Genre Theorists

Genre Theorists

Genre is an important aspect in film making and it is important as a director to address your target audience and your genre. Our genre is a Psychological horror which is one of the most popular genres in the 21st century.

Tom Ryall conducted his theory suggesting that genre provides a framework of structuring rules in the shape of patterns forms and structures which act as a form of supervision over the work of production of film makers and the work of reading by the audience.

Steve Neal stated that his theory was about how genre was constituted by "specific systems"  of expectations and hypothesis which spectators bring with them to the cinema and which interact with the films themselves during the course of the viewing process. Neale also stated that genre are instances of repetition and difference. Difference is essential to the economy of genre.

Lacey - Repetoire of elements
Lacey states there are 4 repetoires of elements in relation to
Setting
Character
Narrative
Iconography
Style

He believes genres change over time. They do not have fixed universal values.

Narrative: Referring to the structure of the story e.g. Open, Circular as well as their conventions e.g. car chase
Characters: Narrative developed through characters and their functions e.g. Hero is the main character. Characters such as the final victim (usually a girl) defeats the villain.
Setting: some genres have a distinct location but this can be changed e.g. horrors have moved from places like graveyards(gothic) to suburban areas e.g. houses. Genres can also be associated with time period e.g. Prohibition in America.
Iconography: Films contain visual and audio images which become instantly recognisable and associated with genre. e.g. Pulp Fiction
Style: Iconography refers to objects but  Style describes the way they are presented. E.g. similar to mise en scene lighting, camera angles etc.


I agree with Lacey as I do think genres change over time depending on the era, cultural values and ideology and new ideas directors explore. I believe there are still some set conventions however directors are now going against this to make the film completely opposite to what it is meant to represent in the genre e.g. Scream. It is hard because some may consider our genre as a psychological thriller rather than a psychological horror. Genres I believe do over lap especially in the modern world where so many people have different ideas to what constitutes and fits into a certain genre. For example my own thought would be about the film 'The Lovely Bones' I myself would actually consider this a Psychological thriller but it is classed as a drama.