genre theory

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Genres are created through a process of repetition and recognition leading to anticipation and expectation.” Graham Burton (2000) GENRE THEORY

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Page 1: Genre Theory

“Genres are created through a process of repetition and recognition leading to anticipation and expectation.” Graham Burton (2000)

GENRE THEORY

Page 2: Genre Theory

Genre & Expectation• As genres become established

audiences begin to have certain expectations

• Every genre contains generic conventions that audiences would expect and gain gratification from

• ‘Sin City’, ‘Fish Tank’ & ‘District 9’ rely upon differing conventions relating to their specific genre

Page 3: Genre Theory

Why do We Like Genre?Genre texts are successful because AUDIENCES like their…

- Familiarity (like a warm blanket!)- They give us an informed choice

PRODUCERS of media texts like them as they..

- Give them a blueprint or toolbox to use and experiment with- They have a proven popularity - so they can (almost always) guarantee

some success- They can target their audience more easily - marketing campaigns etc…

Page 4: Genre Theory

How Genres ChangeAll genre texts combine…

• “The familiar and the unexpected” (G.Burton 2000)

• The “same but different”

(Nick Lacey 1999)

Page 5: Genre Theory

How Genres Change• Repetition of the conventions could lead to

boredom. To keep us interested producers offer us what we know with a twist

This can be …- Hybridity- New Techniques- Modern Social Issues- Different characters

Page 6: Genre Theory

GENRE• Hybridity/Hybrid: The fusion or combination of

different genre styles

• Repetition and Difference: Most media texts have a pattern of repetition and difference. They have identifiable similarities, but also contain new elements or similar elements used in new ways.

Page 7: Genre Theory

Steve Neale ‘Genres are instances of repetition and

difference’. He adds that 'difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre’ : mere repetition would not attract an audience.

Page 8: Genre Theory

What do genres mean for audiences?

Audiences...- can select texts based on their genre. -have expectations about a text based on its genre, allowing them to draw pleasures from its conventions, such as repeated narratives.

However, pleasure can also be drawn from differences- identify with repeated elements in generic texts and may shape their own identity in response.

Page 9: Genre Theory

What do genres mean for producers?

Producers…- market texts according to genre because an audience of fans of that genre has already been established.- standardise production practices according to genre conventions.- subscribe to established conventions but also allow creativity within a given format to keep the genre fresh/modern.

Page 10: Genre Theory

GENRE CONCLUSIONS• Genres have a certain amount of predictability and repeated

elements, which make them distinctive and which help to define them.

• All genres have a portfolio of key elements (conventions) from which they are composed.

• Not all examples of a genre will have all the elements all the time.

• It is these elements which make up the formula or a repetition of elements of a given genre.

• Genres can be combined to create new forms or Hybrids