Deck 9: Film genres

Question 1

Many scholars believe that the emergence of the subgenre of family horror films in the 1970s indicated viewers'

A) concern about Watergate and Richard Nixon's crimes.
B) uncertainty about their fundamental beliefs.
C) lessening interest in television.
D) anxiety about their suburban lifestyle.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film Swing Time is an example of the backstage musical.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The Western is one of the youngest film genres.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A genre's iconography consists of

A) its typical plot patterns.
B) its use of recurring subject matter.
C) the sum of all its conventions.
D) its characteristic objects, settings, and stars.

Question 5

John Ford's The Searchers is a major example of which genre?

A) the Western
B) the detective story
C) the science-fiction film
D) the musical

Question 6

Genre conventions, repeated from film to film,

A) indicate studio worries about profits.
B) reflect actors' and producers' resistance to change.
C) result in audience boredom.
D) reflect audience doubts or anxieties.

Question 7

Most scholars see genre films as pure escapism, with no significant relation to contemporary society.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a film genre?

A) Western films
B) black-and-white films
C) science-fiction films
D) musical films

Question 9

Filmmakers avoid mixing the conventions of more than one genre.

Question 10

Genres are unable to respond quickly to broad social trends.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the recent popularity of the crime thriller with filmmakers?

A) It has become an international trend.
B) It allows for elaborate special effects.
C) It is relatively inexpensive to produce.
D) It offers showy roles to actors.

Question 12

Select any film genre that has been discussed in this course.Provide two examples of conventions that are significant to the genre.Now cite two specific scenes from films that provide examples of innovative handling of those conventions.

Question 13

The term subgenre refers to

A) inferior examples of a genre.
B) distinct types within a genre.
C) subversive examples of a genre.
D) genres from foreign countries.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a convention of the romantic comedy?

A) "cute meet"
B) "big misunderstanding"
C) physical separation
D) flashback

Question 15

One characteristic of any given genre is that its form remains unchanged over time.

Question 16

Genre conventions include plot patterns, thematic patterns, and stylistic patterns.

Question 17

Social processes can be reflected in genre innovations.

Question 18

The typical Western hero stands at a single thematic pole, that of justice.

Question 19

Based on the genre film(s) screened or discussed or both in class, indicate two conventions of character, plot, theme, or iconography that are distinctive of the genre.Then, for each convention you select, show how the film(s) you select exemplify the genre.As evidence, cite specific scenes that use the conventions.

Question 20

The periods of time during which a given genre is popular are called "cycles."

Question 21

Discuss the common "reflectionist" argument that genres mirror larger events and trends in society.Drawing on examples from class readings and screenings, suggest the strengths and weaknesses of this argument.

Question 22

Drawing on class readings and screenings, describe the typical narrative patterns used to integrate song-and-dance numbers into musicals, commenting especially on the importance of romance.

Question 23

Select any relatively recent crime thriller, such as Bryan Singer's The Usual Suspects or Joel and Ethan Coen's Fargo, and discuss how the filmmaker has manipulated the typical characters and narrative structure to refresh the genre.

Question 24

Film Art suggests that the Western deals with "the conflict between civilized order and the lawless frontier." Drawing on readings and screenings, suggest what conventions and iconography of the Western are associated with that conflict.

Question 25

Discuss the importance of new subgenres and the mixing of genres to changes in genre conventions, drawing on examples from class readings and screenings.

Question 26

Drawing on class readings and screenings, describe the kinds of conventions and iconography used to evoke the monstrous forces at the center of the horror film.Suggest some reasons for the enduring appeal of this genre.

Question 27

Briefly describe how ideas about genre are used by people within the film industry, by film reviewers, and by ordinary moviegoers.