Year 7 Genre TheoryYear 7 Genre Theory

Big ConceptsBig Concepts

Big Concept #1:Big Concept #1: Genres are like families Genres are like families

Within a genre are texts which are all related to Within a genre are texts which are all related to

each other because they have certain each other because they have certain

characteristics.characteristics.

Families have stars and favourites, but also Families have stars and favourites, but also

embarrassing and awkward family members - embarrassing and awkward family members -

even if you don’t like them, they’re still part of even if you don’t like them, they’re still part of

the familythe family

Generational difference is expected in Generational difference is expected in

families, and in genres.families, and in genres.

People from different families crossbreed! People from different families crossbreed!

Composers create new genres by mixing Composers create new genres by mixing

existing genres.existing genres.

Genres we know about…Genres we know about…

FantasyFantasy RomanceRomance CrimeCrime HorrorHorror ActionAction Science FictionScience Fiction ComedyComedy

ThrillerThriller Current affairsCurrent affairs DocumentaryDocumentary ‘‘teen pics’teen pics’ Reality TV Reality TV

AdventureAdventure

Big Concept #2: Big Concept #2: Genres have conventionsGenres have conventions

Conventions are like rules, common elements that bind Conventions are like rules, common elements that bind

genres together as a groupgenres together as a group

Conventions include :Conventions include :

settingsetting

characterscharacters

plot events/sequenceplot events/sequence

values/themes values/themes

What are the conventions of a classic What are the conventions of a classic westernwestern

Dragon and a classic Dragon and a classic easterneastern dragon?dragon?

Big Concept #3: Writers Can Big Concept #3: Writers Can Choose to Work Within, Beyond Choose to Work Within, Beyond

and Against Generic Conventionsand Against Generic Conventions Often a text is classified as a particular genre, even Often a text is classified as a particular genre, even

though it may draw on the conventions of many. though it may draw on the conventions of many.

For example, when you go to the grocery store to For example, when you go to the grocery store to

find something, you may expect it to be in the find something, you may expect it to be in the

baking section, but instead it may be in the dessert baking section, but instead it may be in the dessert

section. section.

Usually a text is classified into a particular genre Usually a text is classified into a particular genre

based upon what genre the text most resembles.based upon what genre the text most resembles.

Big Concept #3 Cont…Big Concept #3 Cont…

When a composer chooses to write within a When a composer chooses to write within a

genre, they choose to follow all the rules of that genre, they choose to follow all the rules of that

genre. When a composer chooses to write genre. When a composer chooses to write

beyond the rules of a genre, they choose to beyond the rules of a genre, they choose to

‘bend the rules’ of that genre. When a composer ‘bend the rules’ of that genre. When a composer

chooses to subvert (or against) the conventions chooses to subvert (or against) the conventions

of a genre, they are breaking the rules of that of a genre, they are breaking the rules of that

genre (e.g. genre (e.g. Trogdor the Burninator or Albi the Trogdor the Burninator or Albi the

Racist Dragon or the dragon from ShrekRacist Dragon or the dragon from Shrek). ).

Although texts are classified into genres by Although texts are classified into genres by

many different people such as the composer many different people such as the composer

themselves or literary critics, it is really the themselves or literary critics, it is really the

responder themselves who decides what genre responder themselves who decides what genre

a text is.a text is.

Who Decides Which Genre a Who Decides Which Genre a Text Will Be?Text Will Be?

Big Concept #4:Big Concept #4:Responders decide on the Responders decide on the

genres of textsgenres of texts

FeatureFeature Within the GenreWithin the Genre Breaking the RulesBreaking the Rules

WingsWings

SkinSkin

EyesEyes

TeethTeeth

BodyBody

PersonalityPersonality

GenderGender

Shrek

Mulan

FeatureFeature Within the GenreWithin the Genre Breaking the RulesBreaking the Rules

WingsWings

SkinSkin

EyesEyes

TeethTeeth

BodyBody

PersonalityPersonality

GenderGender

Trogdor the Burninator

FeatureFeature Within the GenreWithin the Genre Breaking the RulesBreaking the Rules

WingsWings

SkinSkin

EyesEyes

TeethTeeth

BodyBody

PersonalityPersonality

GenderGender

Albi the Racist Dragon

FeatureFeature Within the GenreWithin the Genre Breaking the RulesBreaking the Rules

WingsWings

SkinSkin

EyesEyes

TeethTeeth

BodyBody

PersonalityPersonality

GenderGender