The genre is usually reflective of the environment in the film, the theme or topic of the film, or on the mood and emotional tone of the film. Some genres originated from fairy-tales and European myths and legends. Most genres originate from Hollywood when they began recreating the same types of films because they knew it would generate a profit.
How did the golden age of Hollywood reinforce genres?
The golden age of Hollywood occurred in the late 1920s to the early 1960s and was when Hollywood studios issued vast amounts of films. Hollywood studios producing many films helped to reinforce genres, because the studios learnt that films that followed certain conventions and themes would definitely produce a profit. Therefore, they continued to make similar types of films and refused to take risks in attempting to release unique and more complex films.
Which genres became popular in Hollywood?
Popular genres in Hollywood include slapstick comedy, westerns, horror (usually based on monsters), gangster films and science fiction.
Why do audiences like genre films?
Genre films are popular with audiences because they know what to expect from certain types of films and enjoy films that follow their expectations.
Film noir
"Film noir" is a term coined by a French film critic that means "Black Film". Unlike westerns and gangster films, there are no character and setting requirements for the genre film noir. However, film noirs usually contain plot conventions and the iconic "low-key lighting" or "Chiaro-scuro". Film noir emerged in the crime genre through the low budjet, B-list films being made by the big 5 studios in the 30s to maximise their profit. The financial success of the big film studios allowed for more experimentation in film-making, allowing for improvements in film-making techniques and the emergence of new genres like film noir. Film Noirs are constrained by the "Motion picture Production Code," commonly known as the "Hays Code," which generally censored tabooed subjects in film and stated that no character can profit from crime and breaking the law.
german expressionism introduced the stark camera angles and chiaro-scuro (the use of strong contrasts between light and dark). In the 1920s, The studio Warner Brothers introduced the use of dry ice, close angles and cheaper studios and sets.
Video on the History of Film Noir:
Famous Film Noirs from the Golden Age of Hollywood
- Maltese falcon (1941)
- Double Indemnity (1944)
- Mildred Pierce (1945)
- The Big Sleep (1946)
- The Killers (1946)
- The Third Man (1949)
- The Asphalt jungle (1950)
- The Big Heat (1953)
- Kiss me Deadly (1955)
- The Night of the hunter (1955)
Codes and Conventions of Film Noir
Film Noir usually has a melancholic mood, with themes of alienation, paranoia, guilt, bleakness and moral corruption. A non-diegetic restricted narration is usually given by the detective hero of the plot. Jazz or blues music is a common element of Film Noir, but more dramatic music is often used to forebode dangers and twists in the plot.
No comments:
Post a Comment