Genre

15.01.2015

Critical approaches – Genre

Genre means type and it’s putting media text into different groups

Codes – symbols, noise and visuals

Conventions – the way the codes are used

Iconography - Patterns of visual imagery and Signals of genre

How to analyse genre

What is the story?

Where is the film set?

Characters in the film?

Actors and directors involved?

Iconography of the film?

What music is used?

The Horror Genre

Codes – fog, blood, children, knives, silence, and disturb

Conventions – women running and screaming, the promiscuous woman dies first, devil children

Directors – James Wan, Rob Zombie, Danny Boyle

Sub-genre – zombie, vampire, devils, gore

Hybrid-genre – comedy/horror, thriller/horror

Audience expectation is what the audience expects to see in a genre

Issues with genre

Popular text can reflect and influence social, economic, and political concerns

Can show changes with genres and the rise and fall of the genres popularity

Changers to the horror genre

Concerns about the supernatural

It’s become closer to home

The orphanage

Synopsis - A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend.

Year: 2008

Director: J.A. Bayona

Cast: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep

Country: Spain

Language: Spanish

Production Co: Esta Vivo! Laboratorio de Nuevos Talentos, Grupo Rodar, Rodar y Rodar Cine y Televisión

  

Best bits

To me in a horror film the best bits are when you are scared because that is the main goal of the horror genre. So one of the best bits in the film to me is when an old woman crossing the road with a pram is hit by a truck because her been it is so unexpected it shocks you and makes you jump and then when you see the old woman on the floor with her bottom jaw knocked off its gruesome but the build up to seeing her creates a lot of tension so it continues the scare from the truck.

Worst bits

The worst bit for me was when the parents were looking for the young boy around the house I felt they started to panic to quickly so it doesn’t build the same tension to me than it would if it a was slower build up for the boy to be missing.

The sound effects are too loud for everyday things that usually wouldn’t even hear.

Great shots

In the opening scene with the children running around and playing outside the colour and cinematography is so warming and really gives you a feeling of nostalgia and happiness.

The panning shot over the sea looks smooth and is a very nice establishing shot.

Interesting sounds

In the opening scene with the children playing there is sort music and bird chirps creating a really innocent feel.