Research
Common conventions of a Horror movie, There is usually a killer which is either a cursed entity or someone who has been possessed by an evil spirit and has gone insane, there is also a female character who is also know as the 'final girl' who survives unlike the rest of the side characters. There would also be a fast paced score, this is usually to build tension between the characters. There are many props for example in 'Scream' [2022] the killer Ghostface often brandishes a knife at their victims.
Action movies are commonly set in cites or towns and other urban areas. This is so that the audience feel the same sort action that the main character themselves will feel, this is more easily achieved in urban cities than in a rural area such as the countryside. The main themes of action movies are also good vs evil and usually the main character/protagonist is the good person and the antagonist is evil. There may also be minor romance as well, such as Thor: Love and Thunder and Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Romance films/shows usually have bright and warm lighting, this is often used to reflect the characters emotions and how they are feeling at the time. For example, if a character is feeling sad then there is usually a dark or blueish tint in the lighting in order to communicate to the audience who the characters are feeling and in contrast if a character is feeling happy or in love the lighting is almost always bright. There are also two main characters who are almost always 'destined' for each other but often have to under go heartbreak or suffering in order to be together. For example Myung-hee and Hee Tae from 'Youth of May' must deal with his strict father as he does not approve of their relationship. There is either a happily ever after ending like in 'Flower of Evil' as he gets to end up with his wife and daughter or a sad ending such as 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo' where Haesoo has to go back to her own time and does not end up with Wangsoo.
Comedy shows/films can be set anywhere, however they are usually set in high schools and most of the time the area is quite rural. For example 'Extraordinary You' and 'True Beauty' which is are both Rom-coms are set mostly in high school and is centred around high school students. This is also seen with Reply 1988. Establishing shots are used often in order to communicate to the audience where the characters are. They may also use natural or lowkey lighting.
A Dramatic films/shows usually showcases the life of a character or person, fictitious or real, it shows the audience the character at their best and their worst moments in life. For example 'Normal People' explores Marianne and Connell's growth as people. It is often realistic and is usually set in mundane locations based on the character and where the live. It has many sub-genres such as crime, period dramas which are usually set in an older period of time, horror, melodrama and romantic drama. The plot may often used to address social issues such as in 'Pachinko' which address the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Sci-fi films/shows are either set in another world, the future or the past and they most likely involve time travel or aliens. Sci-fi films can also be based on a dystopian or utopian world This gives the viewers a different perspective, one that they are not used to seeing from. There may also be new political systems such as in 'Star Wars' as they have a Galactic Republic or in 'The Hunger Games' which have a the government of Panem which is a totalitarian one. Sci-films also have battles between good and evil which is often commentary on real life issues. They also have futuristic weapons which is in order to show the advancement of society and how it has progressed.
Fantasy films and shows always have one main character who has a destiny that they need to fulfil or they need to search for something and defeat it such as Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Frodo Baggins. It also has themes of good vs evil and leads to the main character discovering something about themselves. The main characters of this genre are typically white men. The other themes of this genre are love, friendship and coming of age.
Theory
Romance
Semiotics is the idea that texts communicate their means through symbols rather than saying it directly, we often see this displayed in romance films as they use semiotics to communicate a message to the audience. Such as in Tune in for Love, the bakery is often used in scenes where Mi-soo and Hyun-woo are together. In order to convey its message or meaning, film "represents" or manipulates this reality in this way. This increases the tension between the audience and what is going to be displayed on the screen as the audience need to decode what is going on for themselves.
Narratology states that all media texts such as films, books and tv shows follow a similar basic structure that moves from one equilibrium to the next. This can be applied to any genre. For example in a romance film/tv show the typical narrative would be: the couple meets, they get to know each other, they fall in love, they meet some hardship that stops them from being together but they manage to sort it out and end up together.
Structuralism is the idea that media texts can be understood further by trying to to read through their deeper meaning. This can be helpful when trying to decode the meaning behind a tv show/film or book that relies heavily on semiotics. Films such as The Handmaiden dir. Park Chan-wook rely on structuralism and often leave the audience messages that they need to find the meaning behind.
Genre is something that every single media text falls under. This helps the audience to understand and identify the genre if they see the same sort of features and characters but altering it to fit the plot. This links back to Neale's theory of repetition and difference. This is seen in films such as The Notebook and Tune in for Love, because they are romance films they follow the same narrative and plot line as many other romance films. This allows the audience to understand what genre it falls under.
Horror
Semiotics is the theory that writings convey their meaning through symbols instead of speaking it explicitly. Romance movies frequently use semiotics to convey a message to the audience. Age, for instance, frequently serves as a symbol for innocence in the film X. Due to the audience's need to figure out what is happening for themselves, there will be more tension between them and what will be shown on the screen.
Narratology asserts that the fundamental structure of all media materials, including novels, movies, and television shows, is a progression from one equilibrium to the next. This is true for any genre. For instance, the traditional plot of a horror movie or television show might go as follows: the protagonist first faces a peril, then tries to overcome it, and then escapes from it.
Structuralism is the notion that attempting to read through a media text's deeper meaning might help one better understand it. This can be useful when attempting to interpret the meaning of a TV show, movie, or book that primarily use semiotics. Films like Pearl, focus on structuralism and frequently leave audience members with meanings that they must decode for themselves.
