Genre

The last couple of lessons of media, we've touched upon genre. I have learnt about it's importance within the television industry and films. Before media, I just saw genre as classifying films into groups such as the inbetweeners being a comedy and so on. However media has opened up a whole new perspective of genre, finding different ways to classify genre. For example many characters play similar roles in films due to audiences noticing them for that particular role, as well as this, the character can be seen as not fitted to any other role, such as Cameron Diaz is usually found playing the sexy blonde bimbo regularly found in RomComs. Where as the memorable Robin Williams was a very diverse character by playing many different roles throughout his acting career such as Mrs Doubt-fire and the genie in Aladdin. Even though they are both children's film/programme both characters that he plays are very different in many ways.

In addition genre can be classified by the setting and use of props throughout the film. For example your typical western film will include guns, tumble weed, cow boys and remote areas. The genre helps the director gain influence when approaching the story, for example a horror film will have to include creepy music to create the atmosphere, dark scenes to reinforce the genre and ghosts.

As well as this, I have also learnt that series of films is all well and good however there needs to be new twists, this will keep the audience hooked on to the film and stopping it becoming predictable. The twist will be what makes the film different comparing to films within the same genre. Such as 'Toy Story 3' and 'The Chronicles Of Narnia' they are both so different but also very similar due to them being both an adventure. This is because Toy Story 3 is specifically aimed at younger children ages 4/5 upwards And 'The Chronicles Of Narnia' is aimed at older children due to it exploring the world of fantasy and mythical creatures. Where as 'Toy Story' focuses more on real life, showing things that young children will likely recognise.