Genre

1) What example is provided of why visual iconographies are so important?

Genres are identified by using codes and conventions. The example used is if someone is sitting behind a desk there is no meaning and it is not specific to a genre. However after adding lighting, aspects of mise en scene and choices of media language we can associate it with a news broadcast.

2) What examples are provided of the importance of narrative in identifying genre?

Different narrative structures bring different elements which help to identify genre.

3) What is the difference between character representation in action movies and disaster movies?

Narrative texts include characters. Action movies usually have a single protagonist wheras other films could have more than one main character, with different personalities.

4) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell? 
According  to Bordwell, films can be categorised into:

. Period or Country

. Director or Star

. Technical Process

. Style

. Series

. Audience

5) List three ways genre is used by audiences:

. Using prior knowledge

. Compare to a text with shared characteristics of that genre

. Use their knowledge of the text as to whether they like it or not.

6) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.
. Production-

. Attracting an audience-

. Marketing texts-

7) What film genre is used as an example of how genres evolve? What films and conventions are mentioned?

The gangster genre shows how genres evolve because over time it has changed. The iconographies have changed; films nowadays in the gangster genre contain the basic conventions but have modern approaches.

Read Media Factsheet 126 - Superheroes: A Genre Case Study and answer the following questions:

1) List five films the factsheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.

. The Avengers

. Spiderman

. Agents of Shield

. Guardians of the Galaxy

. X-Men

2) What examples are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years?

In the 1930's superheroes became popular. When WW1 began, to push propaganda, the hero genre was used a lot.

3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?

Schatz's theory can be divided into:

. Innovation-visual codes for the superhero genre are established via comic books.

. Classical-superhero genre could be seen in classical stage with codes and conventions being replicated.

. Parody-Batman was not taken seriously and was initially found quite funny.

. Deconstruction-different conventions are added and the genre is experimented with.

General

1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?

I chose the film Shrek because it my favourite film from my childhood.

2) In what context did you encounter it?

It was a popular film so I watched it when I was little.

3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?

DreamWorks has loads of films that I love so I knew I would like it.

4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?

Initially, I would link the text to comedy with moments of romance.

5) What is your experience of this genre?

My experience with the genre is that you can never go wrong with comedy. Comedy can always cheer u up.

6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?

There is many aspects of comedy and one of the characters called Donkey is the funny character.

7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?

The comedy aspect of the film really makes the audience laugh.

8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?

I expect texts of this genre to have some serious moments but overall make the audience laugh.

9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?

10) What generic labels have others given the same text?

Mode of address

1) What sort of audience did you feel that the text was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre)?

The text is definitely for children because that is the audience DreamWorks' is usually aimed at.

2) How does the text address you?

3) What sort of person does it assume you are?

It assumes that I am either a child or someone that loves to watch films that are animated or child-like.

4) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?

Assumptions would be that I am a child. There is no gender or ethnicity specific.

5) What interests does it assume you have?
It assumes I am interested in characters getting heir happy endings and fairytales.

Relationship to other texts

1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)?

There are many intertextual references to other fairytales from different texts because a lot of the characters are from known fairytales.

2) Generically, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?

Shrek resembles to a lot of fairytales because Shrek has a princess and talking animals.

3) What key features are shared by these texts?

The key features could be that it is very unrealistic and it is animated.

4) What major differences do you notice between them?

The difference is that Shrek doesn't have the typical villains like other fairytales. For example, Prince Charming is actually a villain in Shrek.