Preliminary Exercise 5: Analyzing Film Genre

Introduction

·      Today, the objective of this post is to analyze genre in film and to identify aspects of MISE-EN-SCENE associated with said genre. 

Genres are categories based on similarities in plot, aesthetics, or intended emotional responses in film. These classifications are made from analyzing the general mood, and certain elements of MISE-EN-SCENE included in film, which will be discussed shortly in this blog post. Genre was created for the purpose of allowing filmmakers to have a foundational idea of what they intend to express in their film, while also building the audience’s expectations as they watch a film. 

Examples of genre include, but are not limited to, comedy, horror, drama, and romance.

What is sub-genre?

      While genre is generally used for broad overviews of a film, sub-genres are more defined, and specific classifications. Using sub-genre in the filmmaking process has proven to be beneficial for film directors and writers to have a clearer vision of the type of content they want to produce, as well as it serves as pinpoint for audiences to be conscious on a narrower level of what they consuming. In, “What is Genre and How is it Determined, https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/,” sub-genre is applied to the Comedy genre, “The complicated part of the comedy genre is that there are different types or sub-genres of comedy; depending upon how outrageous and impossible the characters and story are in the movie. The sub-genres of comedy are slapstick, farce, satire, and dark. Any other genres are a variation of these four types. Comedy is actually a variation of physical action and ridicule.”

A Personal Favorite from the Raconteur

       With a world filled with numerous, wide-varieties of entertaining genres, two film genres that I enjoy watching the most is comedy and horror. More specifically, comedic, psychological-horror films such as “Get Out,” and “They Cloned Tyrone.” Those genres are particularly engaging to me because they can strategically maintain a humorous atmosphere, while also containing bone-chilling elements, that at times raise awareness to the absurdities of different phenomena in the world. What that means is comedy, which can sometimes combine with horror, can open the mind to daily horrific issues in society, that can be effectively discussed in film in an amusing manner. 

What are Mise-en-Scene elements in Horror/Comedic Horror?

        The goal of this post is meant to analyze genre and identify aspects of MISE-EN-SCENE commonly associated with horror, and apply it to film. As a result, it will help our production team better understand genre and strategies we can use to communicate the genre of our film to our audience.

        Without further ado, I will explain how our group completed this assignment! First, my partner and I chose a genre we both enjoy, which in this case is horror, and documented its sub-genre, comedic horror (another personal favorite). Due to horror being a genre we are familiar with; it made this task much simpler because we already had a few mise-en-scène elements in mind even before our research.

       To whom may be confused, horror is described best by the 1970, sensational, Italian film director and producer, Dario Argento, “Horror by definition is the emotion of pure revulsion. Terror of the same standard, is that of fearful anticipation.” To add, horror’s subgenre, comedic horror is characterized as a combination of both separate genres, which uses humor to contrast with horror in film. 

     One way to effectively discuss and research genre, one must consider its iconography. Iconography, or symbols, are visual imagery and symbolic representation that holds significant connotative meaning. Observing familiar icons associated with a genre can help distinguish it from other genres. Below, is a bubble diagram that illustrates elements of mise-en-scène in horror, specifically comedic horror. 

• As shown, one commonly attributed icon of this genre, and sub-genre, are archetypical character conventions such as the “nerd,” the “couple,” the “jock,” the stereotypical, simpleminded “blonde girl,” the antagonist, etc. 

• Another symbol found in comedic horror is the use of humorous masks, worn by the film’s adversary, which usually contains a goofy facial expression. 

• Third, the costumes of the main cast are conventional, casual daily wear, which is contrary to the film’s antagonist, typically seen in abnormally colored, or patterned clothing, or otherwise seen complete dark colors that only highlight certain features of their appearance. 

• To add to that, hair and makeup artists still intend to incorporate and preserve horror elements when styling actors and actresses, by incorporating fake blood for gore/ shock value, pale, sickly foundation shades contrasting with heavy, dark, ombres eye makeup, which signifies danger and death. The use of prosthetics to create deformities and mutations in the antagonists contributes to their disturbing, unsettling aura. Furthermore, cosmetics can be used to create the illusion of cuts, bruises, and wrinkles on characters, while including tissues and Band-Aids for a more authentic appearance.

What are Conceptual Themes in Genre?

       The question above hints at the next topic I will explain, which are narrative themes. Narrative themes, or theme, are defined in the official Britannica Dictionary website as, “the main subject that is being discussed or described in a piece of writing, a movie, etc.” Additionally, frequent themes found in horror genre are paranormal beings, monsters, vampires, and zombies.

       Specifically, themes in the comedic horror sub-genre are comical antagonists such as slashers, as well as communicating serious, adverse issues in modern society, teasing at horror film character archetypes, and containing fake blood, for gore. 

REFLECTION

        All in all, the bubble diagram above was meant to present to our group a new perspective lens to look at when examining the horror genre. The process of creating this project was a team effort, and I contributed illustrations and in writing details that my partner researched. My partner and I used laptops provided by the school to gather information and research included in our poster. It was overall simple to use laptops, and our phones occasionally, due to those appliances being ones frequently used by our group, and we functioned at an intermediate level utilizing the resources provided for us. This way, we were able to thoroughly research setting, acting, composition, color, lighting, hair, makeup, and costumes conventionally found in the horror genre, and comedic horror sub-genre.

      Breaking down the horror genre into elements of Mise-en-Scene has been a learning experience that taught our group specific attributes, which help both out team of producers and the audience to have a general vision of what we intend to convey in our film.

WORK CITED: 

-Reich, J. (2017). 2. What Is Genre and How Is It Determined? milnepublishing.geneseo.edu. [online] Available at: https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/exploring-movie-construction-and-production/chapter/2-what-is-genre-and-how-is-it-determined/#:~:text=Categorizing%20a%20movie%20indirectly%20assists.

-The Los Angeles Film School (2021). Subgenres of Horror Films Explained. [online] The Los Angeles Film School. Available at: https://www.lafilm.edu/blog/subgenres-of-horror-films-explained/.

-Scripts, I. (2022). The Comedy Horror Movie: The KEYS to Both Laughs and Scares. [online] Industrial Scripts®. Available at: https://industrialscripts.com/comedy-horror-movie/.