Genre

Duff: "Genre is a recurring type or category."
Buckland: "...boundaries between films are fuzzy...most films are hybrid genres."
Buckingham: "It is in a constant process of negotiation and change."

What is genre?
Genre refers to a category or type of the arts, whether that me literature, music or film etc. There are subdivisions of a particular genre, as well as hybrid genres which blend certain themes and elements from two or more different genres of fiction

How is genre fluid?
- Genre is in 'a constant process of negotiation and change' meaning it always adapting to avoid predictability, this is particularly why hybrid genres are formed, merging different elements to create the unexpected for the audience.

Why does genre matter for audience?
Genre matters for an audience as from the outset they are given certain expectations; this means they can be selective when choosing the type of media they interact with and make informed decisions about their media consumption. These choices will be dependent on the consumer type, and their needs. So in accordance with the Uses and Gratifications theory the audience have certain needs and seek different elements within a text. The most common reasons will be to gain an element of escapism or to relate to a certain character or situation.

Why does genre matter for media producers?
Once a genre has been defined the media producers are able to amplify certain codes and conventions within the text to suit the chosen genre. Also by defining a particular genre, even if it it a hybrid genre, the producers are able to determine how far they can push the boundaries. Defining genre helps to determine a specific target audience, so the genre allows the producers to make decisions about how successful they're going to be in meeting audience needs. The particular genre can have affect the way the text is marketed and distributed, for example a trailer for a thriller film would not be shown directly before a romantic comedy film is about to be screened.