Genre and intertexuality

Genre and intertextuality

Genre- a type of media product governed by implicit rules that are shared by the makers of the product and the audience for it. 

Videogames genres:

• Horror 
• Sport 
• Action 
• Arcade
• Sci-fi
• Fantasy 
• Shooters
• Racing
• Music

Obscure genres:

• Giallo
• Danmaku Shooter
• Visual Novel
• Vaporwave
• Grindcore

Hybrid Genres- The mix of a few different genres to make its own genre. An example of this is grindcore as this is a mix of metal and punk. Another example is a Rom-Com. 

Sub-Genres-   a genre within genre. Slashers and Zombies are sub-genres within Horror. Also paranormal. 

Generic paradigms- the building blocks of genre

Genre paradigms, also known as genre conventions, are aspects of a media text 

(editing) that demonstrate to the audience what genre the media product is.

Iconography- the familiar signs of genre. 

Trailer for Utopia- 

• The genre of this Utopia is quite Comedic horror i think. I think the paradigms of the advert show this as they have a man dressed up as a rabbit which could be seen as quite funny.
• another paradigms which make this advert seem like a horror is that one shot seems like it is from a slasher film when it is closing in on an abandoned house. 
• Psychological Horror because of the hermauntic codes such as a hostage and the guy in his office looking at disturbing photos. 
• Utopia means perfect place so already we have a mystery due to it not looking like the perfect place as we have a lot of dodgy things going on.
• Could be black comedy as some people may find some of the stuff such as the people putting that guy in a gas mask. 
• Contrapuntal means against the genre. 

Intertextuality- is the shaping of texts meaning through referencing or alluding to other text. Text provide context within which other texts can be created or interpreted - reflecting the fluids boundaries or genre convention. An example is the marvel cinematic universe. Intertextuality involves the audience by making people feel involved by referencing other media texts so they can feel good because they understood the reference and also broaden the demographic of the target audience. 

Making fun of something serious to make people laugh. Adult films and its making it into something innocent for children. Comedy makes it easier to deal with things such as social issues and laughter is a really important thing. 

Key Theory 3- Steve Neale- theories around genre. 

Why does genre exist? 

• The genre exists so the producer can pick what the target audience wants and what appeals to them. 
• This could be cynical is there to make money.
• The media product is very simple and very manipulative just to get money. 

Who benefits from generic classification?

• Producer can benefit from the generic classification as they can use the conventions that are already there to base their product off.

What are some advantages of genre?

• If someone likes a horror film then people will begin to find more of that genre.
• If a producer wants to go down a certain root then people will be more likely to support it.
• The audience can pick what genre they want by and allows us to choose what we want to view.  

What are some disadvantages?

• It can provide an audience with certain expectations which could make peoples expectations challenged if they aren't met. Example Brad Pitt in a tree of life.

Steve Neale's theory is that genre is essentially instances of 'repetition and difference'. He suggested that the texts need to conform to some generic paradigms  to be identified with a certain genre but must also subvert these conventions in order to not appear identical.