Popular Genres
exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locales, searches or expeditions for lost continents, "jungle" and "desert" epics, treasure hunts, or searches for the unknown.
ADVENTURE
was a Canadian/American actress. She and her mother invented “stardom.”
MARY PICKFORD
a eulogy to the early days of the expansive American frontier. They have very recognizable plots, elements, and characters (guns, horses, dusty towns and trails, cowboys, racist portrayal of Indigenous people, etc.)
WESTERN
a form of reality tv that documents real life. The documentary subgenre is perhaps the most general. Documentary shows span from Cribs to COPS to the Real World
DOCU-SERIES
anything that is read, listened to, or viewed
TEXT
high energy, big-budget physical stunts and chases, possibly with rescues, battles, fights, escapes, destructive crises (floods, explosions, natural disasters, fires, etc.), non-stop motion, spectacular rhythm and pacing, etc.
ACTION
1980’s group of young actors who took Hollywood by storm, and starred together, in some combination, in films such as St. Elmo's Fire, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Less Than Zero. These flamboyant and sometimes self-indulgent stars made headlines on and off the screen
BRAT PACK
often quasi-scientific, visionary and imaginative - complete with heroes, aliens, distant planets, impossible quests, improbable settings, fantastic places, great dark and shadowy villains, futuristic technology, unknown and unknowable forces, and extraordinary monsters ('things or creatures from space'), either created by mad scientists or by nuclear havoc
SCIENCE FICTION
a form of reality t.v.. This one is obvious. It’s the traditional boy meets girl story, with the audience hinged on the ‘will they or won’t they’ aspect of the story
DATING
was the first celebrity magazine.
CONFIDENTIAL
light-hearted plots consistently and deliberately designed to amuse and provoke laughter (with one-liners, jokes, etc.) by exaggerating the situation, the language, action, relationships and characters.
COMEDY
One of Woody Allen’s two masterpieces, filmed entirely in B & W.
MANHATTAN
emphasize full-scale scores or song and dance routines in a significant way (usually with a musical or dance performance integrated as part of the film narrative)
MUSICALS
a genre of television in which "real life" people are follwed in a situation,game, etc.
REALITY TV
a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc. that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.
MEME
serious, plot-driven presentations, portraying realistic characters, settings, life situations, and stories involving intense character development and interaction
DRAMA
One of Woody Allen’s two masterpieces.
ANNIE HALL
designed to frighten and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience
HORROR
From shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to What Not to Wear, the theme is all about changing stuff to make everything better. While some examples can get a bit wild, such as plastic surgery and dental work on the original Extreme Makeover, this category is often about building something better.
MAKEOVER/ RENOVATION
a marketing ploy in which several products are offered for sale in one combined unit that is often marked at a reduced price compared to the sum of their separate purchase prices. This is often used to sell: computer software products, cell phones & plans, fast food meals, and cable television, etc.
BUNDLING
costume dramas, historical dramas, war films, medieval romps, or 'period pictures' that often cover a large expanse of time set against a vast, panoramic backdrop.
EPIC
1) prior to Match Point, most films set in New York City 2) made with hand-held cameras 3) Woody plays the same neurotic nerdy character 4) usually comedies / romantic comedies 5) use of jazz music 6) few to no visible minorities
WOODY ALLEN FILM CHARACTERISTICS
developed around the sinister actions of criminals or mobsters, particularly bankrobbers, underworld figures, or ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and murdering their way through life
GANGSTER
shows about winning something important overcoming other competitors. These shows can be filmed in an episodic format, such as Iron Chef America, or in a series format, such as Dancing with the Stars.
COMPETITION/ ELIMINATION
are one-sided relationships people often have with celebrities
PARA SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP