Steve Neale's theory states that in order for films to be successful, they must repeat recognisable codes and conventions from a genre to be recognised by an audience, whilst being different and offering something new. Audiences do not want anything to be too similar as they will get bored. Conversely, they do not want anything too different as it will be too unfamiliar for them.
INTERTEXTUALITY
This is the idea that media takes make reference to each other; seriously or comedically. The Simpsons for instance is full of intertextuality - referring to other media texts, the news, politics (sattire) and popular culture.
AUTEUR THEORY
Coined in the 1950s by the writers of Cahier Du Cinema, this is an idea that directors create their own genres. Think about the works of directors such as Hitchcock (creating his own version of horror films), or the stylistic features of directors such as Quentin Tarantino or Tim Burton.
PARODY
Definition: A comical imitation of a genre or
narrative. ‘Taking the Mickey’ out of
something. It may be called a SPOOF.
For example, the Scary Movie
trilogy is a parody of a range of horror films including Scream.
POST-MODERN
Definition: When
something is completely ahead of its time; it is post – after, modern – at the
time.
For example, Moulin Rouge is set in the early 1900s, and
songs such as Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend and Material Girl (which had not
been released, and weren’t for another few decades) are sung in it.
PASTICHE
Definition: An
imitation of a narrative or genre. It is
reminiscent; more gentle and respectful to the original text than parody. It pays HOMAGE
to the original text.
HYBRID
Definition: When two or more genres are mixed together to create a new genre.
For instance, rom-com is a mixture of romance and comedy.
REPERTOIRE OF ELEMENTS
Definition: It is claimed that genre is fluid and that the boundaries are permeable, meaning that directors borrow a range of elements from a range of genres; they almost pick and choose. In turn, this means that genres become blurred.
