Genre Theory

Pleasure and Expectation

One way of defining genres is as
as set of expectations
Genre is constituted by specific
systems of expectations which
spectators bring with them to the
cinema and which interact with the
films themselves during the course of
the viewing process.
Steve Neale
Genre and
Hollywood

Repetition and Difference

Pleasure is derived from repetition
and difference; there would be no
pleasure without difference
We may derive pleasure from
observing how the conventions of
the genre are manipulated.
We may also enjoy the stretching
of a genre in new directions and
the consequent shifting of our
expectations

Repertoire of Elements
The main identifying characteristics of a film will
inevitably fall into one or more of the following
categories, or repertoire of elements.
Iconography
Setting
Characters
Narrative
Style
Theme
Audience Response
Genre hybrids
A common-sense definition of genre is to say that it
constitutes a group of films based on certain conventions
of content and/or form.
Content might refer to themes and settings
Form might refer to structure and style

Nick Lacey
Narrative and
Genre

Ideal Reader
Daniel Chandler

Embedded within texts are

assumptions about the 'ideal reader',
including their attitudes towards the
subject matter and often their class,
age, gender and ethnicity.