Film Lesson Plans

Introducing Genre

This lesson provides a basic introduction to genre and also introduces a range of films that we can return to again and again to study all aspects of film style. Along with the Classical Hollywood Style/Realist Narrative, the study of Genre is a basic foundation block of the entire syllabus. In this lesson you will look at:

  • Studying Genre
  • Genre Elements 
  • Viewing Extracts
  • Film List and Worksheets

Studying Genre

Introduction

The word genre comes from the French meaning type or category. Its roots are in the Latin word genus, a word which is now used to describe classification in biology. Using the concept of genre in relation to the moving image serves much the same purpose. Approaching films in relation to genre inevitably means treating individual films not as unique works of art but as members of different categories or groupings.

There are two major approaches to film genre: The Descriptive Approach and The Functional Approach.

Full Lesson Plan

Download full pdf plan

  

Video Extracts

Flying Saucer Rock & Roll 1
Flying Saucer Rock & Roll 2
Two examples of the Science Fiction Genre. These sequences feature many of the characters and iconography of the genre, including aliens and spaceships. The film is an example of a genre hybrid mixing the science fiction genre with the teen pic/youth genre – both popular genres of 1950s American Cinema.

Stinger 1
Stinger 5
Two examples of the War Genre. A patrol of Russian soldiers move through enemy territory in Afghanistan. The soldiers are unaware that the enemy is watching them and have set a trap.

Genre Elements

Introduction

This section will look at Iconography, Setting, Characters, Narrative, Style, Theme and Audience Response. There are specific examples looking at: the Gangster; the Western; the Horror and; the Science Fiction genres.

  

Full Lesson Plan

Download full pdf plan including: Gangster, Western, Horror and Science Fiction Genres

Viewing Extracts

The following selection of viewing extracts can be used with the attached workshop hand-out (attached in section below) as a classroom exercise to identify the genre elements of two major genres – Horror and Science Fiction.

Viewing Extracts

Download pdf of viewing extracts

Film Lists and Worksheets

Below is a list of recommended films for study. The films are grouped by either genre or director. It is not necessary to view every film on this list but a selection of anywhere between 10 films and 15 films. The list includes films which have featured on the Moving Image AS examination.

This lesson plan provides teaching material on many of the listed films. Worksheets are provided that can be used with any of the films, whether as a classroom exercise or as homework.

Recommended Films for Study

Download pdf of recommended films

Worksheets

Genre worksheets