Genre

 Task 1: Genre factsheets

Read Media Factsheet 03 - Genre: Categorising texts and answer the following questions:

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

Mise-en-scene of space usually signifies the sci-fiction genre.

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

Genres tend to have typical plot lines and the way they're presented could shift what genre it is such as a family with domestic and work related conflict could either be a light hearted sit-com or a dramatic soap opera.

3) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell? 

Films can be categarised as period or country, director, technical Process, e.g. Animation, style, series and audience.

4) List three ways genre is used by audiences.

Genre is used by audiences to make guess based off prior knowledge, comparing two texts in the same genre, use knowledge to reject a genre, frames readers interpretation of the text.

5) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.

Genres are used by audiences as templates, attract an audience, marketing a text.

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.

Avengers assemble, arrow-verse, agents of shield, Gotham, Scott Pilgrim vs the world. 

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

The superhero genre seems to follow modern crisis' and issues in the world at the time such as a lot of older heroes, such as superman fought European "bad guys" for metropolis in the comics, clearly mirroring the issue of growing Nazism and criticising America for taking the back foot and not getting involved in European affairs.

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

Innovation- Convention and visual codes of the genre were established via comics mostly in the 40's. 

Classical- These codes and convention were solidified and replicated in film and TV of the time.

Parody- Many humorous versions of these beloved heroes were released in the late 60's, such as Batman(1966), Spider-man animated adventures, Mighty Mouse, Atom Ant and Captain Caveman. 

Deconstruction- Superman(1978) brought about a period of innovation with special effects, technology and realistic looking "miracles" creating new, intresting ideas within the genre.


Task 2: Genre analysis case study

Carry out your own genre analysis using the model provided by media theorist Daniel Chandler. Choose a film or TV text and answer the following questions - brief answers/bullet point responses are fine:

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

I enjoy the series and have watched it recently.

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

Superhero genre.

3) What is your experience of this genre?

My experience with the genre is varied but mostly positive.

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

It follows the x-men struggling to persevere after professor X's passing , a famous face for mutants worldwide and a staunch activist for peace between to groups, and the fallout of a stark increase of mutant hatred rising across the globe, especially due to the actions of a rogue terrorist mutant, magneto, it explores themes of prejudice, conflict and complexities of diplomacy and reactive violence, weaponisation of bigotry, references to historical injustices such as enslavement, oppression and genocide of marginalised groups.

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

Yes it does reinforce the conventions of the genre but also subverts it in a way through its shameless exploration of more progressive themes.

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

To follow some form of everyday conflict or injustice.

7) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where - try imdb.com if unsure)?

Action epic, adult animation, adventure epic, epic ,hand-drawn animation, political drama, sci-fi epic, soap opera, superhero and action.

8) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?

This media text has typical conventions such as a superhero team and struggle to easily fulfil their work as justice keepers and heroes due to government and legal intervention.

9) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?

It stretches the conventions of the genre as many of the characters that make up the x-men are not paragons of good and heroism unlike typical superhero media, they seem willing to go past the reasonable lines of morality for personal choices.

10) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?

This text is very progressive and centres themes of societies othering of many marginalised groups such as people of colour and queer communities.

11) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?

Soap operas due to its in depth deep dive on these characters lives, development and motivations intertwining in comparison to the typical stories of bringing hope and saving innocent members of public.

12) What familiar motifs or images are used?

One recurring motif is one of facing inner and outer demons and conflict, it even physically manifests as an all powerful creature, deadly sickness and loss of personal powers for some characters.

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)?

Adults and older teens which is typical of the genre.

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

None?

3) What interests does it assume you have?

Interest in superheroes and particularly the x-men as this is a sequel series.

Relationship to other texts
1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)? Intertextuality is when a media product references another media text of some kind.

There are many Easter eggs, cameos and references to a variety of different x-men comics, through visual and narrative callbacks, even though the series isn't necessarily comic accurate, such as, the inclusion of Captain America, Iron-man, Doctor Strange and the inclusion of the daily bugle and stark industries, and the fact that every outfit the characters wear is drawn from somewhere in the comics.

2) In terms of genre, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?

Teen Titans.

3) What key features are shared by these texts?

They're both in the same hero genre with some elements of seriousness and camp storytelling.

4) What major differences do you notice between them?

Despite the serious aspects of Teen Titans, it's a show aimed towards teenagers with a teenage ensembe cast in comparison to X-men '97, that is gear towards adults.