Section 3: critical and theoretical analysis of media texts 3.2

Genre theory - Is a tool that helps us study texts and audience responses to text by dividing them into categories based on common elements. Genre theory discusses why and how both audience and institutions use and recognize genres.

• A genre has characteristic features that are known to an recognised by audiences. The same formula is applied time and time again
• There are also subgenres within genres.

What makes genre attractive to audiences?

Expectations are fulfilled and they can predict what will happen next.

What do producers like to work within a genre?

Communication with the audience is instant as key components are easily recognised. Also known as  "stereo types".

There is no need to set up characters and props as audiences will immediately understand these things.

The audience will know what to expect-

For a genre to come established, certain conventions need to become identifiable in the general consciousness of the audience.

Key components of a genre -

Stock = Key characters

• stock characters
• stock plots, situations, issues and themes
• stock locations and backdrops
• stop props
• recognisable music
• generic conventions
• familiar narrative structure

Disadvantages -

• Formulaic media texts
• texts that do not fall into line have problems getting shown
• texts that are not easily categorised are difficult to sell.

Summary -

Genres function according to sets of Formulas and patterns, and over time, these formulas and patterns may begin to dominate the way we see the world about us

A brief history of the Romance genre film:

1950's - Singin' in the rain,
1955 - Lady and the tramp

1959 - sleeping beauty

1961 - Breakfast at tiffany's,

1965 - The sound of music

1970's - grease, love story,

1976 - rocky
1980 - The blue lagoon

1987 - Dirty dancing

1989  - When sally met harry

1990 -  Pretty women
1995 - Clueless
1997 - Titanic

1999 - 10 things I hate about you
2000 - love actually
2004 - the notebook
2008 - 27 dresses
2010 - letters to Juliet