Genre & Auteur theory comparison
Define what each one is?
Genre theory is a way in which we facilitate the categorization of films. Genres are depended on the numerous factors such as the storyline, who the director is, the theme or setting, it’s structure and style to name a few. In genre theory we construct a shot cut in to how we are to describe films it is a method of shortening academic works. They have similar techniques or conventions that help use facilitate them in to genres such as:
Auteur theory is the director is viewed as the major creative force in a creating a motion picture. The director oversees all of the artist elements of the film ranging from audio, visual elements, camera placement, lighting and scene length. You can tell which director is or aren’t auteurs the ones that are will all having a personal stamp of the director though out the film. For example one of my favorite directors Quentin Tarantino is auteur because of his use style, characters and narrative are basically the same in his movies.
Genre theory is a way in which we facilitate the categorization of films. Genres are depended on the numerous factors such as the storyline, who the director is, the theme or setting, it’s structure and style to name a few. In genre theory we construct a shot cut in to how we are to describe films it is a method of shortening academic works. They have similar techniques or conventions that help use facilitate them in to genres such as:
- Subject matter
- Mood
- Period
- Recurring icons
- Narrative events
- Props
- Movie stars
Auteur theory is the director is viewed as the major creative force in a creating a motion picture. The director oversees all of the artist elements of the film ranging from audio, visual elements, camera placement, lighting and scene length. You can tell which director is or aren’t auteurs the ones that are will all having a personal stamp of the director though out the film. For example one of my favorite directors Quentin Tarantino is auteur because of his use style, characters and narrative are basically the same in his movies.
History and development
Genre history it goes back hundreds of years ago from the Greeks they used it as a classification system, in modern day it is used to classify art, music, media texts and film. I am going to focus on the history of genre in film, as I stated in my genre theory it was create to categorization of films by their techniques or conventions. Genre has developed over the years in to many sub genres and has changed thanks to changes in culture, society and historical events. For audiences I has became a way of describing films and for the audience understand what the film is before we have even watch a trailer or the film. Thanks to genre and how it has developed over the years it has became a great tool for marketing films to the right audience and making successful films.
Auteur history the origin of has been talked about since the 1940s when Andre Bazin and Roger Leenhardt presented the theory that it is the director that brings the story to life. Like I stated before an auteur director will over see a lot of the artist look and feel of the film. Originally conceived in France it developed a rise of culture or movement in France call “the French new wave” over the years it eventfully made it way over to America given rise to incredible directors like Alfred Hitchcock.
Auteur history the origin of has been talked about since the 1940s when Andre Bazin and Roger Leenhardt presented the theory that it is the director that brings the story to life. Like I stated before an auteur director will over see a lot of the artist look and feel of the film. Originally conceived in France it developed a rise of culture or movement in France call “the French new wave” over the years it eventfully made it way over to America given rise to incredible directors like Alfred Hitchcock.
Examples of genres and auteurs
Genres can then be put in to sub genres or hybrid genres basically a mix of two or more genres to together here are some types:
- Biopics
- Disaster
- Film noir
- Super hero
If you look at Star trek (2009) for example this is a mix of genres of Action, adventure and science fiction buy why is it? Well you have to break the film down to see if it fit in to these genres categories by looking at the techniques, code and conventions of the film:
From the chosen codes and conventions I have used to can see why it fits in to those genres. |
Examples of auteurs Zack Snyder Is auteur because he has a style
and vision about his movies that he has he has developed over his films.
So what are Synders auteur traits?
He always uses the same crew in the films he has made his wife has produced all of his films dating back to 300. Larry Fong and Willian Hoy are his cinematographers on most of his films and John Desjardin was his visual effects supervisor on his most successful films.
One of the traits of an auteur is they always use the same cast and in this cast crew.
and vision about his movies that he has he has developed over his films.
So what are Synders auteur traits?
He always uses the same crew in the films he has made his wife has produced all of his films dating back to 300. Larry Fong and Willian Hoy are his cinematographers on most of his films and John Desjardin was his visual effects supervisor on his most successful films.
One of the traits of an auteur is they always use the same cast and in this cast crew.
His visual style is unique to his films if you are watching 300, watchman or sucker punch you can tell you are watch a synder film, he best know for his:
If you look at he definition of auteur theory that I researched you can see that Synder has full control of all of his visual elements, story, narrative, camera and he’s personal stamp on his films if you say to someone this film is directed by Zack Synder they have a good understanding what the film is visual going to look like. |
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What are the strengths and weaknesses?
