What is “genre”?

Media languages

 is a French word that means “class” or “type”.  are codes, conventions, formats, symbols and
 is a way of categorizing a particular media text narrative structures that indicate the meaning
according to its content and style. of media messages to an audience.
 can be recognized by its common set of
“Codes, conventions and genre are the building blocks
distinguishing features (codes & conventions)
of media”
COMEDY
Conventions.
 Comedies are very funny movies that are
 are the generally accepted ways of doing
designed to make us laugh!
something. They refer to a standard or norm
ACTION that acts as a rule governing behavior.
 are closely connected to the audience
 Action movies are high-energy and contain lots expectations of a media product.
of stunts and fight scenes.
Codes
SCIENCE-FICTION
 are systems of signs, which create MEANING.
 Sci-Fi movies are very imaginative. The setting is They include the language, dress or actions of
usually on another planet or a far-away land characters, or iconic symbols that are easily
with unknown aliens. They usually take place far understood.
into the future.
TYPES OF CODE
MUSICAL
 TECHNICAL
 In a musical there is always a lot of singing and  SYMBOLIC
dancing  WRITTEN
DRAMA
Technical Codes
 These movies are very serious with powerful
 ways in which equipment is used to tell the
characters and a strong plot. story (camera techniques, framing, depth of
HORROR fields, lighting, audio and exposure, etc.)

 Horror movies are made to scare you! There’s CAMERA TECHNIQUES

usually a monster! BASIC CAMERA SHOTS
ANIMATED
 Extreme Wide Shot
 An animated movie looks like a cartoon. The  Wide Shot
characters can be human or animals. It’s  Medium Shot
common for famous actors to provide the  Medium Close-up
voices for some of the characters.  Close-up
 Extreme Close-up
ROMANCE
ADVANCE CAMERA SHOTS
 The plot of romance is usually about two people
who all in love.  Extreme Wide Shot
 Wide Shot
• Comedy = very funny  Medium Shot
 Medium Close-up
• Action = stunts & fight scenes
 Close-up
• Science-Fiction = spaceships, outer space, aliens  Extreme Close-up

• Horror = very scary, monsters CAMERA ANGLES

• Drama = very serious movie  Eye-Level

 High Angle
• Animated = cartoon
 Low Angle
• Musical = singing & dancing  Bird's Eye View
 Worm’s Eye View
• Romance = movies about love  Canted/Dutch
TYPES OF CODE

SYMBOLIC

ACTING

Acting can be broken up into the following discussion

points:

 Body language
 Tone of voice / Accent / Pace of speech
 Facial expression
 Any distinctive common movement by the
character
 Stance / Walk / Movement

TYPES OF CODE

WRITTEN

Written Codes

 use of language style and textual layout

(headlines, captions, speech bubbles, language
style, typography,etc. )