One for the Nerds - What is the purpose of Genre?

Here's my last Uni Assignment. I'm still trying to get my academic writing on, but i really enjoyed researching this essay. For those of you who love your genre films or just a decent film in general, you'll like parts of this essay.

Go on get your nerd on, and have a read.

Enjoy,

A.

What is the purpose of genre?

            When discussing the purpose of genre in film, we must first analyse what genre is, and the various elements that constitute a genre film or filmic product. Most films will broadly fit into a genre category, or type of genre but determining what these genres are will largely depend on the interpretation of the texts that constitute the definition of genre. As Stadler and McWilliam state genre can be defined as “…a type or kind…one way that films and television programs are classified into recognizable groups and sub-groups by privileging particular similarities to (and dissimilarities from) other films and television programs.” (2009, Pg 218).

            A genre film could broadly be defined as possessing at least some or all of these elements to make the genre identifiable to another. Pramaggiore and Wallis state “…a genre refers to a group of films that share a set of narrative, stylistic, and thematic characteristics or conventions. While not every film in a given genre will exhibit all of the genre’s conventions, every film in a genre will exhibit at least some of them.” (2008, Pg 374)

            Genre is a style of film in which the viewer can come to expect certain elements consistent with that genre. As Neale states, “Genres do not consist only of films: they consist also, and equally, of specific systems of expectation and hypothesis that spectators bring with them to the cinema and that interact with films themselves during the course of the viewing process. These systems provide spectators with a means of recognition and understanding.” (1997, p160). But what are the elements or texts that make up a particular genre and how are they interpreted? As Stadler and McWilliam state “…the most common conventions around which genre texts are classified are: a formulaic plot; setting; style and structure; and iconography.” (2009, Pg 219).

            These texts are the defining elements in which a viewer can identify a certain genre different from another. For example a viewer can identify a western movie by its iconography. Western films will have a cowboy who wears a cowboy hat and uses a “six shooter” and rides into town on a horse under the backdrop of a setting sunset, while off in the saloon the antagonist, or outlaw will be drinking whiskey or playing poker and usually be dressed in all black. These are all iconic elements that identify the film as being a western genre film.

            In this instance the western genre creates predictability in the narrative and serves a purpose to allow the viewer to know what kind of film they are seeing. By having these conventions it serves a purpose of identification with these elements that assist the viewer in knowing what to expect from the film. So when someone goes to see a western film they know that at some point there will be a shootout with the sheriff and that he will need to rescue someone, usually his unrequited love.

            A particular genre text however, is only defined in that genre of film as it conforms to those particular genre’s conventions. As Stadler and McWilliam state, “This process is both contextual and intertextual, because it is an articulation of one texts relation to the other texts, in terms of their shared features.” (2009, Pg 219). So when in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BTVS) another film is quoted like Star Wars and a character says “I’ve noticed you have gone to the grumpier side of the force” another text is referenced linking the two.

            Some films or filmic products will not strictly stay to one particular genre but indeed be a hybrid genre. Stadler and McWilliam state that “…hybrid-genre texts are not only common, but also much more common that than single-genre texts.”  (2009, Pg 221). Using BTVS as an example it could be broadly categorized as horror, but it also has elements of adventure, fantasy and also romance as all genre texts from these genres make an appearance in some form or another thorough out the course of a season.

            Genre can be intrinsically linked to popular texts and the production of such genre films or filmic products can be dependant upon what is selling in Hollywood at the time. Gibson states “…Hollywood is surely a cinema of genres, a cinema of westerns, gangster films, musical, melodramas, and thrillers. Indeed, in early reflections on Hollywood cinema, it was this very quality that generated antagonistic criticism, with generic structures being deemed an impediment to artistic achievement.” (1998, Pg 327). In recent years the “Vampire” genre or resurgence in vampire iconography that makes up a vampire film (pale colored characters, violence, blood, biting, crosses, werewolves) has had a resurgent not just in film genre but also in the literary world which has fueled more vampire orientated films and filmic products.

