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Genre
Media products can be classified into categories or genre. The word 'genre' comes from the French word meaning 'type' or 'class'. Media genres appear within a medium (film, television) such as the "horror" film or the television "situation comedy".
A genre can be recognised by its common set of distinguishing features (see discussion on codes and conventions). These features associated with a genre's style and content may be, for example, a particular setting, character types, technical codes (lighting or music). You may also find that some media texts blur genre boundaries.
Audiences recognise these features and therefore expect certain things. For example, at the end of a romantic comedy film the two lead characters will realise they are in love. Audiences may even select a text on the basis of its genre.
Producers market texts according to genre because a niche audience has already been identified as taking pleasure in that type of text.
However, a genre is not static – it changes all the time – resulting in hybrid (or sub-) genres and changing codes and conventions. There is also a relationship between genres and the societies in which they are created.
Related achievement standards
Level 2
Students who undertake media studies for NCEA at level 2 will analyse the distinguishing codes/conventions and the development of a genre. For more information, go to:
- Achievement Standard 91251 2.4 Demonstrate understanding of an aspect of a media genre.