How important is genre to film makers?
...a useful tool in the construction of texts. However, Hollywood also depends upon new films offering audiences something new and different from previous releases. Generic categories are able to do this because they are unfixed and are flexible enough to accommodate changes. 1.) Adult film: This sub-genre really began in 1970 as a sub-genre of Drama. They are films which explain human social and sexual values on a scale that only people over the age of 17 can really understand. Look for the NC-17, X, XXX and some R ratings. 2.) Atomic Age: This is a sub-genre of Science Fiction. It began almost as early as Science Fiction itself. It came about because of the Atomic bombs being used in the late 40's and 50's. I like to use the starting year as 1954, with the release of "Godzilla, King of the Monsters". This basically describes that the chief concept of the film is the end result of the use of atomic weapons, and that atomic weapons will be the end of us. 3.) Concert: Sub-genre of Musical. When a musical group has a concert filmed and released to theaters. 4.) Dark Humor: Sub-genre of comedy. When a serious subject has many comical undertones. 5.) Detective: Sub-genre of Suspense. Came out in the late 30's. The films of Dick Tracy are the best example. 6.) Disaster: Sub-genre of Action. Films which are made to show natural or mechanical disasters, with large death-tolls, that have befallen mankind. 7.) Espionage: Sub-genre of Action. Spy films, such as James Bond. 8.) Exploitation: This sub-genre has been around for a long time, but it too has not been consistent, and some people will tell you that is good. It really began to get strength in the 50's. This is an era that explains the worst about human beings in graphic detail. It is basically a sub-genre of all. 9.) Frontier: Sub-genre of Western. This kind of western is treated as a drama. There is minimal gun shooting and the chief concepts explored are the stories of the frontiersmen moving west in 19th century United States. 10.) Futuristic: Sub-genre of Science Fiction. Simply future-earth. 11.) Gangster: Sub-genre of Crime. Handles gangsters and prohibition. Takes place in the 1920's. This does not include films on the Mob or Mafia. You will find those elsewhere. 12.) Historical: Sub-genre of Drama. Explains something that happened in history. 13.) Holiday: Sub-genre of Family. Story that surrounds a holiday. Made mostly for children. 14.) Macabre: Sub-genre of Horror. Began in the sixties. Films that have a gothic feel to them. They deal with human beings, but have supernatural undertones. Examples are The Phantom of the Opera, films on Edgar Allen Poe, and selected works of Dario Argento. 15.) Magic: Sub-genre of Fantasy. Magical powers. 16.) Martial Arts: Sub-genre of Action. Films that come from Hong Kong or at least deal with the concepts of Kung-fu, Karate, etc. 17.) Mystery: Sub-genre of Suspense. Murder mysteries. Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes, etc. 18.) Police: Sub-genre of Crime. Films that deal solely with police activity.19.) Political: Sub-genre of Drama. Main plot-line is Politics. 20.) Prehistoric: Sub-genre of Science Fiction. Dinosaurs and lands from millions of years ago during earth's past. 21.) Romance: Sub-genre of Drama. The chief plot is about love and relationships. 22.) Slapstick: Sub-genre of Comedy. Vaudeville. Comedy teams. Physical Humor. 23.) Slasher: Sub-genre of Horror. Began in the late 60's. The actual term was not used until 1978 with the release of Halloween. The title refers to the murders and weapons of the main antagonist, and that the creators of such films use the blood and edged weapons as shock value. This sub-genre can be used in Science Fiction also. 24.) Social: Sub-genre of Drama. Deals with social issues of the world. 25.) Speculation: Sub-genre of Documentary. These documentaries are films about mysteries of the world such as Bigfoot, UFO's, etc. 26.) Spoof: Sub-genre of Comedy. When a film makes fun of a certain film genre. Examples are Airplane, and films by Mel Brooks. 27.) Stand-Up: A sub-genre of Comedy: When a stand-up comedian has his concert filmed and released in the theaters. 28.) Sword and Sorcerer: Sub-genre of Fantasy. Films that take place during the medieval times. Merlin the Magician and King Arthur. 29.) Terror: Sub-genre of Horror. No monsters. All human beings. Ex: Psycho. 30.) Thriller: Sub-genre of suspense. No Mystery. The audience still is gripped until the end. Hitchcock did a lot of these. Mixes of different genres (generic hybrids) can also bring about something new for the audience. Stars are obviously just as important to ways that films are made and sold as genre is. In fact the two things often go hand in hand and often work in the same way. It is just as likely that you will decide to go and see a film because of who is in it as because of the genre it is in. Also our reactions to the film are very often affected b...