The Concept of Genre

What is Genre?
Genre is a set of conventions which is recognisable usually through iconography, familiar narrative,mise-en-scene, actors and the style of representation.  Genres are not static but constantly renegotiated between industry and audience.
However some people may argue the fact that genre is now dead. This could be because genre has been redeveloped many of times over the years that genre can now not be categorized. Genres are a creative strategy used by film producers. This ensures audience identification within a film.
Ways of considering genre:

• Genre is a way of working through myths and fears by repetition, variation and resolution.
• They offer comforting reassurance in an uncomfortable world. A way of tidying up the mess of life.
• Genre functions like a language- It has a set of rules and a volcabulary which helps to recognise the meaning of a film.

There is no specific type of genre- there are many. This is because it has evolved over many of years. In the present day we can now not categorize genre into one. Genre will now have several different categorises. For example if a film is two genres then we can call this a 'hybrid'. The genre of Comedy Romance is a hybrid as it can be split into a rom-com. Furthermore a sub-genre is when films are categorized into a genre that is separte and then put into the film.
Genre can be recognised through many different conventions that all help the target audience to understand the genre of the film in further depth. These include:

• Visual Imagery- Iconography
• The Plot
• Characters
• Setting
• Music and Stars
•  Modes of Narrative developement