do you think genres are timeless? can we still label films?
In most cases, we are still able to label films, such as action and sci-fi, Commando and Moon respectively. However, there are certain films that defy conventions of genres making them difficult to put into a specific genre, examples being Melancholia where it is mainly a drama yet in a sci-fi setting. Over time, people's opinions of the world changes so their opinions on films change aswell.
why do you think hybrid genres are developing so much?
Hybrid genres are developing because we've already looked at the basics of each genre so people are experimenting with genres to create new and unique. Example being Cowboys and Aliens which combines Western and sci-fi, and Avatar, which combines sci-fi and romance.
choose one of your products and determine how it does/doesn't conform to a genre
In terms of genre being defined by setting, the thriller project has a busy post-modern setting, this allows the crime to be committed in an enviroment where the assassin can be unseen, this setting also presents it as more a political thriller, contradicting with the conventions of a classic thriller.
Then there is the theme and topic, which can't be seen so much as it is only the beginning of a film, but the scene was designed to follow on into a story of corruption within the political stance of Great Britain.
And finally the format. The way the film is represented with guns and murder and everything, shows the high level of risk being played with by few people. Shot in widescreen with various effects such as sped up footage, filters and techno soundtrack exaggerate the post modern nature of the political thriller.
So the project does conform to a specific genre as it meets the conventions of a thriller.
The project is mainly a subgenre of a political thriller as it deals with current affairs in an escapist form. It has a Ying and a Yang, weapons, murder, mystery and conspiracy.
According to Janet Steiger, there are 4 ways to define a film. The first is a Id Ealist Method, or the predetermined standard of a film. The Second is the Empirical method, which is comparing it to other films. The third is social conventions, which are accepted by cultural expectations in society, and the fourth is the ironic hybridization, which is combining elements from different genres.
Id Ealist Method: the project is conventional as it is a political thriller, the conventions are met such as dealing with current affairs, keeping a keen eye on political stance etc.
Empirical Method: Influenced by the Bounre films (assasination, enigma), Spooks (style and keeping with current affairs), Ichi the Killer (stylistic effects) and JFK (style of assassination)
Social Conventions: clear line between good guy and bad guy, easy plot to grasp
Ironic Hybridization: just a thriller, nothing more
According to Robert Stam, genres can be defined by the performer. The persona acting is the same character each time and this helps the audience to know what to expect. The actors are central to the brief storyline, and add an extra layer to the setting and music.
John Turby says that genre is useful for purposes of marketing, target audience and critical review. If this film was marketed, it'd be very mysterious, following a sort of viral marketing where not much information is giving about the film. He also said that screenwriters may use genre basis as a way to determine plot or theme.
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