            The purpose of genre however, is not be used as a mere definition or tool to categorize a film in terms of whether it is different or the same as another, but to provide an expectation with the viewer for what film they are going to see. Individual genres might be difficult to define in themselves, as the elements that make up that genre are important in defining a film for the audience. Lacey states, “Despite the difficulty in defining genres, it is obvious that genre is a potent concept because both audiences and institutions use genre to define texts, and producers use genre to generate and articulate meaning.” (2005, Pg 59)

            It is the strength of the texts within the genre themselves that can give the film strength and meaning. Whilst a genre film might provide a certain element of predictability in narrative, it can also be strengthen by adding different texts from other genres to enhance the film – this would be another purpose of genre and the sum of its texts. Lacey states that “…genres, while essentially formulaic, thrive on difference. Hence if we have a clear idea of what a particular genre consists of, this can be contrasted with how the generic conventions are sued to individual texts. Such differences may simply be in the mix of ingredients, such as a film start appearing in the genre not associated with her or him.” (2005, Pg 59). As an example, an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BTVS) in its sixth season saw a particular demon come to town and turn everyone’s life into a real life musical. It was an entire episode of music where characters would go from talking in normal dialogue to suddenly breaking out into song and everyone dancing. Whilst the texts in BTVS could be broadly categorized as horror, and fantasy by adding a different text from a completely different associated genre such as the iconography of a musical, it created a completely different genre or hybrid genre by creating a horror musical with similarities to the Rocky Horror Picture show - but with less distortion guitar. These mixing of texts in genre creates hybrid genres as previous discussed and the formation of subgenres

            Genre does serve a purpose however in how a film is communicated and indeed marketed by film companies and Hollywood. Cinema goers want to see a certain kind of film, or might be in the mood for a certain film, and genre has now been an element to serve a purpose of brining people to the movies by appealing to our need for formulaic plot and narrative construction.

            Genre has also provided a medium for people to view the changing nature of culture as the genre changes. Whilst some genres will still reclaim the tradition of certain elements, they can develop and change over time as culture changes thus creating a reflection on certain elements of the changing nature of our society. Pramiggiore and Wallis state, “Another mode of criticism measures how genres gradually change, or evolve. While on one level genres retain their basic conventions, over time certain conventions will give way to others. An obvious example is the horror film’s depiction of monsters. The more obviously grotesque products of nature or science have been replaced by serial killers who appear perfectly normal.” (2008, Pg. 393).

            These subtle changes are both a reflection on the changing nature of our culture and filmmakers are changing the elements within the genre to make sure that the particular genre still applies and is believable to an audience. Some elements of a western film made in the 1950’s would be drastically different because of the social atmosphere as apposed to a western film today. Brokeback Mountain, which could broadly be categorized as a western still had some of the traditional elements of a western film. The iconography of the cowboy on the land and the costume they wore, however by making both the male characters gay made a significant impact on the genre of the film by reflecting views of gay rights, as was the time when the film was made in 2005. Obviously having two gay cowboys in a John Wayne film in the 1950’s would have significantly altered the predictability of the narrative with the western genre and would most certainly not reflected the American culture of the time. 

            In conclusion genre serves a purpose to give the viewer a point of reference of what kind of film they either want to see or are seeing. By containing elements and texts that confirm a particular genre a viewer and a filmmaker can rely upon the stylistic nature of the genre. But further than that, genre serves a purpose as to comment on the changing nature of our society and culture. By having predictable elements such as iconography and narrative with a certain genre, change even slightly, this tells us that our culture is demanding more of the cinema and asking filmmakers to provide a more believable and up to date reflection of that particular genre, its elements and how it relates to the audience. 

Street Preachers v’s Street Guardians. How The Green Team is balancing the crazy.

My first exposure to the Rundle Mall hate preachers was at the 2010 Fringe when, upon entering, I heard a barrage of messages from some smelly guy, in yesterday’s clothes who was in desperate need of a shower and a spiritual lobotomy – it was Fringe time so I didn’t think it was anything strange.

