2. Genres have characteristic features that are known to and recognised by audiences
This formula is reproduced again and again
3. Audiences develop an understanding that
certain expectations may be fulfilled and
they may find pleasure in predicting what
will happen next
4. Producers of generic
narratives depend on a
certain amount of
immediate
communication with the
audience
They want the narrative
to be easily
comprehensible
Genres that use key
components that are
easily recognisable are
particularly important
5. STOCK CHARACTERS
STOCK PLOTS, SITUATIONS, ISSUES
AND THEMES
STOCK LOCATIONS AND BACKDROPS
STOCK PROPS AND SIGNIFIERS
MUSIC AND SOUNDS
GENERIC CONVENTIONS
Key Components of Genre
6. Issues of Representation
All genres have issues of
representation that they are
often associated with.
For example;
In a Rom Com we may expect
archetypal characters such as:
1. Gay best friend
2. Guy who is unlucky in love
3. Hopeless romantic
4. Girl next door
It is important for your
coursework that you are familiar
with representations that are
often used in your genre.
These could be;
Characters
Places
Ideologies
Or even groups of people
7. TASK
AS YOU VIEW A GROUP OF TEXTS
FROM A PARTICULAR GENRE
MAKE
NOTES ON THEIR
COMMONALITIES IN
TERMS OF THE KEY
COMPONENTS OF
GENRE AND ANY ISSUES OF
REPRESENTATIONS
12. TASK
Create a powerpoint titled:
Researching Genre
Outline the repertoire of your chosen
genre (for print this is the type of
music your magazine will focus on).
Do this by identifying the key
components
of the genre.
You should create a slide for each key
component and representation and refer
to at least 3 different
texts from within your genre to back up
the point that you make.
Your final slide should be a detailed
summary of the things which your own
work must include to be of your chosen
genre.
BE REALISTIC– think about access to
locations, costumes etc.)