Why are genres important? Discuss a television genre in term of its historical and ideological features
Question (5) Why are genres important? Discuss a television genre in term of its historical and ideological features.
Introduction
In general, genres points to the categories and subcategories of any sort of literature, art or entertainment based on some collective stylistic criteria. The term “genre” has been derived from the French language which literally means “type”, “kind” or “sort”. A famous media theorist Douglas Kellner has defined genre very precisely. Kellner explains genre refers to coded set of formulas and conventions indicating culturally accepted ways of organizing materials into distinct patterns (Kellner 1980). Genre is used to classify the mode of expression in the literary or art and entertainment works.
Genres may have various types depending on different factors, categories, subcategories, themes, plot of a literature, art, or entertainment contents. Broadly speaking the two important genres may be identified as literary genres and film and television genres. Further genres types may be named such as action, comedy, horror, satire, thriller, animation, live-action scripted, live-action unscripted, romance and in fact many more. However many times genres in work can’t be defined precisely and exactly. Sometimes a single work may be an amalgamation of two or more genres to make it more entertaining and exciting. It has been observed amalgamation of genres keep viewers more engaged and it attracts larger audiences.
Genres demonstrate the manifested messages, every artistic work, programs or show have the intention of spreading or giving out a clear message. Genres of the artistic works or programs clearly illustrate the manifested message of a work or program to the audience and depending on the genres being demonstrated in the programs or show, audiences can easily decide if it is worth watching or not. When audiences know about the genre(s) of media presentations or programmes, they hardly face any difficulty in understanding the
Introduction
In general, genres points to the categories and subcategories of any sort of literature, art or entertainment based on some collective stylistic criteria. The term “genre” has been derived from the French language which literally means “type”, “kind” or “sort”. A famous media theorist Douglas Kellner has defined genre very precisely. Kellner explains genre refers to coded set of formulas and conventions indicating culturally accepted ways of organizing materials into distinct patterns (Kellner 1980). Genre is used to classify the mode of expression in the literary or art and entertainment works.
Genres may have various types depending on different factors, categories, subcategories, themes, plot of a literature, art, or entertainment contents. Broadly speaking the two important genres may be identified as literary genres and film and television genres. Further genres types may be named such as action, comedy, horror, satire, thriller, animation, live-action scripted, live-action unscripted, romance and in fact many more. However many times genres in work can’t be defined precisely and exactly. Sometimes a single work may be an amalgamation of two or more genres to make it more entertaining and exciting. It has been observed amalgamation of genres keep viewers more engaged and it attracts larger audiences.
Genres demonstrate the manifested messages, every artistic work, programs or show have the intention of spreading or giving out a clear message. Genres of the artistic works or programs clearly illustrate the manifested message of a work or program to the audience and depending on the genres being demonstrated in the programs or show, audiences can easily decide if it is worth watching or not. When audiences know about the genre(s) of media presentations or programmes, they hardly face any difficulty in understanding the
References: Barry K. G. and Jeannette S. 1998, Documenting the Documentary: Close Readings of Documentary Film and Video, Wayne State University Press, Detroit. Grierson. J, 2012, “Postwar Patterns”. Hollywood Quarterly, vol. 1, no. 2: 160, available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1209557, accessed on: 09/02/2014 Kellner, D 1980, Television images, Codes and messages, Washington Community Video Centre. Miller, C 1984 ‘Genre as Social Action’, Quarterly Journal of Speech, vol. 70, pp. 151–67. Nicholos, B 2001, “Introduction to documentary’’, Indiana University Press, Bloomington. Kingsley. P , 2014, The Square: an Egyptian Oscar nominee that won 't be shown in Egypt, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/20/square-egypt-documentary-oscars-nominee-noujaim, posted on: 20th Jan, 2014, accessed on: 09/02/2014. Nichols. B 2009, History, Myth, and Narrative in Documentary, Film Quarterly, Vol. 41, No. 1 (Autumn, 2009), pp. 9-20, University of California Press, United States Silverblatt, A 2007, Genre studies in mass media: A Handbook, M.E. Sharpe, New York. Turan, K. 2011, "Documentary The Square, nominated for an Oscar, details life in an Egyptian crossroads". Chicago Tribune. Available at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-square-review-0117-20140116,0,7541213.story, accessed on: 09/02/2014. Hornaday, A ,2014, "‘The Square’ movie review: An exhilarating portrait of Egyptian politics". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 February 2014, available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-square-movie-review-an-exhilarating-portrait-of-egyptian-politics/2014/01/15/692ff142-7d49-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html, accessed on: 09/02/2014.