He was on a box (although I don’t think it was a soap box) screaming into a megaphone that created only fuzzled muffled tones. But within the first few minutes I was able to decipher that these guys were all about preaching their gospel of hate and intolerance. It took me about five minutes to realize that it wasn’t in impromptu Fringe show. Anything on the streets of Adelaide in Feb and March could be considered a Fringe show – I was so disappointed that I wasn’t watching some street theater but actually fervent “Christian” dudes believing the crazy they were trying to sell.

Since then the Rundle Mall Street preachers have been creating quite a stir, especially in the media, and with the inability for the Adelaide City Council to stop them from screaming at unsuspecting shoppers, and now with recent reports of them now “preaching” on Adelaide trains.

These guys give me a shudder to the very core of my non-committal, non-practicing, recovering, pseudo Christian spine.

What disturbs me the most (other than their intolerance and crazy talk of God and hate) is that the minority is screaming the loudest. These crazy’s are giving a wrong impression about Christianity to many people.

Most (I say most because I have met some that have embraced the crazy side of the Christian force) Christians are people with a genuine faith and determination to leave this world better than what they have found it.

Enter The Green Team.

In stark contrast to the Rundle Street Preachers, if you continue to mozie on down to the west side of the city and head into the darker edgier parts of Hindley St you may see a bunch of young people cruising around in bright Green Hoodies.

These guys are The Green Team – a group of committed young people from Adelaide Churches coordinated through Encounter Youth (visit HERE.) who wander the dark corners of Hindley St to assist Police and those young people who have got on the sauce a little too much.

I had the pleasure of working for Encounter Youth a couple of times and I still remain impressed. The first time was a genuinely enjoyable experience….the second….was….well…..i digress.

Starting about 10 years ago at the Schoolies Festival in Victor Harbor, The Green Team is an example of what Christianity should be about – less CD purchasing, and less megaphone preaching, and more helping of those who need it.

So next time you are wandering in the City on a Friday and Saturday night, head down to Hindley St and say hi to a Green Teamer. They’re there to provide an extra presence for Police and help those drunk 19 year old girls who stagger out of Red Square get into a cab safely, and to help Police nab those wanker 21 year old guys who feel the need to get their testosterone on with some fisty cuffs.

So next time you see a bunch of hairy, smelly, weird looking dudes shouting their crazy about how God hates fags, and girls who have sex before marriage go to hell, remember these two things…:

They use the bible like a Selleys no gaps filler. They just use it where they need too.

And most Christians would rather wear green than stand on a soapbox. Me on the other hand will do neither and continue to just sit on the fence, point and go…”What is that…?”

If only there was a way the Green Team could make music CD’s and sell them to make millions….oh sorry hang on, that’s not the point.

My bad…

Enjoy.

A.

See a promo video below...its a little lame, but you get the idea. Sorry Jess...

JESUS™ - Profit, Church, and the amazing union of oil and water.

My first exposure to Hillsong was in the mid 90’s when I was still a teenager and believed that I would see a Christian revival in my lifetime (whatever that actually meant). I was a youngish Christian with a starry eye for the bright lights of Pentecostal Church Ministry that comes with its very own preaching series and books complete with a cover photo of me in a pin striped suit with hair and a fake tan.

Back then Hillsong were on the verge of moving into their newly built facility in Baulkham Hills and were still operating under Hills Christian Life Centre. My memories of this experience were quite fond, spending hours in a Toyota Tarago with friends driving from Sydney to Adelaide singing the latest Hillsong tunes and dreaming of a day when we too, would be up on stage in lights singing glory to our lord. One thing that I can remember quit vividly is the euphoric feeling of being a part of something on the verge of exploding.

And explode it did.

By 2004 Hillsong Church (renamed to capitalize on Hillsong Music’s strong market presence) and no doubt funded partly by its Aria Chart topping record sales, Hillsong Church grossed a staggering $50 Million. Hillsong Church has grown significantly over this period due to their mega church status, slick Sunday church productions, Hillsong Music conference, Hillsong Music and no doubt the income generated by their record company Hillsong Music Australia. Hillsong Churches are now in Kiev, London, South Africa, Paris, Sweden and just recently New York City.

