MIGRAIN: Genre

Genre

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

The two examples given are Star Trek and Star Wars are used to demonstrate that although the movies share the same genre (Sci-fi) they use the genres iconography in a different way. Showing that movies within the same genre can use the same cliche's while still being different 

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

The examples provided are sit-coms and soap operas. It shows that the visible and audio effects are not the only ways to define a genre, the way the narrative is told can also define the genre. It demonstrates the power the telling of a narrative can have.

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

In action movies, the protagonist is often shown as a "lone wolf" to demonstrate that he/she is independent and works alone. However, in disaster movies, the protagonist is shown as a more heroic leader than a lone wolf to show his/her leadership qualities.

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

Bordwell catagorised films through iconography, ideologies, character representations and also the film's narrative. some of these 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.

• An audience can use their Prior Knowledge to identify whether or not they would like that text 
• The audience can compare the Text of another similar text to see if it would be something they enjoy.
• Audiences can use their prior knowledge on genres to reject texts from genres they tend to dislike.

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

• Genres are guidelines/templates for media producers to follow, this means that the genres have rules that need to be followed. This makes the writers work easier as it means they don't have to create anything from scratch.
• Some genre have already created a massive fan base (Sci-fi and Fantasy are two major ones). This often results in producers making movies of these genres to ensure success of their movies (not always the case but it success happens often)
• Some producers often market their texts to show the audience which genre their text falls into.

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

The "gangster" genre is used as an example to show how a genre's iconography can shift alongside society. e.g. whilst in the 1950's the typical gangster movie would have an Italian gangster carrying a Tommy gun, something that is very cliche. But due to the shifting of society, a gangster movie would portray a man of African or Latin American descent in a rough neighborhood. But even with these differences they still actively revolve around a few typical narratives the genre has. E.g. the movie will focus on criminals who have multiple conflicts with the law.

Superheroes: A Genre Case Study

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

• Scott Pilgrim vs the world (Edgar Wright)
• The Avengers (Marvel)
• Superman(DC, Warner Brothers)
• Watchmen (Alan Moore)
• 300 (Frank Miller)

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

In each significant time period in the world, you can see the shift the superheroes have to fit the current affairs occurring then, along with the changes in societies ideals. This is prevalent in many forms (e.g. superheroes became America's way of increasing morale among the population acting as propaganda. In some cases comics would showcase an iconic hero figure like Superman fighting Hitler). This is seen shift regarding the issues facing the world. e.g. after the 9/11 attacks, an entire comic series was introduced showing heroes affected by the attack and helping to save lives.

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

Innovation: The concept of heroes are introduced and the iconic symbolism is used in film, TV, and Radio.

Classical: Around the 1950's superhero media had conventions that were used repeatedly and recognisably

Parody: This is the point in which these conventions are ridiculed and parodied (e.g Superhero move (2008) Kick-Ass (2010 Megamind (2010)

Deconstruction: This is the point in a genres life cycle where you see the genre change. e.g while the very first Superman may have taken itself seriously with low-quality effects (obviously due to technology setbacks) New superhero films like The Avengers give the audience amazing effects and a serious tone with comedic aspects.

genre analysis

The movie I have chosen is Captain America: Civil War (2016)

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

Captain America: Civil War is on the list of one of my favorite movies of all time. Hence I believe I have adequately analysed the movie enough to be able to answer the tasks questions correctly and in-depth  

2) In what context did you encounter it?

I had watched the movie with family in an IMAX cinema in Manchester, I had since then watched the movie on multiple portable devices including laptops, phones, and a tablet.

3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?
I believe watching the movie on such a large screen along with impressive audio from IMAX speakers created more of an epic and action-packed adventure than you would normally have watching the movie on a smaller screen

4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?
I initially assigned the text to a superhero action/thriller.

5) What is your experience of this genre?
In the superhero genre I generally have a good time watching movies associated with the genre. But there are the select few that miss the mark and are genuinely bad movies E.g The Green Lantern (2011)

6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
While the movie on the surface deals with the conflict of the two main characters Iron-Man an and Captain America, I believe that the movie contains a deeper meaning of how independence and the ability to be able to do what you want to is being controlled by the Government for their needs and wants.

7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?
The movie in my opinion is not as typical as other movies as the movie is based on heroes fighting heroes that were originally friends (Hence the title Civil War, indicating conflict between friends)

8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
With movies in this genre, I generally look for the plot of the film to lead to a major physical conflict. Not only that but another expectation I have are phenomenal CGI effects.

 9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?

I would sometimes find the plot quite foreseeable and cliche at points

10) What generic labels have others given the same text?
Most people I know have given the text the same label 

11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?

I recognise high amounts of CGI and some tongue cheek humor

12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
I would say that it comfortably stretches its bounds of the recognised conventions without becoming unrecognisable 

13) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?
The text departs from conventions during the middle of the film as it portrays fellow heroes that once fought alongside each other fight to the death.

 14) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
The movie takes conventions from a typical action movie where an ally becomes enemy.

15) What familiar motifs or images are used?
The movie shows epic scenes of two sides fighting on a battlefield often.

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 movie was aimed at younger audiences, something that is common in this genere

2) How does the text address you?

The text address me by being more mature than other Marvel movies (In comparison)

3) What sort of person does it assume you are?

It assumes that I prefer to watch superhero movies that have a lot of action scenes.

4) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?

The movie makes assumptions to my age, but I fail to see how it assumes gender or ethnicity 

5) What interests does it assume you have?

The movie assumes that I have an interest in highly packed action/hero movies

Relationship to other texts

1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?

The movie has many references to a previous movie in the same franchise Avengers age of Ultron

 2) Generically, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?

The Movie resembles most other Marvel based movies

3) What key features are shared by these texts?

The movie shares physical conflicts that revolve around the heroes within the movie.

4) What major differences do you notice between them?

This movie is much darker than any other marvel movie recently