Genre Analysis

When analysing a film there are two approaches that you can take, these are genre analysis and Auteur Theory.  Having specific genres helps to categorise texts               and is a way of defining codes and conventions for a particular text. Using the 7 key area guidelines for genre analysis, you start to develop an analysis which is relevant and identifies only the important and useful characteristics of a film. They help you to distinguish what is used and why and if there are any messages and theories behind why certain things are used.

Auteur Theory on the other hand is much more in depth in the way they consider whether the director of a film is more of an author to it than the writer of the screenplay.  It originated from France and became a recognised cinematic debate in the 1950’s.  What makes Auteur Theory different from genre analysis is the way people recognise films because of the person who directed it. Quentin Tarantino for example has made high-grossing films over the years and can be considered as an auteur. Nowadays, audiences’ recognise his films because of his own unique style and not because of the genre. Other directors considered as auteur's are Francis Ford Coppola and Wes Craven.  

Genre analysis is broken down in to 7 key areas which are codes and conventions, setting, character, themes, narrative, iconography and ideological messages. In media texts codes are a system of signs or symbols that are used to communicate meaning and are technical and symbolic based. These can include camera techniques, framing, lighting, objects and setting, conventions are the meanings extracted from the codes. In the horror genre these types of films are made to scare and alarm the audience.  Although their aim is for us to be frightened the audience still get a sense of enjoyment from it because we watch these films in the comfort and safety of our own home or in the cinema.

In this essay I shall analyse films from the genres of horror, teen comedy and action. They all have their individual rules that make them what they are, and I will go in to detail on what each of them mean to a particular type of genre. Without codes and conventions, nobody would know what they’re looking for that makes up a genre, so it will be interesting to see what lies in each one, and what has been considered the normal rules.

The narrative for a horror film has become obvious over the years due to there being so many different ones but they all have the same sort of structure, the main device is the feeling of fear. Somewhere in the beginning of a horror film, something happens to the person to make them feel low or upset. Further bad things may start to happen to this person and at the end of the film there will be a final consequence of all these actions. Different horror films have different fears they try to address and most often it can heighten our own fears of something in our lives. Our fears can include vulnerability, fear of death or injury, fear of creatures/insects and many other things. The way objects are placed and the camera techniques used to create these senses of fear in the audience which build up suspense and these are the conventions of the codes used for horror.

Particularly in horror films, the mise en scene can play a crucial part in many stories. In the 2004 film Saw, we see the actions of a serial killer lock people up in confined spaces. They must follow rules and objectives if they wish to survive but tasks along the way also have deadly consequences.

In the clip above, we see the bathroom scene in Saw, you can clearly see how little room there is and the two male characters are both shackled to pipes in either corner. The expressions on their faces show fear and desperation to escape what they are involved with. The further the clip goes on the more you see how the confined space affects them, it looks very suffocating to the eye and you really get drawn in to the danger aspects.

The use of confined spaces in the lairs creates a sense of no escape and we foresee a characters potential death that is the fear that it makes us feel and 8 times out of ten you would be right to think that. The characters in this genre of film are often teenagers or young people, this may be because they are stereotyped as vulnerable and can fall victim to something very easily. In one of the characters houses’ it is decorated with many shades of red, this indicates blood and a sense that something bad is going to happen.

Themes that run through Saw are those such as torture, punishment and death although the characters haven’t done anything specific to have been subjected to this ordeal. The serial killer gets a thrill from torturing these innocent people it comes down to them being unlucky and falling into this trap where it’s life or death. This makes us question if something has happened in the killers life to make him act the way he does, and you start to think of reasons and messages behind why he might do those things.

Iconography is hard to discuss in this type of film but what I can gather from it is that the serial killers ‘office’ so to speak looks familiar of that to a science lab. We don’t know much about him but I think it’s one of those situations where you can make your own mind up as different audiences could think many different things.  In my opinion he could be a doctor or in the medical profession because of the use of chemicals and medical instruments. Throughout the 8 Saw films, there is continued use of medical equipment and tools such as syringes and saws. You would expect a doctor to be a role model and someone you look up to, but in this case he wants to take complete control and call the shots on whether they live or die. This is a very different side to a person that is supposed to save your life and care you for in the best way possible.

The only ideological messages that I can gather from Saw is the use of death and torture. Every day on the news, we see new stories about how people are murdered in all different countries. The mind of this serial killer is that of some of the most dangerous criminals out there. I think it gives an insight in to what goes on in these sorts of situations, because although we don’t want to believe it, it does happen in real life and people have to recognise this.

