Essay Plans

Question One:Genre texts have sometimes been criticised for being predictable and unimaginative. Discuss.(January 06)

1st Paragraph-introduce the fact that films are sometimes predictable, but that is what audiences expect to see (codes and conventions) but however, directors do try to change it making it imaginable for audiences, depending on the particular genre of the film.

- talk about how audiences have certain expectations when watching a film. And how directors are just meeting the needs of their audiences. for example, through-out a horror film audiences expect there to be murders and blood and gore- otherwise it just wouldn't meet the typical conventions of a slasher film.

-talk about the fact that genre has actually changed over time, due to the fact that there are now changes in: target audience, changes in audiences expectations,censorship and codes of conduct

- talk about a the changes in society, ideologies, values and representations- and how this is changing films and making them more imaginable and not so predicable because there are less rules they have to follow. ( relate to slasher films in general, and how they have changed). for example pyhsco and switchblade romance- look at how time is making the genre different.

At the end.. look at the points why genre is seen as predictable and why it is not (look at both arguments) and then make a judgement for myself saying what i believe.

Question two:Genres Must Adapt In Order To Survive." Discuss. (June 04 b)

Opening Paragraph- talk about how genre in general changes to keep meeting the needs of their audience. - look at the fact that genre is reflecting the zeitgeist based on the changes in society.

-talk about the fact that even though audiences expect their films from the same genre to be similar and recognisable, they still expect variation.

-talk about censorship and audiences expectations changing. This is one of the reasons why films need to adapt.. keep needing to meet the expectations of audiences, to make money.

- talk about the ways genre is know changing. for example, the narrative is becoming more mulitable, i.e. making it less predicable. This is something that will appeal to audiences, as they like variation and new things.

-talk about the fact that even though there are certain elements which audiences expect and want to see in slasher films, they must still be original and unpredictable to do well, otherwise audiences will just get bored and not be interested no more.

Question 3:Account for the popularity of one genre of your choice. Illustrate your answer with examples. (June '03 b)

Talk about what genre I choose and why and how it has become popular (slasher genre)

-talk about how slasher films 1st became popular, because of Hitcocks, Psycho 1960, this was the grandaddy of slasher films, and made slasher films so popular to begin with.

-Talk about how the the 1970s slasher films became even more popular, because of Texas Chainsaw etc. -look at how audiences prefer this film because of the 'final girl' for example. talk about how audiences relate the film with certain icorogarphic images.

-sadistic pleasures that audiences get from slasher films, and this could be why they are so popular. audiences enjoy seeing others getting hurt, and get sadistic pleasures from this.

-franchise and sequels of films became popular, which audiences liked because there was no closure at the end of a film, and they would be waiting for the next film to be released so they can see whats happening next.

They are meeting the needs of their audiences. they are sticking to particular reporities of elements, but still being original which is something that audiences like. the film genre is creating new ideas of films, but still adding things which audiences can relate the genre to, for example Clovers 'final girl'.