Genre
There are a number of strengths of using this theory to analyze specific films. It helps to know what to expect from a film. Genre is all about expectation and surprise/similarity and difference a film must be similar enough to the codes and conventions of a genre that the audience get what they were expecting. Another strength of the genre-based approach is that it allows a film to be analysed in comparison to a large range of other films from a variety of sources that fall into the same genre category. Under an auteur theory approach to films you are focused on the films of one particular director. However the genre approach opens up a much wider range of films from different directors from different backgrounds.
A weakness to genre is genre expectations can often lead to certain films being ignored or criticised this treats films as groups rather than looking at them individually. Another is the increase in hybridisation and post generic films have made the genre approach increasingly difficult and complex to apply. For me the major weakness is films become predictable so the audience become bored really easy
Auteur
A strength of auteur theory is that it has increased film becoming art letting the director have his own personal statement though out their films. It helps gain a symbolic insight into films and this can help us understand a deeper meaning and underlying tones of the movie and to the auteur. Another is a auteur will use reoccurring themes that which has a direct influence on the film
A weakness is an auteur director can sometimes be ignored because the public will watch one film for the director and then not the next so audience can judge the director on one film when his others could be a better film and a better example of his art
There are a number of strengths of using this theory to analyze specific films. It helps to know what to expect from a film. Genre is all about expectation and surprise/similarity and difference a film must be similar enough to the codes and conventions of a genre that the audience get what they were expecting. Another strength of the genre-based approach is that it allows a film to be analysed in comparison to a large range of other films from a variety of sources that fall into the same genre category. Under an auteur theory approach to films you are focused on the films of one particular director. However the genre approach opens up a much wider range of films from different directors from different backgrounds.
A weakness to genre is genre expectations can often lead to certain films being ignored or criticised this treats films as groups rather than looking at them individually. Another is the increase in hybridisation and post generic films have made the genre approach increasingly difficult and complex to apply. For me the major weakness is films become predictable so the audience become bored really easy
Auteur
A strength of auteur theory is that it has increased film becoming art letting the director have his own personal statement though out their films. It helps gain a symbolic insight into films and this can help us understand a deeper meaning and underlying tones of the movie and to the auteur. Another is a auteur will use reoccurring themes that which has a direct influence on the film
A weakness is an auteur director can sometimes be ignored because the public will watch one film for the director and then not the next so audience can judge the director on one film when his others could be a better film and a better example of his art
Whats are the similarities and differences of them?
One the similarities for both of the theories is that it is a way of understanding film, the film codes and conventions and what to expect for a film.
The major difference between them, is auteur theory is focused on who actually made the film and the creative aspect of the film where genre theory if more of a way of categorizing film in to their genres for audiences.
The major difference between them, is auteur theory is focused on who actually made the film and the creative aspect of the film where genre theory if more of a way of categorizing film in to their genres for audiences.
What do you think about them?
I think they are both good ways of trying to understand film and how it has developed over time. Genre theory has changed how we interact with in media in the modem day and how we categorize it. Auteur theory has given rise to some great director and movements that has changed cinema for the best in my own opinion and changing film in to an art form.
Apply genre theory
Film - Saving private Ryan, 1998
what genre is the film? And how can you tell? War and drama, a major give away for this films genre is its time setting and location being set in 1944 in France at the beginning of the Normandy invasion another sign is their clothing/costumes. These are only some of the codes and conventions that the film meets of the war genre. What codes and conventions can you identify? The Iconography
The props
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The setting for Private Ryan takes place in France in war field, bunkers, trenches, ships and towns under siege all setting conventions for a war film.
Saving Private Ryan is a war film that follows the story of Normandy Landings; the story involves the search and rescue of a paratrooper whose brother was killed in action. The American flag at the beginning of the film connotes the fact that the film is going to be patriotic. The director of the film wanted to present the realism of the war brutalities. The music at the start of the film is military trumpets, which straight away prepares you for what the film is going to represent. |
Apply auteur theory
Apply knowledge of genre and auteur thoery to your own work
For our first film project we had to create a horror genre film trying to follow the key conventions of horror, I try to used my knowledge about the horror genre though out the project and we used these code and conventions:
I don’t believe we met the codes and conventions of a horror genre. We tried to follow a narrative but it didn’t really work out. I don’t feel like we applied any auteur theory in this film. The film wasn’t a successful genre, as we didn’t meet all of the conventions. |
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We had to create a 30 second film trailer, we decided to create a heist trailer a action genre, I think it went really well and I think we met a lot for of the convention compared to my last project here are some of the key contentions that I used:
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1980s films
Why terminator is made that way?
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Why Scarface is made that way?
