Research & Planning: Genre theory

'Genres are instances of repetition and difference' (Neale 1980,48). Also, 'difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre'


This basically means that genres use typical conventions for narrative, cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound, editing, the cast and iconography, however there needs to be differences in order for movies to be succesful, 






The Grudge 2 uses conventional effects and styles, for example the narrative is conventional, innocent school girls and women are the victims whilst men are almost unnoticed. It uses typical technical features such as jump cuts and dark lighting and clothing, the sound is typically eerie with loud and quiet moments and typical iconography, such as dark abandoned house, creepy area of Japan in dull weather with innocent school girls.