Macro features - Genre and narrative

Macro features – Genre and narrative

Genre

Genre is the term given to a selective category of media products that are classified as being similar in the form or type. There is a diverse range of genres within the media world relating to films, novels and non-fiction materials. This allows people to identify what type of media products they prefer and determine this based on the genre. Genre can help structure businesses related to the media world such as DVD stores where genre separates the different films to make it easier for customers to find specific films as they are based in the section of their genre.

Examples of Genre are;

Action

Drama

Comedy

Romance

Thriller

Family

Adventure

Fantasy

War

Sci-Fi

Sports

Animation

Film-Noir

Horror

Silent

Martial Arts

Crime

Musical

Documentary

Western

Religious

Mystery

All of the above are the main genres in film, however, there are mixed genre films such as Romantic comedies and Action adventures and Melodramas. These types of mixed genres are very common where features and attributes of the film have aspects of both the two mixed genres and therefore cannot be described as one specific genre.

Examples of media products in their genre are:

Western

Once upon a time in the west

Horror

The ring

Thriller

Contraband

NARRATIVE

Narrative is how the plot of a media production is revealed to the audience whereas the actual plot/story is the sequence of events. The narrative in a selection of media can be manipulated to draw out certain reactions from its audience and allow them to follow relevant pathways in order to fully engage in and understand the story. Therefore, the narrative is crucial in the success of a media product as it determines how the story is portrayed to the audience which can be very generic or unique.

There are two types of narrative in media products. These are;

•         Linear
•         Non Linear

Linear

Linear narrative means that events in a particular production are chronological. Therefore the audience follow the action how it happens in time order. Linear narrative works with a beginning middle and end with the action continuously moving forward and progressing rather than the narrative taking the action to different places of time. Linear narrative is efficient as it may not cause much confusion for the audience when watching a piece of media as it allows them to follow the action how it happens without having to identify what is the past present and future. Common genres where linear narrative is used is animation, drama and comedy.

                                                         

Non Linear

Non-linear narrative is opposite to linear narrative where the action on screen or in the media is non-chronological. This means that the story can start with events occurring in the middle or end of what would be a linear narrative and then end with the beginning of the production. This can be on a small scale such as in one film but also can be used on larger scale for example in multiple film series where one the films is a prequel to the first one instead of a sequel. This method of non-linear narrative is effective based on the fact that it can make the storyline appear complex and challenging as well as being more thought provoking for the audience which may make them engage with the media/film to a greater extent, which is very stimulating and thriller. Common genres where Non-Linear narrative is used are thrillers, horrors and science fiction