Genre is a method of categorisation of film. Genre is an currently an essential part of film as the fabric of the film industry has been built round the concepts of genre. Genre is dictated by film but also visa versa. Most genre studies look at how films fit into specific categories and Why although film can create almost anything film makers adhere to set genres and audiences don't tire of them.
films can be just one genre but audiences often tire of films with this singular dimension. An issue with genre especially with newer films is the hybridisation of them. Film making can cover an infinite scope of story lines so trying to encapsulate a film into a singular genre especially if said film is truly original then categorisation through genre may prove to be difficult. For example a film that contains stereotypical traits of horror can use those traits as satire and thus become a comedy. Parody films like that use genre and turn it on its self to create a completely different viewing experience for the audience. This presents problems in what to regard a film like this in terms of genre. This is because although genre is presented as a black and white factual categorisation is is actually very subjective. A film will be classed in a genre due to sets of specific traits however if only a few of those are present some may argue that the film belongs to a genre and others against.
Genre is very useful for the categorisation of film and allows people to make predetermined judgements about the film which will inform there decision if they want to watch it. The problem with this is the idea of genre forces film makers to conform to the traits determine a genre. If an audience is expecting a film to be in a genre to go and see it whilst also expecting the film to adhere to the traits of that genre it limits the create scope of the film maker. Genre therefore can act as a determined of the auteur and original film making. This will lead and has led too the same set of films being repurposed over and over again.
Animation is a type of film so the same genre traits should apply to animation as they do to live action film. Animation however started its roots mainly in film therefore has this image stuck to it. This means when a film is described as animation it is often associated with the genre characteristics of "children's" or "family" films. TV shows like horrible tales for gruesome kids challenges perceptions of genre as its a children's animation about horror stories. The programme used dark story telling and animation to tell horror stories to children. The stereotypes of horror and children's entertainment genres are opposed in many different ways which makes this shows existence a contradiction to genre.
The main point I took from this text was the term genre is a lot looser that it seems. The term rules are meant to be broken can most definitely be applied to genre. It also said that genre can be used as a tool to gain pre determined audiences and also determine whom your audience will be.
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