Genre Research Task
1)Choose a genre
2)Outline the repertoire of generic elements (make sure you include exactly what it is that makes it the genere it is)
3)Give examples of typical products from this genre
4)How has this genre acheived repetition and difference? Give examples
5)Chart the genre's historical development (its popularity, its changing identity hybridity)
1) Horror
2) One of the repetoires of generic elements of a horror film is that there is often a location in which is typically seen as a place where you would not want to be e.g. abandoned house, cabins etc. Darkness is also a generic signifier as the darkness has connotations of death and is used to frighten the audience. Music is used in the background to build the tension as the anticipation of something scary happening arises. There is almost always a character who terrorises other characters in horror films as this makes the genre more realistic.
3) Typical products from this genre are paranormal films such as paranormal activity, the conjuring and grave encounters. Other products are not made to make you jump and are more gory instead such as hostel, the human centipede and silence of the lambs.
4) The genre has achieved repetition as there are sequels such as paranormal activity and hostel where the same things are happening in different places. Also repetition occurs as there are many films made to be like other films that have been successful e.g. The conjuring was made on the basis of the success of paranormal activity.
5) The horror genre has developed massively due to advances in technology. This means that more dramatic music is used and things can be made a lot scarier even the look of characters and ghosts can also be included using effects with computers. These advances aloud more horror films to made that are different and are more unique. It's popularity has grown over the years as more people are aware of this genre however some people are put off watching horrors as it is not for everybody's taste.