Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Genre

Genre is a french word for 'Type'.
'Genre' is a critical tool that helps us study media texts, producers and audience responses to texts by dividing them into categories based on common elements.

Generic Characteristics

The aim of genre is to classify media texts based on shared characteristics. These characteristics, known as 'generic elements' or 'generic characteristics' are the ingredients that make up a particular genre.

TV Drama Sub-Genres

A 'sub-genre' is where genres are subdivided into even more specific categories. TV Drama sub-genres include:
  • Teen Dramas: e.g. Skins
  • Soap Operas: e.g. Coronation Street
  • Costume Dramas: e.g. Sharpe
  • Medical Dramas: e.g. Holby City
  • Crime Dramas: e.g. The Bill
  • Docu-dramas: e.g. Hamburg Cell

No comments: