🎥Film Criticism Unit 4 – Genre Analysis: Conventions and Subversions

What's Genre Analysis?

• Genre analysis examines the patterns, tropes, and conventions within a particular category or style of film
• Involves identifying the common elements that define a genre, such as themes, characters, settings, and narrative structures
• Explores how films within a genre adhere to or deviate from established conventions
• Considers the historical and cultural context in which genres emerge and evolve over time
• Analyzes how filmmakers use genre conventions to communicate meaning and engage audiences
• Investigates the relationship between genre and other aspects of film, such as authorship, ideology, and reception
• Recognizes that genres are not fixed categories but are constantly shifting and blending with one another

Key Genre Conventions

• Iconography refers to the visual elements associated with a particular genre (cowboy hats in Westerns, dark alleys in film noir)
• Character archetypes are recurring character types within a genre (the femme fatale in film noir, the wise old mentor in fantasy films)
• Narrative patterns involve the typical plot structures and story arcs found in a genre (the hero's journey in action-adventure films)
• Setting and mise-en-scène contribute to the distinctive look and feel of a genre (neon-lit streets in cyberpunk, gothic mansions in horror)
• Themes and motifs are the recurring ideas and symbols that define a genre (the pursuit of justice in crime thrillers, the dangers of technology in science fiction)
• Music and sound design create the aural landscape of a genre (the twangy guitar in Westerns, the ominous score in horror films)
• Editing and cinematography techniques are often associated with specific genres (the rapid montage in action films, the long takes in art cinema)

Subverting the Norm

• Genre subversion occurs when films challenge, critique, or parody the conventions of a particular genre
• Filmmakers may subvert genre expectations to comment on social or political issues (using the Western genre to critique colonialism and racism)
• Subversion can involve blending or hybridizing genres to create new forms (the horror-comedy, the sci-fi Western)
• Films may deconstruct genre tropes by exposing their artificiality or absurdity (the self-aware slasher film Scream)
• Subversive films often use irony, satire, or meta-commentary to interrogate genre conventions (the postmodern neo-noir film Pulp Fiction)
• Subversion can also involve reimagining or updating genre conventions for contemporary audiences (the revisionist superhero film Logan)

Film Examples

• The Godfather (1972) is a classic example of the gangster genre, adhering to conventions such as family loyalty, power struggles, and the rise and fall of a criminal empire
• Blade Runner (1982) subverts the science fiction genre by blending it with film noir elements and questioning the nature of humanity
• Unforgiven (1992) is a revisionist Western that deconstructs the myth of the heroic gunslinger and explores the consequences of violence
• Scream (1996) is a self-reflexive horror film that subverts slasher tropes by having characters who are aware of horror movie clichés
• The Dark Knight (2008) reinvents the superhero genre by grounding it in a realistic, morally ambiguous world and exploring complex themes of justice and chaos
• Get Out (2017) subverts the horror genre by using it as a lens to examine racism and cultural appropriation in contemporary America

Critical Approaches

• Auteur theory examines how a director's individual style and vision shape the genre conventions of their films (Alfred Hitchcock's distinct approach to the thriller genre)
• Feminist film theory analyzes how genres represent and construct gender roles and power dynamics (the portrayal of women in film noir as either femme fatales or helpless victims)
• Psychoanalytic film theory explores how genres tap into unconscious desires and fears (the monster as a manifestation of repressed sexuality in horror films)
• Marxist film theory examines how genres reflect and reinforce dominant ideologies and class structures (the celebration of individualism and capitalism in the action genre)
• Postcolonial film theory investigates how genres perpetuate or challenge colonial narratives and power relations (the Western as a tool of cultural imperialism)
• Reception studies analyze how different audiences interpret and respond to genre films based on their social and cultural backgrounds (the appeal of Bollywood musicals to diasporic Indian communities)

Impact on Audience

• Genres shape audience expectations and guide their interpretation of a film's meaning and significance
• Familiarity with genre conventions allows audiences to anticipate and derive pleasure from recognizable patterns and formulas
• Genres can create a sense of community among fans who share a common interest and knowledge of the genre's tropes and history
• Subversive or innovative genre films can challenge audiences' assumptions and encourage critical reflection on social and cultural issues
• Genres can also have a cathartic or therapeutic effect on audiences, allowing them to confront and process difficult emotions or experiences (the horror genre as a way of coping with fear and mortality)
• The popularity of certain genres can reflect broader cultural anxieties, desires, or values at a particular historical moment (the prevalence of dystopian science fiction in times of political and economic uncertainty)

Evolution of Genres

• Genres are not static but evolve over time in response to changing social, cultural, and technological contexts
• The Western genre, for example, has shifted from celebrating manifest destiny and rugged individualism to critiquing the myths of the American frontier and the displacement of Native Americans
• The science fiction genre has expanded from its pulp origins to encompass a wide range of subgenres and themes, from space opera to cyberpunk to Afrofuturism
• The action genre has evolved from the muscle-bound heroes of the 1980s to the more complex and diverse protagonists of contemporary films
• Genres can also cycle through periods of popularity and decline, with certain genres dominating in different eras (the musical in the 1950s, the blockbuster in the 1970s, the superhero film in the 2000s)
• New genres can emerge from the fusion or mutation of existing genres (the rom-com, the found-footage horror film)
• Technological innovations, such as CGI and digital filmmaking, have also shaped the evolution of genres by expanding the possibilities for visual spectacle and storytelling

Applying Genre Analysis

• When analyzing a film through the lens of genre, consider how it conforms to or deviates from the conventions of its genre
• Examine the film's iconography, character archetypes, narrative structure, themes, and style to identify its genre elements
• Consider how the film's genre influences its meaning and message, and how it reflects or comments on broader social and cultural issues
• Compare the film to other examples of its genre to identify patterns, variations, and innovations
• Analyze how the film's genre shapes its reception and interpretation by different audiences, and how it contributes to the ongoing evolution of the genre
• Use genre analysis as a starting point for deeper critical inquiry into the film's aesthetics, politics, and historical context
• Recognize that films can belong to multiple genres and that genre boundaries are often fluid and contested, requiring a nuanced and flexible approach to analysis