Genre Theory

Genre Theory

Section A of the exam and coursework

Bastille – Indie Pop rock

Jay z – Rap, hip hop

Beyonce – RnB pop

Genre is not as simple as we think because an artist may have a perception of what genre they want their music to be which may be different to the public’s opinion. Not only that, but the public also have different ideas on what genre is. Sometimes artists break conventions, creating new genres or changing genre. The opinion of each genre has changed over time.

Genre conventions vs Form Conventions

Genre conventions are what we expect to see in a genre of music. Form conventions are what we expect to see in the video. The conventions of genre can link to the conventions of form.

Genre

Audiences develop expectations and recognise they can be gratified and feel fulfilled when they find a genre they like and enjoy.

• ·        Characters
• ·        Plots, situations, issues and themes (of music video)
• ·        Locations and back drops
• ·        Props and signifiers
• ·        Music and sound (style of music)
• ·        Generic conventions (4/5 members in a girl group)

Why is genre important?

For producers it is good because:

• ·        It creates a pattern for what audiences want
• ·        Establishes audiences
• ·        Producers can become specialised within a genre
• ·        Stars can associate themselves with certain genres for a fan base to associate them with
• ·        Audiences become familiar with conventions with a genre

For Distributors:

• ·        Clear channels for marketing and distribution
• ·        Can target fans to buy other texts or listen to different artists in the same genre
• ·        Provides structure for distributors

Theorists:

• ·       Daniel Chandler – Themes/style and structure
• ·        Steve Neale – Genre as repetition and difference
• ·        David Buckingham – Constant process of negotiation and change
• ·        Rick Altman – Offering audiences a set of pleasures
• ·        David Bordwell – Any theme may appear in any genre
• ·        Jason Mittell – Industries use genre to sell products to audience

Daniel Chandler:

Genres have particular conventions of content tuch as themes, setting and form. When texts share these features they become a genre and recognisable. Having themes and settings we understand the form. 

Participation and Position – “Every genre positions those who participate in a text of that kind as interviewer of interviewee, a listener or story teller, a reader or writer, as someone who is an instructor or instructs”. Daniel Chandler.

If we associate with a genre, we are likely to consume it.

Steve Neale:

Looks at genre as repetition and difference. ‘Genres are instances of repetition and difference’. ‘Difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre’.

What does repetition and difference mean? A film must conform to these conventions enough so it can still be identified.

David Buckingham:

Genre doesn’t change but updates itself as society updates itself

“Genre is not simply given by the culture: rather, it is in a constant state of negotiation and change”.

For example, the videos rhythm is a dancer and f is for you share similarities and differences in the video of how the techno and dance has changed over time.

Rick Altman:

Semantics or semiotics are signs to represent language relationg to meaning in logic or language. Semantic example – a truck in a country video.

The Syntactic approach is a set of rules and processes in terms of order of narrative. It links to the structure of the narrative. For example, a love story would be two strangers meet, can’t be together, fall in love, live happily ever after.

Emotional Pleasures: The emotional pleasures offered to audience of genre films are particularly significant when they generate a strong audience response.

Visceral (instinctive) pleasures: Visceral pleasures are ‘gut’/instinct responses and are defined by how the film’s stylistic construction provokes a physical effect upon its audience. This can be a feeling of disgust, happiness or a ‘roller coaster ride’.

Intellectual Puzzles: Certain genres make us feel like watching them because with have a subconscious thought to want to figure out the resolution of the film.

We consume a media text to feel emotion and to connect with a text.

David Bordwell:

Any theme may appear in any genre. Theme examples – love, hate, revenge. Themes are a particular subject or issue that is discussed often or repeatedly: the particular subject or idea on which the style of something.

Genres have different themes however a theme is not restricted to one genre.

David Mittell:

Themes:

• ·        Resurrection
• ·        Transformation
• ·        Vengeance
• ·        Innocence
• ·        Justice
• ·        Sacrifice
• ·        Love
• ·        War
• ·        Underdog
• ·        Rescue
• ·        Discovery 

Themes can have conventions of form:

• ·        For example colour filters
• ·        Character positioning
• ·        Colour of set
• ·        Costumes
• ·        Body language
• ·        Shot types etc