Film genres: features, functions, evolution
This Interactive workshop aims at exploring the origin of genres, their functions in cinema and their evolution, with particular emphasis on the latest developments. We first ask why we need genres at all and examine the variety of classification criteria that can be used. Then we focus on the specific features of genre films, analysing their conventions and their narrative structures. We then explore how different agents (from producers to audiences, from critics to film scholars) have used and still use genres, and highlight their economic, sociocultural and communicative functions. Finally, by taking a historical perspective, we explore how genres have evolved in the course of time and how modern cinema extensively use genre mixing and hybridization, thus pointing to the future of this important but complex category of film analysis. Part of the www.cinemafocus.eu research materials.
This Interactive workshop aims at exploring the origin of genres, their functions in cinema and their evolution, with particular emphasis on the latest developments. We first ask why we need genres at all and examine the variety of classification criteria that can be used. Then we focus on the specific features of genre films, analysing their conventions and their narrative structures. We then explore how different agents (from producers to audiences, from critics to film scholars) have used and still use genres, and highlight their economic, sociocultural and communicative functions. Finally, by taking a historical perspective, we explore how genres have evolved in the course of time and how modern cinema extensively use genre mixing and hybridization, thus pointing to the future of this important but complex category of film analysis. Part of the www.cinemafocus.eu research materials.
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cinemafocus.eu
I generi cinematografici: caratteristiche, funzioni, evoluzione
Film genres: features, functions, evolution
UN MOMENTO PER RIFLETTERE
Il potere delle convenzioni di genere diventa
particolarmente evidente quando vengono
"violate", cioè quando formiamo aspettative
sulla base delle convenzioni, ma poi siamo
costretti a "riorientarle" alla luce di nuovi input,
o di nuovi elementi che compaiono sul schermo.
* Guarda i primi 60 secondi del Video 1 qui
sotto e poi ... STOP. A quale genere pensi
appartenga questo film? Elenca brevemente le
convenzioni che ti aiutano a formare aspettative
sul genere coinvolto.
* Ora continua a guardare il video. Le tue
aspettative sono cambiate? Perché, cioè quali
nuovi elementi vengono introdotti e sfidano la
tua attribuzione iniziale del film a un genere
particolare?
* Guarda il Video 2 qui sotto. Ancora una volta,
decidi a quale genere pensi appartenga il film e
fai un breve elenco delle convenzioni pertinenti.
* In entrambi i casi (Video 1 e Video 2) in che
modo la tua precedente conoscenza del film, del
regista, degli attori, ecc. ti ha aiutato a formare
le tue aspettative riguardo al genere coinvolto?
STOP AND THINK
The power of genre conventions becomes
particularly clear when they are "broken", i.e.
when we form expectations based on the
conventions, but are then forced to "re-orient"
them in the light of new input, or new elements
that appear on the screen.
* Watch the first 60 seconds of Video 1 below
and then STOP. What kind of genre do you think
this movie belongs to? Briefly list the
conventions that help you to form expectations as
to the genre involved.
* Now continue watching the video. Have your
expectations changed? Why, i.e. what new
elements are introduced and challenge your
initial attribution of the movie to a particular
genre?
* Watch Video 2 below. Again, decide which
genre you think the movie belongs to and make a
brief list of the relevant conventions.
* In both cases (Video 1 and Video 2) how has
your previous knowledge of the film, the director,
the actors, etc. helped you to form your
expectations as regards the genre involved?
1 2
(Note 8)
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