Hillsong is truly a global brand.

Hillsong Music Australia, a department of their church, employs 17 fulltime staff and unlike other recording labels, (like Brisbane based Dew Process which has a diverse range of artists such as Sarah Blasko, Bernard Fanning, The Panics and Mumford and Sons), Hillsong Music Australia only has three artists on its roster – Hillsong Live, United and Hillsong Kids.

Undoubtedly their most successful band is United, which founded in 1998 has now released 13 albums and along with Hillsong Live releases an album each year.

The record label is a significant income source for Hillsong Church. According to its 2010 annual report, Hillsong Church Australia last year earned a staggering $64 million, with total assets of $28.7m and income from conferences at a mere, $6.7m.

Not bad considering the Church operates tax free.

Victoria’s University Graduate School of Business produced a study (back in 2006) that showed that the tax exemption of Churches and other non-profit organizations saved those organizations more than $1 billion a year.

The Melbourne City Council told a Productivity Commission inquiry into charities (again back in 2006) that church exemptions from rates cost it $10 million a year, pushing up charges for other ratepayers by 10 per cent.

These exemptions include GST, income tax, fringe benefits tax at the federal level; land tax, stamp duty, payroll tax and car registration (state); and rates, and some power and water charges (local government and utilities).

I could continue to go on here. There are many lists of facts and figures that I could quote and from various sources. I should also mention that according to their website, Hillsong Church also fund many of their own community orientated programs none more prevalent than Mercy Ministries and Hillsong City Care.

A copy of Hillsong’s most recent annual report was not easy to track down and the figures quoted here are taken from other reports and articles I was able to find. If anyone can provide me with a recent copy of Hillsong’s Annual Report I would be more than happy to post a full summation of their earnings and spendings.

We do however; live in a world that values consumption as a means to success. Below is a photo from underground street Artist, Banksy. Some Christians may find the depiction of Jesus on a cross with shopping bags in his hands as offensive, but I find it a very accurate depiction of modern day Christianity. It seems Christianity has gotten itself a little mixed up with consumerism.

Jesus turned water into wine, and now the Christian church has joined oil and water - a modern day miracle.

From my own simplistic and admittedly uneducated opinion of the Gospel, I was always under the impression that the calling of being a Christian was about the sacrifice of servant hood for those less fortunate than you.

What Hillsong Church (and others that profit from the Gospel, I’m looking at you Paradise Community Church, Edge, and Planet Shakers) do is further propel this consumerist culture (albeit with great intentions) that rewards success in terms of size and prosperity. If you are a Church minister today, the size of your church reflects the ability of your “calling” or validity of your skills as that churches minister. 

Make no doubt about it, in Churches size matters.

Victory Church Senior Minister, Tony Rainbow wasn’t being asked to preach at conferences when he was leading a dozen Christians in a living room back in the mid 90’s.

Whether Christians like it or not, Hillsong Church has become the pre-eminent poster boy for success when it comes to western Church. And if you’re part of a church that signs their songs, and hangs colored lights – I’m sorry but either directly or indirectly, you wanna be like big sister.

There is a lot of money to be made from Jesus and the Gospel, and many churches around the world are making quite a bit. But in light of the Occupy Movement currently growing momentum (ironic considering all they do is just sit around), big corporations are being called to show greater consideration for the poor and those less fortunate in our society and the world – and how much more should churches be leading this charge.

Shouldn’t the Christian Church be the example of giving to the rest of the world? What information I could find was that in 2004 Hillsong Church made $50million in profit and gave $2.4 million to charity and/or community focused programs. Now I don’t know how accurate these figures are, but it was difficult to find information on how much they spent rather than how much they earned. I’m no auditor, but with the size building they operate and the many staff it would take to fund such a complex, this isn’t the least surprising.

Now these figures are probably no different in ratio to many other Christian Churches around the country. Every church has income from various sources and every church has to pay their bills – Hillsong is no different in this regard.

