Genre Theories

Steve Neale:

Theory of repititipon and differences.

'Genres are instances of repition and differences'

 This theory means;

• Does the film conform a genre's conventions and stereotype.
• The film has to conform these conventions and stereotypes in order to be clasified as that genre.

Or else;

• Does the film subvert a genre's conventions and stereotype.
• The film has to subvert the traditions of that genre enough to be classed as a unique film rather than a clone.

Barry Kieth Grant:
Sub-genres.

Suggests sub-genres are used as more specific category and allows audiences to identify and recognise them by using familiar and what become recognisable characteristics.

The way that the audience recognise and identify a specific category is through;

• costume
• setting
• music
• props
• characters
• narrative structure

Examples;

• A gun can be used as a prop to identify the sub-genre of hip hop, due to being a generic convention used in hip hop.
• Characters such as superheroes e.g Thor, would become familiar that the genre is an action and the sub-genre is fantasy.
• Suspense soundtrack as music can be used to identify that the sub-genre is a thriller.
• A prop of a doll can be used in a horror film to identify the sub-genre of paranormal.