Genre is something that every single media text falls under. This helps the audience to understand and identify the genre if they see the same sort of features and characters but altering it to fit the plot. This links back to Neale's theory of repetition and difference. This is seen in films such as Pearl and Scream, because they are horror films they follow the same narrative and plot line as many other horror films. This allows the audience to understand what genre it falls under.
Action
Semiotics is the idea that texts express meaning implicitly through symbols rather than verbally. Semiotics is widely used in action movies to communicate a message to the viewer. The action movie Thor: Love and Thunder frequently explores themes of family and love. There will be more tension between the audience and what is portrayed on the screen since the audience needs to understand what is happening for themselves.
Narratology states that a transition from one equilibrium to the next forms the basis of all media materials, including books, films, and television programmes. Whatever the genre, this is true. An action movie's three-act structure, for instance, frequently describes the pattern of exposition, escalating action, and climax in a narrative.
Structuralism is the idea that one might be able to better grasp a media text by seeking to read through its underlying meaning. This can be helpful when trying to decipher the meaning of a television programme, film, or book that heavily relies on semiotics. Films like Chloe Zao's The Eternals, which focuses on structuralism, frequently leave viewers with meanings that they must interpret on their own.
Genre is something that every single media text falls under. This helps the audience to understand and identify the genre if they see the same sort of features and characters but altering it to fit the plot. This links back to Neale's theory of repetition and difference. This is seen in films such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, because they are horror films they follow the same narrative and plot line as many other horror films. This allows the audience to understand what genre it falls under.
Sci-Fi
Semiotics is the idea that symbols rather than words convey meaning in texts. Semiotics are frequently utilised in science fiction films to convey meaning to the audience.In order to convey its message or meaning, the film "represents" or manipulates this reality in this manner. The tension between the audience and what will be shown on the screen grows as a result of the audience's need to figure out what's going on for themselves.
Narratology states that all media texts such as films, books and tv shows follow a similar basic structure that moves from one equilibrium to the next. This can be applied to any genre. For example in a sci-fi film the typical narrative would be: the couple meets, they get to know each other, they fall in love, they meet some hardship that stops them from being together but they manage to sort it out and end up together.
Structuralism is the idea that attempting to decipher their deeper meaning can help readers better comprehend media texts.When trying to figure out the meaning of a book, movie, or television show that heavily uses semiotics, this can be helpful.Movies like "The Witch"The Witch and the Subversion, Part 1:Part 2.The Other One frequently rely on structuralism and frequently leave messages for the audience to decipher.
Genre is a category that applies to each and every media text.If the characters and features are changed to fit the plot, this helps the audience understand and identify the genre.This is related to Neale's theory of difference and repetition.This is evident in movies like The Witch:The Witch and the Subversion, Part 1:Part 2.The Other One, and because they are science fiction films, they adhere to the same narrative and plot as numerous other science fiction films.This lets the audience know what genre it belongs to.
Narrative
Enigma Code: The Enigma Code is simply a theory that suggests a text (whether that can be television, film or a poster) portrays a mystery to draw an audience in. This allows the audience to pose questions and as such become intrigues in the piece.
Barthes identifies five different kinds of semiotic elements that are common to all texts. He gathers these signifiers into five codes: Hermeneutic, Proairetic, Semantic, Symbolic, and Cultural.
Linear/Non Linear: Linear narrative is the most common form of narration, where events are largely portrayed in a chronological order, that is, telling the events in the order in which they occurred.
A nonlinear narrative is a storytelling device that portrays events of a story out of chronological order, e.g., in reverse order or going back and forth between past and future events.
Source: Wikipedia & VCG Harvard
Multi-Strand Narratives: Many works are made up of multiple narrative strands. Instead of a single hero and a group of supporting characters, a narrative with multiple strands can have two or more isolated groups of characters existing at once. For example, the comic book series X-Men does not have one central hero, but many.
Source: PenAndThePad
Serial Narrative/Series Narrative : Serial fiction is literature that is released in sequential instalments, much like the format of an episodic TV show.
Series Narrative is a narrative, story or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travelogue, etc.) or fictional (fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller, novel, etc.).
Source: Masterclass & Wikipedia
Flexi-Narrative: This challenges audiences and keeps them curious about how the many narratives will develop. This type of narrative tends to have complex characters that are ambiguous which creates tension and mystery.
Source: BBC Bitesize
Episodic drama: Scenes are episodic, which means they stand alone and are constructed in small chunks, rather than creating a lengthy and slow build of tension. Dramatic theatre has a linear narrative which means its events happen in chronological order.
Source: BBC Bitesize
Unrestricted Narrative/Restricted Narrative: Unrestricted narration is when the viewer knows more than the character (but seldom everything), which helps build suspense. Restricted narration limits the viewer to what characters know (or less?), which helps create greater curiosity in the viewer and can lead to surprise. Restricted narration is seen when a movie is filmed from the point of view of only one character making it, due to this us as the audience only know as much as they do.
Core Assessment
GENRE #1: HORROR.
GENRE #2: SCI-FI.
PROPOSAL.
NARRATIVE.
LEARNING AIM B
PLANNING DOCS
