Genre Theory Essay

Genres what are they, and why are they so important in the film industry? Genres a kind of label or category something people can base what place expectations or gain a general idea of what the film is about, and will be like. However most genres will likely have a sub genre According to Goodyknootz, B. , & Jacobs, C. P. (2014) Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed. ) CH4. â€Å"Many genres also have a variety of related Subgenres with more narrowly defined formulas and expectations. † Having these smaller classifications set giving a mix of category, and expectations allows for a lot more unique variety. Some films can often mix 4 genres into a  single film allowing the creator the free use of his imagination, however even these films ultimately will fall into a major genre category. Unfortunately genres can also cause some people to often judge a film based on it’s genre, if they’ve seen a certain film that was a Western for instance that they did not particularity enjoy they will assume all films under this genre are not worth their time. As stated in Goodyknootz, B. , & Jacobs, C. P. (2014) Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed. ) CH4. â€Å"It is not a preordained measure of quality, despite the way some film theorists and critics might dismiss a â€Å"genre†Ã‚  movie formulaic for serious dramatic analysis† despite this genres are very important, they label the films making it easier for viewers to find the sort of movie they are wanting the see at any giving time. These labels help people make decisions when picking a film to watch, either causing them to want or not want to view certain films based on its genre characterizations. When looking at specific genres they often have their reoccurring characteristics that immediately allow that film to fall into a specific genre, for example Westerns According to Goodyknootz, B. , & Jacobs, C. P. (2014) Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed. ) CH4. â€Å"At its GENRE THEORY 3 simplest, a Western is a man and his horse, taking on the struggles of nature and his fellow man†. Most Westerns are set in a mainframe of 1800’s-1900’s giving them the wild untamed American frontier feel, and the main characters are often outlaws or underdogs, taking out the wild west. The most recent Western film I personally have seen was 3:10 to Yuma, this movie was about a small rancher and, Civil War veteran Dan Evans who was wounded losing his leg, now after the wars end is struggling to support his wife and children. When a wanted gang leader Ben Wade is captured in his area after robbing a stagecoach, he volunteers to escort the prisoner to the train station to make the 3:10 to Yuma for $200. As Dan Evans and the law men head to the train station his group is pursued by the Outlaw Ben Wades gang of dangerous outlaws. Being set shortly after the civil war 3:10 to Yuma this puts the story in a time frame where most of the west was still very unsettled, and untamed. This film also has many 1800’s style fire fights involving revolvers and single shot rifles, pitting the gunslinger gang of murderous outlaws  against the lawmen who fight to maintain order on the frontier, and Dan Wade who fights for his family. 3:10 to Yuma is not only a Western film but the main elements that made this film so good, and the reason I personally enjoyed it was to Drama driven story of how the Outlaw Ben Wade slowly becomes friends with Civil War vet Dan Evans. As the film progresses Ben starts to understand, and sympathize with Dan Evans situation of he lost his leg and how he feels useless in supporting his family as a cripple. Near the end of the film Ben Wade begins to help Dan  Evans with getting him to the train so Dan Evans can collect the $200 bounty promised by the GENRE THEORY 4 law men. When Dan Evans finally get Ben Wade to the train his is fatally shot by the pro-suing gang but not before his son see’s him getting Ben to the train allowing him to die a hero to his son. In the end to me genres and basic storyline are a very necessary thing for movies it allows you to have a basic understand of what you’re about to watch without ruining the plot before you have to chance to dive into the story, and get the enjoyment of a fresh story for yourself.