In contrast to horror, I’ll now look at teen comedy and analyse a film that falls in to the criteria. Teen comedy is a sub-genre of comedy and is very relatable in the way that if you’re a teenager, then you can understand the narrative more, therefore you’re more interested in the film. The narrative of a teen comedy ideally revolves around relationships and teen culture i.e.: music, sports. The structure is very typical of that of a comedy, you normally first meet the characters during a memorable moment or embarrassing situation, and from then on they may be teased about it. The main character will in some way be socially awkward and they try their best to be noticed and gain popularity, or enter a relationship that will grab attention that way. They are very determined because they want to fit in.

There is a process in teen comedies where the main character(s) grow up to be more mature and level-headed about situations. They make right choices and become more educated. An example of exactly this is American Pie (1999). The American Pie films are one of the best (popular) teen comedies as they really capture the trials and tribulations of teenage life. They capture it in such a way that it’s almost impossible that it would happen in real life, often exaggerated. But as a teenager watching it, it’s relatable in the same way. You might have felt the same emotions as a certain character, or been in a similar situation. From The first American Pie film, up until the last One American Pie: The Reunion (2012), it is one big growing up process and you come to see how much they have changed for the better and faced their challenges.

The main theme running through this particular film is sex. The main character Jim played by Jason Biggs is obsessed with sex, But what he really wants is to lose his virginity. Jim and his friends make a pledge that they will bed someone within three weeks before their prom. Throughout the film, this is the main aim/story and the ending of the film all comes down to whether they achieve what they want. This sort of attention on sex in a film shouldn’t be used to pressure teenagers in to doing it, and some people could argue that it’s not acceptable. But it is used in a way that when it comes down to it, it’s not all as it seems and there is no reason for it to have a negative effect on audiences.



The other theme is high school, and the challenges we face as teenagers. This is why it appeals to this age demographic the most. High school is a key event in most people’s lives, so to see this on-screen, with comedy incorporated in to it, it’s embarrassingly funny and that’s what makes people love it so much.  Within high school you have different ‘cliques’ or social groups. In this case is identifying jock culture and social awkwardness between the popular and the losers.

The mise en scene of the film is in high school, and at some of the characters houses’. From this, we see insights in to their home life, as well as school. The typical teenager argues with their parents, can’t get what they want, do what they shouldn’t, and this gives us the chance to see the students break rules, be young, make their own mistakes, and live their life. The setting of high school gives a sense of freedom, yet when the shots are in their houses, it’s more of a controlled environment where they can’t do much. They are isolated in a way, and are different people when around friends or family members. This also shows that as a teenager, you can’t act in front of your parents, how you’d act around your friends. These are the conventions that we expect from a teen comedy, and we as an audience would be disappointed in a teen comedy if it didn’t have all its qualities.

There is no apparent iconography that is visible in American Pie, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. The 7 key areas are there as a guide and not all films will use all 7 of them. With the American Pie films, what you see is what you get. It’s the typical teen comedy that is bound to have you in hysterics. Also, there is no event in the world or the news where something out of this film has happened, you can’t pinpoint something as significant when it happens on a daily basis, and it basically becomes reality and appears normal. This is the reason why I can’t see any ideological messages within American Pie.

I’ve analysed films in the horror and teen comedy genres, so now I’ll be looking at the action genre. Action based films are very fast moving, there is always something going on and they build up a rush of adrenaline in the audience. A prime example of an action movie is the classic James Bond in Quantum of Solace. Unlike all the old James Bond films, played by the likes of Sean Connery and Roger Moore, Quantum of Solace uses a more modern actor who pulls off the role very well, and that is Daniel Craig. The main thing that I want to analyse in this film is the representation of women and if they are objectified in any way. I’m also going to look at the conventions of the action genre to see whether objectifying women is part of it, and why if it is.

When we hear the words ‘Bond Girl’, an image comes in to our heads of an attractive woman dressed beautifully, capturing the attention mainly of men, but also everyone around her. I think that influences in the growth of women and how important they are, changes how people respond and represent women.  The role of women has changed greatly in society, they have earned equal rights. Focusing on the character M, changing from house wives and jobs of a secretarial nature to the head of M.I.6 secret services, and a treasurer of the bank of England. Creating the idea that women have an equally powerful influence on society just as much as men do.

In the original Bond films, women’s roles were mainly to be beautiful and subservient to 007 however this has changed more increasingly as the series has continued, representing them as more independent and influential. The change in the character of ‘M’ from a middle aged typical British man, and older lady played by Judie Dench shows the development of women in the industry, gaining more important roles and more importantly seeming to be more successful. ‘M’ also shows her ability to defend her sexuality, and show her superiority over some high positioned men, for example the head of the navy told her ‘Sometimes I don’t think you have the balls for this job’ she calmly replied ‘well at least I don’t have to think with them all the time’. ‘Dr No’ shows women as mainly idols in secretarial positions whereas the later films show the head of British secret services as a woman, and in ‘Casino Royale’ the treasurer of the bank of England.

