas rather than typical heroics.

11. Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
    It feels more like a crime drama or thriller due to its investigation and dark tone.

12. What familiar motifs or images are used?
    Batman’s cape, the bat signal, and Gotham’s decaying cityscape.

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)?
   Aimed at older teens and adults, which is less typical for superhero movies.

2. What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?
   Assumption that the viewer is mature and able to understand complex themes, regardless of class, age, or ethnicity.

3. What interests does it assume you have?
   It assumes you like serious crime stories, moral dilemmas, and action.

Relationship to Other Texts

1. What intertextual references are there in the text you are analyzing (and to what other texts)?
   References to older Batman films, comics, and crime thrillers like Heat.

2. In terms of genre, which other texts does the text you are analyzing resemble most closely?
   Films like Se7en and Heat for the crime elements, and Batman Begins for superhero aspects.

3. What key features are shared by these texts?
   Dark settings, complex characters, and a focus on crime and psychology.

4. What major differences do you notice between them?
   The Dark Knight includes superhero elements, while Se7en and Heat are purely crime dramas.