Lesson 3

Continued Introduction to
Genre
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ZigZag Education, 2013

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Aims
O To continue to develop your knowledge of

genre.
O To be fully confident in identifying generic

conventions from a range of films.

O To be an independent enquirer (SEAL/PLTS).

Quick Quiz
1.What does the term genre mean?
2.Name any three film genres.
3.What does narrative mean?
4.What are the three stages of Todorovs theory?
5.Name two of Propps character types.
6.What does iconography mean?
7.Name three things you expect to see in a sci-fi film.

If a character is a stock
character and is a
generalisation, what is this also
known as?
O Archetype stereotypical character

you would always expect

O Character Archetype
O Star persona
O Actors that are linked to a certain
style and genre

Iconography
O Things we expect to see from a certain

genre.
O Mise-en-scne
O Costume
O Lighting
O Props
O Characters
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Setting
O This is where the narrative takes

place.
O What does the setting connote?
O Family home = sense of security
O Saloon bar =
O Dark cave =
O Mars =
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Setting what
genre?
O This is where the narrative takes

place.
O What does the setting connote?
O Family home = sense of security
O Saloon bar = alcoholism, fights
O Dark cave = sinister, spooky
O Mars = dangerous, technological

advances
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The horror genre

O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

What do we expect to see?

Blood
Weapons
Death
Gore
Violence
Victim
Villain/monster
What settings do we expect? What do they connote?
O Low-key lighting = death
O Somewhere that has weapons = kitchen, farm,
torture chamber
O Empty, isolated places = no one will know if
something happens
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Activity
O You are to pick one of the following genres:
O Sci-fi
O Teen movie
O Western
O Romcom
O You must create a collage / poster / mood

board that shows its conventional

iconography and settings.

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Are All Films from a

Particular Genre Exactly
the Same?
O Steve Neale repetition and difference
O Texts need to have recognisable features

to be identified as a certain genre by the

audience.

O They also need to be different in some

way to prevent the audience from

becoming bored with what they are
watching.

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Reviewing the Aims

O To continue to develop your knowledge of

genre.
O To be fully confident in identifying generic

conventions from a range of films.

O To be an independent enquirer (SEAL/PLTS).

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