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Terminator, James Cameron, 1984
Main themes:
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Characters: T800 101: An unstoppable killing machine, monosyllabic and lacking any humanity. He is something to be feared and also admired. We see him at the start and he has an impressive body and he also wipe out archetypal punk type who are his first victims. The character became synonymous with Arnie and his style of acting and he was of the main starts of the 80’s with a pumped up body macho body. These character types are individuals against the system who mainly take the law into their own hands as in film like Rambo and Die Hard. This was reelecting the individualism of the republican era. Was the admiration for this type of character due to a subconscious fear of a crisis in a traditional male identity in the 80’s.
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Schwarzenegger is the star of the film. He is a cool character who rides a motorbike and wears leather – he look like a rebel.
Sarah Conner: At the start is a character that is a bit of a loser. She has a dead end job and she is unlucky in love. She is warm and well liked by her work mates and flat mates. She transforms into a stronger person with a clear mission to produce a son who “save the world”
Kyle Reece: He is an effective soldier but he is also vulnerable (he first appears looking weak after enduring time travel). Kyle’s role is to protect Sarah and to help her believe in herself. At the end of the film she has become a lone figure who can defend herself (which mirror the political attitude of the USA in the 80’s)
Lieutenant Traxler: A kind caring character who Sarah believes. A chain smoker and close to retirement. The police an authority figures prove ineffectual against the Terminator.
Sarah Conner: At the start is a character that is a bit of a loser. She has a dead end job and she is unlucky in love. She is warm and well liked by her work mates and flat mates. She transforms into a stronger person with a clear mission to produce a son who “save the world”
Kyle Reece: He is an effective soldier but he is also vulnerable (he first appears looking weak after enduring time travel). Kyle’s role is to protect Sarah and to help her believe in herself. At the end of the film she has become a lone figure who can defend herself (which mirror the political attitude of the USA in the 80’s)
Lieutenant Traxler: A kind caring character who Sarah believes. A chain smoker and close to retirement. The police an authority figures prove ineffectual against the Terminator.
Technical aspects of the film
The film has a synth soundtrack and a memorable score and had then state of the art special effects including models of the T101 created by Stan Wilson. Rumbling/mechanical/drone noise in the background. Create and build suspense now a wildly technique
The film has a synth soundtrack and a memorable score and had then state of the art special effects including models of the T101 created by Stan Wilson. Rumbling/mechanical/drone noise in the background. Create and build suspense now a wildly technique
John McTiernan, Die Hard 1988
Thematic reading On the surface, Die Hard is a straightforward action flick in which our hero (complete with his own full hero’s journey) John McClane rescues his wife from terrorists that have taken over the Nakatomi Plaza. The terrorists ride on Christmas Eve, take the employees hostage, kill Takagi and Ellis, outsmart the cops and the feds, and do their best to get away with about 600 million in bonds, but are stopped by our modern day cowboy, the aforementioned John McClane. |
he employees turn into ‘hostages’ when terrorists take over. But I think they were the hostages all along. The switch from Takagi to Hans just made it more apparent, same situation, new titles.
John is the first one that does true damage to the building. He throws the chair down the elevator shaft because he knows Nakatomi Plaza has to be destroyed. The true villain the whole time was Nakaomi/Takagi/Capitalism.
During the ‘ultimate payoff’ scene Holly loses her golden watch, note that her being stripped of that capitalism icon also kills Hans at the exact same time. That is because Hans isn’t just a terrorist. He is Takagi. Letting go of the watch helps Holly let go of Ellis/Takagi/Money and the return to John and her family. After this scene they are shown embracing each other and punching news anchors etc. Happy ending.
There is a lot going on in the first subtext layer of this film. There are lots of themes in motion: religion (Christmas), strong family values (save marriage), conservative’s vs. liberals (drugs, sexuality) east coats vs. west coast ideals (new york vs. California), homosexuality (man kissing John McClane, particular shot of the well built German terrorists, bromance between ‘pal’ and ‘Roy’) anti-establishments thoughts (cops an fed are idiots), etc. However, the one I want to focus on the most, and the one that ties into the title is the theme of anti-capitalism.
This theme of anti-capitalism in Die Hard has been talked about before. The movie doesn’t try to hide it. It is satirical and cynical in its depiction of the Nakatomi businessmen. Typical ‘classical’ music is played the first time we see the Nakatomi party. Champagne is being passed around (our hero rejects this drink after one taste), a man comes and kisses John for no reason, Ellis is shown as being a cocksure drug addict, Takagi is shown as being very greedy (just look in the vault – who would hide such beautiful art away in a corner like that), and even Holly McClane, our hero’s wife, has been slightly corrupted – she goes by Miss Gennaro now. He has to save her from Nakatomi Plaza. Note that the ultimate payoff is the scene where Holly loses her gold Rolex (capitalism symbol) and kill Hans in the process.
