Genre Exploration: Horror

• What do you understand by the concepts of repetition and variation of a genre

A genre is a way of categorising a media product and has certain distinctive main features in terms of form, style and subject matter. These features have become well understood and recognised due to the fact that they have been repeated over a period of time. However there are sometimes variations of of a genre which are known as a sub genres. An example of this is Scream which is both a horror but also a comedy, something which would not ordinarily been expected in a film from the horror genre. 

• Provide a definition of the concept genre

Genre is, as explained above, a way of categorising a media product. All genres have a portfolio of key elements from which they are composed, they elements include;

-Protagonists

-Stock Characters

-Plot and Stock Situations

-Icons

-Background and Decor

-Themes

Protagonist

All genres have a recognisable protagonists or lead characters; these may be heroes and/or villains. Sometimes the lead males and females become so predictable that they end up having the same qualities across various different genres. For example, male protagonists are usually courageous good looking and likely to rescue a female character in distress.

Stock Characters

Stock characters are recognisable although minor characters who are repeatedly played by actors who specialise in playing such roles.

Plot and Stock Situations

The story lines are also predictable and recognisable. For example Romantic stories often include a plot line where the female protagonist cannot get the boy that she is in love with due to an obstruction; perhaps because the boy does not notice that the girl who is madly in love with him even exists. However, it will either all work out in the end and both characters live happily ever after or the female protagonist will realise that she is better off without him and falls in love with someone else who also loves her. 

Icons

Icons are the most important element to genre because it is the aspect of genre we immediately recognise. There are three types of Icons, objects, backgrounds and sometimes stars.

Background and Decor

Background and decor can be recognised for a particular genre, for example an old abandoned graveyard would be typical for horror while space would be typical for a science fiction film. Another example is the pub interior of EastEnders which is distinctive and a part of many characters. If such backgrounds become very distinctive then they become icons.

Themes

The themes or ideas that run trough and come out of the stories are very much part of genre. Some are common to genres while others are not. These themes also tie in with the value messages that are projected. For example all genre narrative says something about conflict between good and evil, however the theme of deceit and betrayal is more accustomed to private eye stories, where the hero is often double crossed by a female. These generic themes often emerge as oppositions, for example:

- truth vs ignorance 

- loyalty vs deceit 

- self-sufficiency vs dependency

- persistence vs surrender

- integrity vs temptation

• What do you understand by the concept of a genre 'formula' and what do you think this means?

Burton's key elements is what adds up to a genre 'formula'. They could be viewed as headings for the kinds of item someone would expect to see in all genres. When you look at particular genres, it is particular items that you describe for that genre.

• Does the fact that many products work to a formula make them boring?

I believe that the audiences knowledge of the formula helps them to know what is going on and gives them the pleasure of feeling that they are on familiar ground. It gives the audience a blueprint for making sense of the drama which in turn gives the production company a blueprint for making the drama, one which it can feel confident to share with its audience.