Genre

Fact sheet 3

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

 The mise en scene of deep space usually indicates the genre of sci-fi

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

 Most commonly, codes and conventions are considered importance of narrative in identifying genre

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

Action texts depend on ideas of individual strength whereas disaster movies value teamwork and
collaboration.

4) 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;

• The audience, e.g. Family Films

5) List three ways genre is used by audiences.
1. They use prior knowledge to whether they will like the genre of not
2. Easy to identify and compare the media text to other media text of that genre
3. They can reject the media text according to the genre if they previously hadn't liked it.

6) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.
1. Genres can have a loyal fan base so it easier for them to attract an audience
2. Genres are paradigms or templates media producers can follow.
3. Its easier to market the media text to those who prefer the genre

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

Gangster films have evolved for example in the past the movie would have Tommy Gun hidden in a violin case which the first time would be a pleasant surprise for the audience although after a certain time it would become cliche

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Fact sheet 126

1) List five films the fact sheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.
The X Men Franchise, Batman, The Avengers, Spiderman and Guardians of the
Galaxy

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 the 1940s, Superman was shown needing to battle European bad-guys which links to WW2 in 1939. Then in 190 Superman battles against Lex Luther who is a wealthy businessman and media magnate which links to the Economic depression. In 1995 Batman fights an internal battle for the superhero is the tension between his light and dark sides which links to 20th century when the ideas of good/bad and evil/hero were not as clear and contradicts from the past when there was always a 1 hero and 1 villain

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

The superhero genre was innovated by via comic books. Then in 1930 classic superhero movies came out with the usual conventions and codes. Then in 1966, Batman was created which was a slight parody of superhero movies since the convection had now become cliche making it intentionally funny 

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My media text-Inception 

General

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

The movie has combined genres of Scifi, heist, action and crime in a clever way which is why I am analysing because Id likes to research more in-depth how the movie uses conventions of different genres and assembles them together. Also to my surprise, the film has some parts of film noir to strengthen the plot of the movie 

2) In what context did you encounter it?

I encountered the movie by a friend and I went later on to look at the movie poster and title and the use of blue hues and the title and captions which were red and white hinted the movie was sci-fi intrigued me so I went to watch it

3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?
From the beginning, I believed the movie would be heavily Sci-fi although it definitely has more combinations of genres and wasn't created as unrealistic as sci-fi movie maybe and also I wasn't excepting the movie to also have heist.

4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?

I initially assigned the genre with sci-fi because of the way the movie poster was edited to look like they were in an unrealistic world and the largely emphasises on the blue hues made the movie definitely drawn towards sci-fi 

5) What is your experience of this genre?

I usually enjoy the sci-fi genre because the general sci-fi movies contain alternate worlds and close up of futuristic technology. Furthermore, sci-fi movies are entertaining to watch because they contain elements of other genres like action and adventure

6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?
Mind control
Time/ reality bend
Illusion

7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?

A convention that Sci-fi movies have are special effect and Inception clearly does with their lighting, the editing and the colour palate when the characters enter the dream world.  Also, sci-fi movies do many close shots of futuristic technology which was done a lot in Inception when the characters use equipment to fall asleep and control in the dream state.

8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?
I usually except movies from Sci-fi to have unrealistic plots for example aliens, robots and out of world experience. I also usually except the movies to be heavily edited and have many effects added on to it to make it seem impossible in the real world.

9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?
"Action, Science Fiction, Heist"
https://www.shmoop.com/inception/genre.html

10) What generic labels have others given the same text?

Many people would usually associate with Sci-fi like I have although I believe there is also a combination of genres including action and adventure

11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognise in the text?
The way movie was set and the use of cinematography made it sci-fi because when the characters travelled through the dreams all the places seemed unreal and also the main character is male, rich and athletic which is quite often found in Scifi movies.

12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?
The text may stretch the conventions by the futurist technology the characters using and the actions that are placed in the movie although I think most of the conventions are quite subtly and are not stretched at all.

13) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?
The movie departs from the normal conventions of that genre because even if the technology used may be unrealistic right now the movie plot itself doesn't seem too far from reality and sci-fi movies are usually made false or unlikely to take place but Inception has created it in such a way to make it seem it could be possible in the far future. Also, sci-fi movies usually have a conflict between the good and bad which the movie does have but then is a conflict in between the main character and the own conflict in his mind which he resolves at the end.

14) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?
The movie contains many conventions from heist genre for example assembling a crew of different skills, the heist planning and the crew usually being gathered around a blueprint of some sort and a target they need to achieve relating to finance. 

15) What familiar motifs or images are used?
Future technology
Space ships 
Surrealism

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 target audience for Inception is largely aimed at a male, 18-40 audience as it is an action movie, and also appeals to fans of sci-fi and crime films.

2) How does the text address you?
N/A

3) What sort of person does it assume you are?
This movie would assume that I'm very interested in action and sci-fi movie which is remotely true because I got intrigued by the movie because of the sci-fi side. The movie was advertised by emphasising different colour palates for different locations to create a dream-like feel and even the title "Inception" creates this sci-fi-like atmosphere, therefore, the movie was definitely targeting audience for sci-fi and action.

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

This movie doesn't exactly create that many assumptions cause the movie itself is catered for a variety of people although it could create the assumption that majority who watch this are male and ages from 18- 60. 

5) What interests does it assume you have?

This text would assume you have an interest in science and explaining what effect new discoveries, happenings and scientific developments will have on us in the future. Also since the movie contains a lot of heist it would assume you are into actions and conflict

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 other text for example in the sci chase scene in one of the dreams there is a strong reference to James Bond 'On Her Majesty’s Secret Service'. Also, the movie has many references to Matrix through the several physics bending fight scenes and manipulation of time where the scenes turn into slow motion.

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

3) What key features are shared by these texts?
Both films feature the key question of what is "real" and what is an illusion
Both films bend time and create effects to make this feature


4) What major differences do you notice between them?
They don't have any major difference.