Genre theory

 Steve Neale Genre Theory

A film genre is a motion picture category based on similarities in either the emotional response to the film or the narrative elements. Most theories of film are borrowed from the literary world. The basic genres include fiction and documentary, from which sub-genres have emerged. Types of fiction which may seem unrelated can also be combined to form hybrid sub-genres, such as the combination of horror and comedy. Other popular combinations are romantic comedy and action comedy films.

Steve Neale argues that pleasure is derived from 'repetition and difference.' 

He also argues that Hollywood's generic regime performs two inter-related functions: to guarantee meanings and pleasures for audiences.

The other is to offset the considerable economic risks of industrial film production by providing cognitive collateral against innovation and difference.

Nick Lacey

Nick Lacey calls the generic features that help us to quickly identify a particular genre a 'repertoire of elements,' which is a list of common techniques, objects, codes and conventions associated with a particular genre.

For example Thrillers usually include: 

-Fast pace music

-lowkey lighting

- quick cuts

-shadows

we can call these part of the iconography of the thriller genre.