Mind Map 1: Genres and Examples

Here we created a mind map of all the genres. This was because as a group we decided it would help us select the genre we were going to create. Also we gathered examples of that genre to help us understand that genre. Therefore we used films that we had watched and remember to help us pick out the differences. However some films now use more than one genre and work with a few to create a new type of genre and to show a different creative ability. Also some film genres may have several sub-genres which help seperates the huge amount of films in that genre.

Here is Black Swan, this is an example of a thriller genre. This thriller is psychological. This type of thriller uses suspense, tension, and excitement as the main elements. Also thrillers are often based around stimulating the viewers mood for example: high levels of anticipation, anxiety, uncertainty and terror.

As Black Swan is an example of a psychological thriller there are such themes as: confinement, horror of personality and obsession. Which help to build the suspense and terror of the film.

Here is the first of the Pirates of the Caribbean this is an example of an action genre. An action genre is were one or more characters are thrown into to face a serious of challenges, that require physical attributes. In this film this is shown through extreme fights and often were the lead character: Captain Jack Sparrow is trying to escape.  The also contain life threatening situations to appeal to the suspense and excitement of the audience.

Here is the genre of comedy and the example being The Hangover. A comedy's main emphasis is based around humour and the want to make the audience laugh. Comedies are meant to be light-hearted and entertaining. The often exaggerate elements such as: situations, the way in which someone speaks and actions of the characters are usually seen to be over the top.

Here is an example of a musical. The musical being Chicago, a musical is simply were songs are sung by characters and are woven into creating the narrative. The songs are usually used to sustain the plot and develop the characters. For example certain songs will help to make the characters personality stand out.

  Billy The Kid is a classic Western genre. They are often defined as films that are based in the American West and is based around the spirit, struggle and demise of a new frontier. Westerns will often have conflicts between native Americans or bandits. They also often end in the hero winning.

Here is an example of a rom-com, it is a film called The Ugly Truth which is the mix between comedy and romance. They are often light-hearted and based around the notion of true love.  Most rom-com's will end happily as it keeps the feel of a positive and light hearted film. However the comedy usually comes acroos the strongest when there is an argument or falling out.

Here is Saving Private Ryan, this is a strong exampl of a war film. This genre is based around warfare, normally naval, air or land battles. Sometimes these can be combined. This film has a quite negative, but more realistic look on war. Also this is an example of a biographical war film. Rather than just the battle itself. Other war films can be based around a historical war and others are based on fiction.

Here is an example of a childrens film: Madagascar. This films are directed at the audience of children and make noe real effort to appeal to other audiences. These films are often positive, as it will want to gain apositive effect on the children. Often childrens films can cross with comedies, as this is an effective way to appeal and entertain the target audience.

SALT is an example of a crime film. A crime film is often based around the skills and the live of a criminal. Crime films can be based on a real criminal or a fantasy one. However both seem to take a biographical aprroach to the film.

Also this film could also be labbeled as an action, with a criminal plot. Therefore showing how film genres are occasionally crossed to make a new exicting film.

The Duchess is and example of a Historical film. A Historical film is based on a famous event or person. Some historical films can be seen as quite factual and almost like a biography and others are fictinalized based on deeds found about that person.

This is the first of the Transformer films these are seen to be a sci-fi genre. This is a example of a film which bases its film around a futuristic idea of robots and other technologies. However other sci-fi films may base there's around supernatural events or unexplainable creatures; which may be based around mythological creatures. A definition of sci-fi is 'the use of actual, realistic science which is then merger with social accepts.' However not all sci-fi's can relate to this definition. A sci-fi is something that is shocking and normally unexplainable.

This is the most recent Indianna Jones film. These films are recognisable examples of adventure films. Adventure films often include exploring exoctic locations, the are explored in exciting ways.The often include plots which are based around a quest for a certain historical object or to find the answer to some historical question. They often include a villan who makes it difficult for the main characters to find what they are looking for.


 

The Notebook is a well known Romance Film. A Romance film is a story which is based on characters who focus on passion and stron emoiton. Also it is always based on two characters in love. Often in romance there are obsticales in the way of the characters being able to be together. However the idea 'that love is the strongest of all' and 'that love cam make it through all the bad' is often seen in the result.