Olga Kuylrenko is the woman who plays Camille Montes in Quantum of Solace, and she is the famous ‘bond girl’ in this movie. She is a feisty and strong character and alongside Bond himself, they make a great team on their mission. In this particular film, Bond and Camille don’t have a sexual relationship, whereas previous older films, they would share a kiss, and possibly end up spending the night together. This shows the significance in how much these types have films have progressed over the years, and now they’ve learnt that there doesn’t need to be that sexual relation. This also represents women as the strong, independent people they are, and not just a sex symbol.  As characters, they have both been hurt in the past and with too many feelings in the way, there isn’t time to spare to even think about sharing a kiss. There is no denying in the film that they are close, but with too much pain and hurt behind them, it’s a big risk for both of them to take. All in all I think this comes down to respect.

There are parts in this film where she is under certain control and she was disrespected by the people who killed her family. The bad guys hold her arm like they are pulling her along, almost as if she is with them against her will. Her vulnerability shines through, but once she is in the presence of James Bond, she is much more comfortable and very strong. Overall I don’t think they are objectified, society has learnt to accept that women are equally as strong and respected as men are, and there is no reason why a man should dominate a woman in this way. 

The expectations of a Bond film are very obvious and repetitive. Everyone who watches these films have pre-conceived notions about what’s going to happen, due to the generic nature of James Bond films. When a Bond film is released, it becomes a big Hollywood blockbuster because that’s what people are used to now. When a series of films have been running for almost 50 years, and the way they are filmed is what you’ve always known, it’s hard to expect anything else. If a new bond film was released and a fuss wasn’t made, then there would be something undeniably wrong with the way they’ve constructed the film, to the genre that it’s supposed to follow.

In comparison to James Bond, a completely unconventional action film is Leon: Le Professional. Not knowing what to expect when I watched this is what made it exciting to watch, and I really enjoyed in the end. It’s a different sort of action movie, in the way that emotions are displayed throughout the characters, and you see sides of them that you wouldn’t expect.  The little girl, Mathilda played by Natalie Portman, pulls off a roll very deep for a 12 year old to deal with. Her ability in the film to relate to others through facial expressions, gestures and body language is impressive and displays the type of girl she is, even though she is young. Leon on the other hand, is very organized in what he does; he has his daily routines such as shower, a glass of milk then a workout. This shows the mental stability he needs to carry out his job as a hit man and help repress his emotions.

I briefly mentioned Auteur Theory, and I now want to put it in to use by talking about the director of Leon, Luc Besson. Luc Besson used his individual style to produce a film that no one had seen anything similar to. It was a big hit in many different countries, even though some scenes had to be deleted before it was aired in the UK. This showed the attitude of the countries in the way that the film didn’t affect them, and felt that it did no harm. Whereas audiences in the UK were appalled at how some sections of the story was planned out. 

In the clip is one of the deleted scenes, in which Mathilda is wearing the dress that he bought her with his money he got from Tony, his boss. She goes on to talk about ‘A girls first time’ and how it should be special with someone you love. She hints towards Leon that she wants him to be her first time, and he instantly declines. I can see why this part of the film was frowned upon in the UK and banned. Some can argue that she may have developed more of a relationship in her head than him, but this relationship comes down to a barrier of trust between a grown man and I little girl, but is very similar to a father daughter relationship.

The way he structured this film resulted him putting his artistic merit in to use, before thinking about the commercial success that the film could make. This one of the qualities of an Auteur and Besson falls in to it perfectly, and that is what makes him unique. In the scene where Mathilda is knocking on Leons’ door, the simplest shot would be to film him opening the door, instead we see light illuminating on her face, which symbolizes something angelic, and the moment has so much more meaning.

It’s often thought that directors use special effects and other things to perfect their film and please the audience, but Luc Besson did the complete opposite, and consequently, ended up with a strong, emotional, action film. Due to his efforts and demonstration of technical excellence, he produced an original movie that nobody could ever come close to nowadays. Its unconventionality is what makes this film special, and it can’t be reproduced like James Bond movies can.

There are many directors in the film industry now that can be considered Auteurs, and Luc Besson was just one of them. It’s down to patterns and themes that you see throughout a specific person’s filmography, which determines whether they can be labeled in that way. Throughout all the films I’ve discussed and explained in this essay, it’s clear to see their individuality through the stories, but the same stamp throughout them all.