Question 1b: Genre

Sample Question: "A genre is ultimately an abstract conception rather than something that exists empirically in the world." Explain how you used considerations of genre in the creation of one of your production pieces.

If question 1b in Section A (Theoretical Evaluation of Production) asks you about your use of genre, try to break it down into the four key concepts of media studies:

1. Media Languages, Forms and Conventions

the codes and conventions of different genres
the historical origins and development over time
the construction of realism and other codes
the strengths and weaknesses of genre theory

2. Media Institutions
production line approach to genre associated with specific studios
pre-/post production, distribution, and exhibition
genre as marketing tool.

3. Media Audiences
Pleasures and expectations
audience identification
fans and cults
genre as ‘contract’.

4. Media Representations
character types - stereotypes and archetypes
representations of gender, race, nationality, age, sexuality etc
ideological dominant values typecasting and genre as a ‘reading’ device.