But why does the Western Church need to follow the Hillsong model by providing slick Sunday services, great looking buildings and worship teams that play the latest hits? If the Christian church’s faith is so strong, shouldn’t it still thrive if it was operating in people’s livings rooms, where no buildings were needed and everyone just, well, looked after each other – and there would be no need to buy worship albums.

This makes me think that mega Churches are what people want. Maybe the problem isn’t the Church, maybe the problem is the people who want and need this kind of church - which leads me to this question.

Is the western Christian faith keeping the world poor? Would the horn of Africa exist if Christians around the world were just as happy to share their faith around a coffee table, and give their tithe and CD money, directly to the third world, instead of propping up first world churches so they could pay their power bills?

Suddenly, without any of us realizing is seems that believing in Jesus has become quite expensive.

I don’t know the answer, but while churches like Hillsong continue to make millions of dollars in profits, while paying no tax, and the world continues to struggle to feed itself, Christianity will continue to fight a legitimacy battle when even the churches are struggling to practice what they preach.

Occupy Hillsong…?

Absolutely.

Enjoy.

A.

This is what I believe...

I believe in a god with no capital letter

I believe Love should have a capital letter

I believe that church should cater for poor people

I believe that those who work for churches should have less money and assets than those whom they serve

I believe that Jesus was a revolutionary, feminist and a peace activist

I don’t believe Jesus was a musician or a business man

I don’t believe churches should profit from faith

I believe in criticising a religious system that reflects the disparity of wealth prevalent in the world today.

I believe faith should be debated

I believe that if you have a faith, and want others to believe that faith, then the example of your life should be enough and no microphone should be needed

I believe in a “god” that created this amazing planet

I believe in urban graffiti art

I believe in the pentatonic scale

I believe in being a good person and enjoying every living moment, now, rather than being concerned about some ethereal after life

I believe in Buffy

I believe that a book and a Rock’n’Roll song can change the world

I believe there should be more romance in the world

I believe that Love shouldn’t be clarified by a written document

I believe that homosexuality is NOT a sin

I believe in sentences that sing off the page and into my heart

I believe what I believe so if it’s different to what you believe – stress less, I’m sure we’re both right.

The end

Women shouldn't vote, blacks should go home, and the gays shouldn't marry...

dis·crim·i·na·tion
–noun
1.
an act or instance of discriminating.
2.
treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.

It's a pretty dirty word, but unfortunately it still, even in 2011 manages to ring strong in many parts of our society. Discrimination is the lowest form of hatred. History is littered with examples of how collectively as a society we have stood against the ridiculousness of bigotry and discrimination.

In a county as wonderful as ours, in 2011, we still don't have equal rights for the Gay community. Interestingly our own Prime Minister who has stated her "traditional" stance against Gay marriage is, herself, living in a defacto relationship and "living in sin."

We have to tolerate so much bull shit with our politicians surely we shouldn't have to put up with hypocrisy. Anyway I am going to continue to stand up for this issue because more heterosexual Aussies need too.

I am proud to say that my brother is Gay, and as a spectator to his "coming out" and the associated turmoil, I have never seen a more truly courageous personal act to stand against society and to be yourself. I'll never understand the inner juxtaposition, but I will let his and I'm sure many other stories, inspire me to do what's right and always stand up against injustice, whatever that injustice is.

I unwillingly posted an innocent facebook status earlier in the week that caused quite a bit of debate around marriage equality in Australia and I would like to share my brothers response - please read.

Well, I think it's about time I weighed in here. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Andrew Natale's brother and I am indeed a full living breathing GAY. Yes that's right - a real one! I'd like to give my perspective on this very fascinating thread which actually, all jokes aside, is indicative of the public debate on this issue within this country.

1. The issue of same sex marriage is about EQUALITY. End of story. I am a human being who has just as much right to enter into the legal institution of marriage than a heterosexual. And to not allow me to do so is discrimination.

