Genre Theory – Neale Flashcards
Define the term genre.
Is a French term for a category and is important when defining a media product.
What is a genre made up of?
Repetitions and variations/ difference (and possible intertextual relay), as theorised by Steve Neal.
Define the term repetition.
Repetition is simple generic conventions.
For example, a magazine should always have a masthead (name of the magazine) so the audience knows what the product is called.
Define the term variation.
Is the difference in each product.
For example, in magazines, the colour palette can change depending on the edition.
If all products used the conventions all of the time then products would be too similar and become boring for the audience.
Define Neale’s Genre Theory
Genre codes and conventions are established and evolve through repetition within media products. Reinforced by marketing and reviews. Also through the creation of hybrids with other genres.
Explain the importance of genre.
Genres help an audience understand what the product should include and determine if they would like them based on their experiences.
Genres can also act as instructions for producers on how to make a successful product.
The genre of a product can help people to understand the purpose of the product.
For example, the purpose of a charity advert is to encourage the audience to donate and spread awareness of the cause. So, charity adverts will be different to adverts selling products.
Define the term sub-genre.
Is a genre within a genre, or a theme within a bigger theme so to speak.
Define the term hybrid genre.
When genres are blended together. Rom-coms are an example of this as they have borrowed conventions from both romance and comedy.
Define the term iconographies.
The specific types of media language choices make a genre recognisable. These iconographies can be visual or aural. For example, many science fiction products use the mise-en-scene of outer space, space ships, alien planets etc. These are iconographies that we recognise as belonging to the sci-fi genre.
Define the term representations.
To describe or depict it, by description or portrayal, which is carefully constructed.
To symbolise or substitute for.
Define the term theme.
A central topic, subject, or message within a narrative, which can often be summed in a single word (for example, love, death, betrayal).
Define the term genre order.
Values individualism and personal sacrifice.
This genre sees violence as justified in certain circumstances and the heroes’ role is to reinstate the
the social order that has been undermined by the threat.
Define the term genres of integration.
Value collectives and groups who communicate and cooperate for the general good. Negotiation and compromise are often used to help solve problems so that whatever has threatened the equilibrium can find a way to be integrated into the community.
State the generic hybridity in Stranger Things.
Blending a range of elements from genres such as horror or science fiction.
Science fiction: Use of aliens from another dimension, characters with telekinesis or other powers, secret laboratories doing experiments and the use of synthesised music. These are all conventions of the sci-fi genre.
Horror: Six common characters found in a traditional horror movie, poorly lit spaces when they show Will going missing or when they find Eleven. Dark lighting when they show the monster/alien for the first time so it only appears as a shadow keeping the suspense going for another episode - make the audience want to find out what the monster looks like.
List the six common types of characters in traditional horror included in Stranger Things.
The jock The dumb cheerleader The nerd/stoner The token minority The nice guy and The last girl / the virgin. Stranger Things does in fact include all of these conventions of the horror genre