Subtext layers
McClane is the definition of unconventional action hero
My thoughts
I do agree with the reading above but I do have my own thoughts I am only going to focus on a few subtexts layers, the use of Germany as the villains and how they are divided between them selfs on how to deal with John just like the country is divided between capitalism and communism. The use of technology shows how it’s become part of society and how it is driving capitalism within corporations also its showing how dangerous it is as they are able to easily hack in to the computer and the safe to seal the money. Most import for me is his feet our hero is an unstoppable force always managing to get away without serious injury though out the film. Until his feet are badly damaged and he is hurt, now John is exposed along with everything else is in the film. Al Powell reveals the true about why he is a desk cop because he shot a kid, Hans revels the final part its the plan the FBI, after this John now confesses about having a bad feeling, this is the first time the hero has shown a weakness, he finals realities how much of a jerk he has been to his wife. He now reveals his own feeling about his life and exposing his biggest weakness to the audience his wife, then Holly is exposed as John wife to Hans.
If you watch the rest of the film you will see everything becomes exposed to the audience.
John is the first one that does true damage to the building. He throws the chair down the elevator shaft because he knows Nakatomi Plaza has to be destroyed. The true villain the whole time was Nakaomi/Takagi/Capitalism.
During the ‘ultimate payoff’ scene Holly loses her golden watch, note that her being stripped of that capitalism icon also kills Hans at the exact same time. That is because Hans isn’t just a terrorist. He is Takagi. Letting go of the watch helps Holly let go of Ellis/Takagi/Money and the return to John and her family. After this scene they are shown embracing each other and punching news anchors etc. Happy ending.
There is a lot going on in the first subtext layer of this film. There are lots of themes in motion: religion (Christmas), strong family values (save marriage), conservative’s vs. liberals (drugs, sexuality) east coats vs. west coast ideals (new york vs. California), homosexuality (man kissing John McClane, particular shot of the well built German terrorists, bromance between ‘pal’ and ‘Roy’) anti-establishments thoughts (cops an fed are idiots), etc. However, the one I want to focus on the most, and the one that ties into the title is the theme of anti-capitalism.
This theme of anti-capitalism in Die Hard has been talked about before. The movie doesn’t try to hide it. It is satirical and cynical in its depiction of the Nakatomi businessmen. Typical ‘classical’ music is played the first time we see the Nakatomi party. Champagne is being passed around (our hero rejects this drink after one taste), a man comes and kisses John for no reason, Ellis is shown as being a cocksure drug addict, Takagi is shown as being very greedy (just look in the vault – who would hide such beautiful art away in a corner like that), and even Holly McClane, our hero’s wife, has been slightly corrupted – she goes by Miss Gennaro now. He has to save her from Nakatomi Plaza. Note that the ultimate payoff is the scene where Holly loses her gold Rolex (capitalism symbol) and kill Hans in the process.
Subtext layers
McClane is the definition of unconventional action hero
- He’s not single, but also
- Not marries, and because perhaps those categories are stale he’s also not divorced
- He’s a foreigner (east coast man on the west coast)
- He sits in his limo’s front seat
- He’s traveled across the country without a thought to where he’ll sleep
- He’s barefoot (and therefore Jesus)
- He doesn’t kill Hans on sight
- He doesn’t trust the people he saves
My thoughts
I do agree with the reading above but I do have my own thoughts I am only going to focus on a few subtexts layers, the use of Germany as the villains and how they are divided between them selfs on how to deal with John just like the country is divided between capitalism and communism. The use of technology shows how it’s become part of society and how it is driving capitalism within corporations also its showing how dangerous it is as they are able to easily hack in to the computer and the safe to seal the money. Most import for me is his feet our hero is an unstoppable force always managing to get away without serious injury though out the film. Until his feet are badly damaged and he is hurt, now John is exposed along with everything else is in the film. Al Powell reveals the true about why he is a desk cop because he shot a kid, Hans revels the final part its the plan the FBI, after this John now confesses about having a bad feeling, this is the first time the hero has shown a weakness, he finals realities how much of a jerk he has been to his wife. He now reveals his own feeling about his life and exposing his biggest weakness to the audience his wife, then Holly is exposed as John wife to Hans.
If you watch the rest of the film you will see everything becomes exposed to the audience.