2. Gays as Parents - Guess what? There are already gay couples who are parents. They have become parents in a variety of ways and should not be judged based on their sexuality or gender or even that they are of the same gender, but instead based on the quality of them as a parent. Children need a loving upbringing and their parents sexuality is irrelevant for that. I am an uncle who prides myself in the relationships I have with the children in my life. I nurture them. I protect them. And most of all, I love them. And I am gay. I hope I get the opportunity to do that for my own children one day.

3. Legalising same sex marriage will have an enormous impact within our culture. One of the biggest groups of our community with high suicide rates are adolescent boys and there are many studies that indicate that this is due to confusion around sexuality. To legalise same sex marriage says that it's OK to be gay. That you as a beautiful human being are just as valued and accepted as anyone else. And if this gesture in some way manages to save a life - isn't it worth it?

4. I don't accept the religious rhetoric that marriage is exclusively the domain of religion. The reality is it is a legal institution. I don't discriminate against you (and it would be illegal if I did), so don't you do it to me.

5. Same sex marriage is already legalised in many parts of the world. Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Argentina, Iceland... And guess what? The sky has not fallen. It hasn't ripped apart the fabric of their society and it hasn't taken anything away from the institution of marriage. All that it's done is treated all of their citizens as equals.

6. For change to truly happen, we need heterosexual people standing up and saying loudly - No it's not OK to treat people differently just because they're the minority. We need everyone to stand up!

And finally, I have to say that I am proud to have a brother that not only believes that this is an imperative but will also stand up and say so. And not just because he has a gay brother but because it's the right thing to do!

So here I am - the real live gay, brother of the provoker of this conversation, saying enough is enough. The time for equal rights is NOW.

I never intended to emote onto this blog, or use it as an emotional clothes line, but this is issue is worth it.

Enjoy,

A.

Rodge Smith, U2, long drive to Melbourne and Kevin Rudd

Living instead of existing, connecting instead of just being connected is all the more difficult these days when living in a digital world that leaves little room for those of us still living in an analogue one. Late last year I took to the roads of our National Highway with the talented Rodge Smith to see U2.

Not the first time I’ve seen the Irish boys but a road trip with my BFF who's known me since I had hair, and to see a once in a generation band – well who could say no.

We laughed, we drove, we listened to classic albums, podcasts talked all things life, sex, spirituality, boobs and the discourse between church and state and who sells Jesus better.

Once we got to Melbs we were confronted with a long line of U2 fans all devoted to the cold Ethiad Stadium concrete as we lined up next to U2 fans who had seen U2 concerts when Bono still had a pony tail and didn’t wear sunglasses indoors.

Well we sat and ate Subway, and chatted with a crazy U2 devotee (aka Tash) all under a ice cold sky. (That was a play on words to U2’s Red Rock concert ‘Under a Blood Red Sky’ that’s why it reads ‘a’ instead of ‘an’ – notice the rhythm) I was approached by a volunteer who balanced the dichotomy of wearing op shop clothing and nursing an iPad. He asked me to sign some petition to do with world poverty.

It was the ONE (Make Poverty History) campaign and in the interest of wanting fresh clean water and rice for all I signed it. Earlier this week I received an email from ONE telling me of their recent political victory and I couldn't help but feel and little good about the fact that a my name was a part of that victory.

Needless to say KRudd did something worthwhile other than argue with Julia Goolia. And while we’re on that – I don’t mind paying a Carbon Tax but id rather my taxes go to those children in Africa who need vaccines – I’m just saying.

So high five KRudd you did what we voted you in to do – any chance you can do something about increasing funding for Youth homelessness around Australia…oh hand you’re not PM any more – DANG!

Anyway so if you’re not already joined up, engage, and live – don’t just exist.

Join the ONE campaign HERE!.

See the blog post HERE!!!

Squeaker...

Also my mate Rodge is a pretty fucking talented bald dude (bald guys can give shit to each other about being folicaly challenged) and so check out his web design HERE!!! and his band Squeaker HERE!!

Enjoy,

A. 

Adelaide street Art - Peter Drew

Check out Peter Drew - Adelaide boy - artist boy.

Meet Peter Drew HERE.

Enjoy...

A.