Genre Conventions

Genre Stereotypes



Every genre in film and television comes with endless steroeotypical assumptions even prior to viewing. These presumptions can be based on anything from the trailer theme, the lead actor or actress, the director to the lighting - it's an endless list of typecasts, and without them, there would be no such thing as a genre to begin with.



Here are a few examples of conventions from a few specific genres - some true, others not so. Most genres divide into several categories, such as Suspense-Thriller compared to Action-Thriller, or Slasher-Horror to Fantasy-Horror, and so the majority of conventional belives can't apply to all subdivisions, so the lists below entails some of the most widely-held views:



Horror

• Excessive use of dark exterior locations
• Female lead
• Fantasy or excessive violence
• Prolonged tension
• Secluded locales e.g abandoned house
• Subtle, eerie use of orchestrated music, often with a particular theme (such as the now infamous theme from "The Excorcist")
• Rarely songs by contemporary artists used in soundtrack
• Religious imagery and references, largely satanic
• Serial murders
• The undead, for example set post zombie apocalypse or involving vampiric/demonic mythology

Thriller

• Police officers
• Legal officials
• Car chases
• Explosions
• Technology, ranging from advanced military weaponry to handguns, to helicopters and spy satellites
• Beautiful but dangerous female co-star or antagonist (femme fatale)
• Loud and adrenaline-fueld music compositions, more and more involving contemporary artists
• Criminality, i.e mafia organizations or underground drug trades
• Muscle-bound protagonist, although this image seems to diminish as action-thrillers become less common, more veering towards suspense and psychological drama

Romantic Comedy

• Single (unmarried) female lead
• Quirky family traits
• Everyday living such as the protagonist working in an office
• Makeover!
• Handsome, debonair employer/coworker
• Contemporary soundtrack, largely women vocalists singing power ballads
• Generally set in New York or London (romance is uncommon elsewhere)
• One or more weddings
• Embarressing incidents in which the protagonist pulls through
• Very rarely illness, suffering or death
• Hugh Grant

As mentioned beforehand, these conventional features vary throughout subgenres and eras (aside from Hugh Grant), but are largely considered to be the key components to the make-up of said genres.