Theory: Genre

Edited version after being marked

'How does the concept of genre apply to your trailer'

The media product I am going to write about about is my groups summer horror trailer. Which is set in a abandoned building, Neale's theory states that theirs a set of pleasures for audience's. My horror trailer follows some of the conventions as it has some jump scares that will scare a audience, jump scares are a typical feature of horror films and trailers. It is giving them what they want as there watching a horror trailer. The expectations that a audience is looking for is to know that it is a horror film but also that there watching it to be scared and to feel something as they've clicked it. For example for a slasher they will want to see a masked antagonist, or lots of zombies depending on the sub-genre.

Chandler's theory about type is about whether it's recognisable as a horror, the audience should be able to identify the genre through it's conventions. Whether there is specific conventions like jump scares, creepy music in the background and cuts to black. An example of where it's recognisable is the use of non-diegetic sound of a heartbeat it connotes the intensity of the trailer and tells the audience it's about suspense. As well as the low-key lighting throughout the trailer which is typical of horror films and trailers. Something that my group could have done differently is that the sub-genre was slasher however there wasn't a phallic object like a knife or a bat that makes it recognisable.

Rick Altman argues that genre offers the audience a set of pleasures emotional, intellectual and visceral. The trailer has conventions of the intellectual pleasure as it leaves questions unanswered, especially as you don't know what will happen to the male. However there aren't enough typical conventions for visceral pleasure which is to make them feel a physical emotion for example feeling it in there stomach and emotional pleasure for it to convey what a horror trailer should should be which is to make the audience jump.

My groups horror trailer has elements of Abercrombie's theory where he states genre is dismantling the boundaries becoming permeable this is about genres being able to mix and not be completely put into one sub-genre or category. For example are horror genre is slasher however the use of camera shots looking like a friend is filming. For example it has a shake and makes it look hand held.  It has aspects of thriller as they go exploring and the audience is made to feel like anything can happen. This therefore shows that Abercrombie's theory about post modernism for genre is relatable and can still tell and make a recognisable horror trailer.

Mittells genre theory also applies to my trailer as he talks about audiences having a choice when watching a trailer as they know they are picking to watch a horror and not a comedy. When watching  the audience can tell it's a horror trailer based on that it follows similar horror conventions, the close ups of the antagonist, background music and low key lighting. These conventions along with mis-en-scene create tension and atmosphere that allows the audience to be scared if theirs a jump scare and to be curious of who the masked figure is in the background.