Film Genre

The article about film genre by Schatz was interesting because it motivated me to think further than what he states. He looks as genre like a linguistic system, with certain static characteristics that only slightly change. In film these would be a plot that is motivated by a conflict which needs to be resolved (either by violence or sex, as Schatz says) and characters. According to Schatz, these conflicts mostly range from a threat to the existing social order, or to certain cultural attitudes. Thus, different genres evolve that basically all have the aforementioned treats. They only process them differently.

But when the genres basic conflict is a threat to the existing conflict order, then it necessarily has to change. As society changes, the static element of genres are evolving, even if it is just a little bit. This brings an interesting dynamic to the issue. If we look at the films made in recent times, we can see how certain topics are being updated, especially in sequels. Movies like TRON vs. TRON: Legacy, Wall Street vs. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps come to mind, or even Avatar, which is not much more than a modern rendition of Pocahontas. They all deal with similar issues and show us how things stay the same, but also develop at the same time.