Texts - Genre conventions

Learning Objectives: To recall how iconography is used to create genre

Key Words: Mise-en-scene Typical narratives Generic/stock characters Themes 

Genre

Genre is a French word for 'type.' 'Genre' is a means of classification for texts based on common elements/shared characteristics - the correct terminology for this is 'generic conventions.' 

When working out what genre a media text is, the following 'generic ingredients' need to be analysed (when you 'channel hop' the brain does this subconsciously because all genres have certain common characteristics the brain picks up on):

1) Mise-en-scene (iconography, props, set design, special effects, lighting, costumes, cast, shot types, camera angles etc.)

2) Typical narratives (historic/contemporary/medical/crime etc.)

3) Generic/stock characters e.g. doctors, police, stereotypical gender roles, different classes etc.

4) Themes e.g. police v criminals, affairs, youth v age, working class v upper class etc. 

(Iconography definition)

(echoing the narrative, characterization, themes and setting) - a familiar stock of images or motifs, the connotations of which have become fixed; primarily but not necessarily visual, including décor, costume and objects, certain 'typecast' performers-some of whom may have become 'icons' themselves, familiar patterns of dialogue, characteristic music and sounds, and appropriate physical topography;

It is also important to remember that hybrid genres exist  

Genre Definitions

Teen Drama

http://www.e4.com/skins/

Teen dramas are created for teenage audiences, they represent this group through starring young people and through dealing age-specific issues.

Soap

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d

Stereotypically, the target audience for soaps is working class women. Soaps are never ending and convey a sense 'of real time.' They rely on audiences finding them almost believable, for this reason they could almost be classes as 'social realist.'

Costume Drama

http://www.itv.com/downtonabbey/

Britain is famous for this genre (both in film and TV drama) they are often adaptations of a famous 'classic' novel or play but can also be original works. They dramatize different points in history and can be quite different from contemporary dramas. The typical target audience for period dramas is women in social grades A-C.

Medical/Hospital Dramas 

http://www.fox.com/house/

Medical/hospital dramas play on the human fascination of witnessing  horrific events. They often share narrative similarities with soaps but can also be more informative/educational than soaps (e.g. technical terminology is used by the characters). The typical target audience of medical drama is women in social grades C-E, however some A/B women and some men may like some medical dramas if they feel they are represented.

Crime Drama

http://www.sho.com/sho/dexter/home

Crime dramas work in a similar way to medical dramas, but instead of showing the viewer medical gore they show horrific crimes (the type of crime and level of gore depends on the target audience). The main appeal to crime drama is working out 'who done it.' There are a number of crime dramas on television, this means that the target audience is as vast and varied as the shows (e.g. some may be pitched at young men while others may be pitched at women 50+)

Sci-Fi

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006q2x0

Sci-fi offers escapism through a 'space-opera' - they both displace and draw on reality in order to hook the target audience. They are generally set in space and feature aliens. The target audience depends on the show, but stereotypically the target audience is males who enjoy sci-fi.  

Fantasy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjlxv

Fantasy works in a similar way to sci-fi, only aliens are replaced by characters like wizards, dragons, dinosaurs etc.

Comedy Drama

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-big-bang-theory

In terms of Blumer and Katz Uses and Gratification Theory, comedy dramas are obviously created to entertain, distract and make people laugh. The target audience depends on the comedy because different people find different things funny. 

Social Realist

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/shameless

Social realist dramas work in a similar way to soaps but may have more hard-hitting themes and may only appeal to a niche market.

Lesbian/Gay Drama

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tq4d9

Lesbian/Gay dramas focus on the lives of lesbian/gay/bisexual characters. They are often create for a niche market but sometimes attract a mainstream audience. 

Generic conventions are the features shown by texts that allow them to be put into a specific genre for example almost all westerns use the iconography of cowboy hats, six shooters and horses.

TASK 1: Choose two of the clips above and state how the following have been used to categorise, to give that particular text it's genre.

1) Mise-en-scene 

2) Typical narratives 

3) Generic/stock characters 

4) Themes 

You need to refer to technical and visual codes and conventions, narrative theory, iconography and ideology. 250 - 300 words. This is homework and needs to be on your blogs for feedback by Thursday 24th.