WJEC GCE AS Film Studies Stuart Grenville-Price FM1 Making Meaning Macro Element – Genre
Genre & Themes The western genre is important, it has been argued, because westerns have mythic qualities. Myths help to order everyday experience by giving people a sense of who they are and how they should live. Hence they are concerned with ideas and values. Genre analysts not only categorise the elements of a genre they can also group genres together to explore these ideas and value. The typical binary oppositions found in westerns, for instance, can be found in other genres such as the gangster, science-fiction, fantasy adventure, horror genres: inside/outside society, good/bad, weak/strong, civilisation/wilderness, civilised/wild etc. Think of a film you know well whether it’s a gangster, science-fiction, fantasy adventure or horror genre film.
Film title:
What were these binary oppositions found in westerns in the film you chose?
Inside/outside society
/
Good/bad
/
Weak/strong
/
Civilisation/wilderness
/
Civilised/wild
/
Two basic categorisations of groups of film genres are useful:
Genres of order
Genres of integration.
Genres of order can be categorised as follows:
Clark Kent in Smallville and, Superman
The hero/heroine (usually the male is dominant) will be an individual with a strong marked persona (though sometimes this will be disguised). Your example:
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Simon West 2001
Indiana Jones & the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Steven Spielberg 1981
He/she will be in a setting which is a contested space in that what is at stake in the contest are sets of ideas and values as represented by people usually but can be nations or even the planet itself. Your example:
Independence Day (Roland Emmerich 1996)
The conflict will be externalised and expressed through violent action. Your example:
The resolution will usually mean the elimination of the threat usually through death. Your example: Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi
(Richard Marquand 1983)
Thematics. The hero/heroine takes upon himself/herself the problems, contradictions inherent in society and acts as redeemer. There is often a macho code of behaviour, even with heroines. The character remains true to himself/herself whatever the cost in personal terms: the loss of friends, loved ones. They have an isolated self-reliance and do not assimilate the values/lifestyle of the community they save. They maintain their individuality Your example:
High Plains Drifter (Clint Eastwood 1973)
Genres of integration can be categorised as follows: The Heroes are couples or collectives (e.g. Family, friends). The genres tend to be female dominated/focused. Your example:
Now Voyager (IrvingRapper1942)
They will be in a setting which is civilised space; this will often be a domestic space. It will ideologically stable in that members strive for the same values and ideas.
Victor Fleming 1939 Your example:
The conflict will be internalised and expressed through emotion.
Adrian Lyne 1987 Your example:
The resolution is the embrace representing love. There is a sense of completion through the settling of emotional differences.
Your example:
Thematics. The couple or family are integrated into the wider community and their personal antagonisms resolved. The material and familial codes are re-established and reinforced. There is community cooperation and a sense that all will be well. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café
Jon Avnet 1991 Brief Encounter
David Lean 1945
Your examples: • • • •