After reviewing the discussion of genre in Chapter 4 of Film: From Watching to Seeing, demonstrate your understanding of one selected genre using a feature-length film.
Note: Several films are listed in Chapter 4 as emblematic of a specific genre. You are allowed to choose a film or genre not mentioned in Chapter 4, but you are strongly encouraged to email your professor to receive approval before doing so.

In 800 to 1200 words:

• Explain genre theory and, using Chapter 4 of the text      as a reference, thoroughly describe the conventions and attributes of your      selected genre.
• Identify a feature-length film that fits this genre and      provide a basic summary of the movie. As you develop this summary, remember      the differences between a film’s story and a film’s plot and how these      differences can lead to the inclusion of genre elements.
• Interpret at least two genre conventions exhibited in      your chosen feature-length film that help classify it in the selected      genre. Be sure to provide a specific example of each convention (e.g., a      particular scene or plot component).
• Provide an example of a third convention from your      chosen feature-length film and explain how this convention expands the boundaries of the specified genre.

Your paper should be organized around a thesis statement that focuses on how your chosen feature-length film both aligns with and expands upon your chosen genre.

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

 

MORE INFO 

Genres and Genre Film

Introduction

A genre film is a movie based on a particular type of story. For example, there are many types of action movies. Some movies are about crime and punishment, some about war and battles, and others about political intrigue or corruption in high places. Other genres include comedy films, horror films, science fiction films (or “sci-fi”), musicals, westerns—and more!

Genre Film

Genre films are a type of film that share a similar style or subject matter. They can be found in many different genres, such as romance, horror and science fiction. Many genres are defined by the conventions of their genre: for example, romantic comedies often feature two main characters who fall in love with each other but wind up breaking up because they know it’s not going to last forever. The genre conventions (such as this one) give us expectations about what we should see in these types of films: they have happy endings if they end up together at the end; if not then things get really sad!

The term “genre” comes from French roots where it means “kind” or “type.” In English speaking countries the word was first used around 1750 when it referred specifically only to dramatic works based on classical Greek plays like those written by Euripides and Sophocles (the Greeks).

Westerns

Westerns are stories about the American West, usually set in the 19th century. They often feature gunslingers and cowboys, who defend civilization from a host of villains—usually outlaws or other lawless people. Westerns also tend to feature damsel in distress on their heroes’ side, as well as some sort of bad guy (usually an outlaw) whom they must defeat before saving the day for everyone else.

Musicals

Musicals are a genre of film that includes music and dance. They are often set in the past, have happy endings, and feature large casts of characters. The plots of musicals tend to be simple: usually there is only one central character who must overcome obstacles in order for love to triumph over all else.

Detective Films

Detective films focus on the actions of a detective who is investigating a crime. The detective is usually the main character, and uses clues and evidence to solve their case.

The detective can be either an amateur or professional investigator; some detectives are private investigators, while others work in police departments or other law enforcement agencies.

Film Noir

Film noir is a genre of film that uses film techniques to create the atmosphere of moral ambiguity. The term “noir” was originally used in France to describe films that used black-and-white cinematography, but it has come to denote a style of dark and pessimistic cinematic expression.

Film noir may be defined as:

• A genre that emphasizes psychological realism over melodrama, crime drama or horror; often featuring tough protagonists who are victimized by forces beyond their control (e.g., fate).

• A subgenre within a larger category such as psychological thriller or detective fiction .

Horror Films

Horror films are designed to scare the audience, and they can be set in any time period. They may take place in the present or near future, but they can also be set in the past. The horror genre is often associated with remote locations, but some films have been made that take place in ordinary settings like a house or apartment building.

Science Fiction Films

Science fiction is a genre of fiction that uses science as a main plot element. It can be used to explore philosophical and sociological issues, including the nature of humanity, technology and the future.

Science fiction films often have a dystopian or utopian setting, where people’s lives are changed by new discoveries in science and technology. The settings may include space travel or time travel (to different points in human history), alien invasions or other fantastic events that challenge our perception of reality.[1]

The Superhero Movie

The superhero movie is a popular genre and a great example of how a film can be both a genre film and blockbuster. The superhero movie often takes the form of comic books, with characters like Superman or Batman appearing on the big screen. These films are usually based on characters who have been around for decades, so they’re able to draw upon an established fan base when creating their own stories.

The plotlines in these films tend to be strong because they’re based on popular comic book series that have been around for many years (and sometimes decades). They’re also able to bring in new audiences through adaptations like Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy which took place during different time periods but had common themes throughout all three films: crime fighting against evil forces; family dynamics between parents and children; love triangles involving two men competing over one woman; etcetera.”

Takeaway:

As you can see, genre films are popular. They have a history, and they’re important to film studies and the film industry.

Conclusion

What is a genre film? It’s a movie that falls within one of many categories. Genre movies are often based on an existing story or character from another medium, such as literature or television. They can also be based on real life events like these examples (which I will explain in more detail later). The genre is what makes the story unique and gives it its own identity – so if you’re looking for something new to watch this summer season then check out some of these popular genres!