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Pictured: Clint Eastwood in the Western film A Fistful of Dollars (1964).

A film genre is a type of category of motion-pictures. The term "genre" has been used to organize films since the earliest days of cinema.[1] However, genres are easier to recognize than to define and cannot be identified in a rigid way.[2] The concept of genre is inherited from literature and theater. Some of the genres themselves are also inherited,[3][4] such as westerns (from literature) and musicals (from theater). Audiences may find genre films more familiar and understandable, while producers consider them safer investments, easier to make, and easier to market,[3] especially when a genre has a devoted fanbase with supporting publications such as websites and magazines.[5]

Genres change over time, and some genres may largely disappear (for example, the melodrama).[1] The perceived genre of a film can also change over time. For example, The Great Train Robbery (1903) is seen as a key early Western film, but when it was released it might have been described as a "chase film".[3] Some genres overlap such as spy films and action films, while parodies appropriate elements of other genres for comedic effect.[1]

Conventions and Iconography

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War film or anti-war movie: Lewis Milestone's All Quiet on the Western Front, 1930

The common elements that bind a genre together could be almost anything. Below are a few examples of the features that might identify a certain genre. This list should not be considered exhaustive.

Archetypal characters[3]
...such as the hard-boiled detective and femme fatale in film noir
Certain actors
...sometimes acquire a reputation linked to a single genre, such as John Wayne in the Western or Fred Astaire in the musical.[3][4]
Setting[1][3]
e.g. war films, Westerns, and space operas
Lighting[3]
Framing[3]
Costumes[3]
Title Fonts[3]
...such as rough-hewn logs for Western films or "scrawled" writing for horror movies
Scoring conventions[3]
...such as lush string orchestras for melodramas or electronic music for sci fi
Target audience[1][4]
e.g. kid's movies
Budget[1][4]
e.g. B movie, Blockbuster, or low-budget film

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Hayward, Susan. "Genre/Sub-genre" in Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts (Third Edition). Routledge, 2006. p. 185-192
  2. ^ Thompson, Kristin; Bordwell, David (2012-07-06). Film Art: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 9780073535104.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Grant, Barry Keith. Film Genre: From Iconography to Ideology. Wallflower Press, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d Stam, Robert (2000-02-21). Film Theory: An Anthology. Wiley. ISBN 9780631206545.
  5. ^ Truby, John. "What's My Genre?". Writers Store. Retrieved 2007-07-31.

Further reading

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  • Friedman, Lester et al. An Introduction to Film Genres. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2014 ISBN 978-0-393-93019-1 609p.
  • Grant, Barry Keith. Film Genre Reader I, II & III. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1986, 1995, 2003
  • López, Daniel. Films By Genre: 775 categories, styles, trends, and movements defined, with a filmography for each. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., 1993 ISBN 0-89950-780-8 495p.
  • Summers, Howard. The Guide To Movie Lists 2: Genres, Subjects and Themes. Borehamwood: Howcom Services, 2018 ISBN 978-1-982904-72-2 418p.
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Category:Cinematography Genre Category:Genres