Ask students to work in pairs to present a PowerPoint presentation on one particular film or television genre.

1. Do some research on a genre by going on the Web via Google (type in name of genre) or using the links in this module.

2. Summarize the key components of the genre in terms of the:
- prototypical roles
- setting(s)
- language/discourse
- typical storylines in terms of the problems/issues dealt with (“crime”), who solves the problem (“the tough cop”), the means used to solve the problem (“violence”), and themes (“that crime doesn’t pay”), and value assumptions (“eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”).

3. Find a visual still clip (from the Web) or URL that contains a video clip (trailers would be very useful—go to the trailer sites
Apple.co - Movie Trailers
Dark Horizons: Trailers
Movie-List - Movie Trailers. Period.
Real Guide Home
ON STAGE - Film - Film Trailers
vidnet.com
hollywood.com: Movie Trailers and more.
IMDb.com: Movie Trailers
SPE! Zone: Clip Vault

4. Prepare a summary in PowerPoint.

Module 7: Word document

Different Perspectives on Genre Study

Audience-based Approaches to Film/Television Genre Study

Critical/Ideological Analysis of Genres

The History and Evolution of Genres

Devising Genre-analysis Activities

Different Genre Types

Action/Adventure

The Western

Gangster/Crime

Detective/Film Noir

Comedy

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Horror/Monster

Suspense Thriller/Spy/Heist

Soap Opera

The Talk Show

Sports

Game Shows/
Reality TV

Animation

Comics

Graphic Novels

Teaching Activity

References

Teaching activities on genre developed by students in CI5472, Spring, 2004