Types of genre
Once you know the codes and conventions of different genres you can use them to analyse different media texts:
TV comedy Outnumbered
| Media text | Outnumbered |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Sub-genre | Sitcom |
| Narrative | Parents raising their kids in the modern world. |
| Characters | Father and mother who feel 'outnumbered' by their children: a sarcastic teenage boy, a middle boy who is a hyperactive mischief maker, and a very smart little girl who asks an awful lot of questions. |
| Settings and iconography | The family home. Social life of school children. The adult world of work. |
| Technical codes | Establishing shots of the family home. There is a documentary feel to the filming and editing which enhances the realism. |
| Audio codes | Non-diegetic sounds such as a recognisable theme song. Diegetic sounds of family home life such as dishes being washed, kettle boiling etc. |
| Visual codes | Kids in their school uniforms. Confused and exasperated facial expressions of the parents. |
| Media text | Genre |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | Comedy |
| Media text | Sub-genre |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | Sitcom |
| Media text | Narrative |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | Parents raising their kids in the modern world. |
| Media text | Characters |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | Father and mother who feel 'outnumbered' by their children: a sarcastic teenage boy, a middle boy who is a hyperactive mischief maker, and a very smart little girl who asks an awful lot of questions. |
| Media text | Settings and iconography |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | The family home. Social life of school children. The adult world of work. |
| Media text | Technical codes |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | Establishing shots of the family home. There is a documentary feel to the filming and editing which enhances the realism. |
| Media text | Audio codes |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | Non-diegetic sounds such as a recognisable theme song. Diegetic sounds of family home life such as dishes being washed, kettle boiling etc. |
| Media text | Visual codes |
|---|---|
| Outnumbered | Kids in their school uniforms. Confused and exasperated facial expressions of the parents. |
| Media text | Spectre |
| Genre | Action Adventure |
| Sub-genre | Spy Thriller |
| Narrative | James Bond uncovers the existence of the Spectre organisation and is on a quest to find the daughter of an enemy. |
| Characters | James Bond is a recognisable icon who immediately triggers audience expectations of what the movie will deliver. A criminal mastermind character provides a binary opposite of James Bond (a binary opposite is a contrast between two people or things - like good and evil or night and day). In each James Bond film there is always a heroine. |
| Settings and iconography | James Bond is always smartly dressed and uses many hi-tech gadgets to help him in his quest. The story plays out in various exotic and cinematic locations across the world. |
| Technical Codes | As with all action adventure films, it contains many special effects and features a fast paced style of editing. |
| Audio codes | The James Bond theme song is instantly recognisable to audiences. Diegetic sound to enhance the actions, such as loud explosions. |
| Visual Codes | James Bond is well-dressed and displays cool and calm gestures and behaviour - even when involved in action sequences. |
| Media text | Genre |
|---|---|
| Spectre | Action Adventure |
| Media text | Sub-genre |
|---|---|
| Spectre | Spy Thriller |
| Media text | Narrative |
|---|---|
| Spectre | James Bond uncovers the existence of the Spectre organisation and is on a quest to find the daughter of an enemy. |
| Media text | Characters |
|---|---|
| Spectre | James Bond is a recognisable icon who immediately triggers audience expectations of what the movie will deliver. A criminal mastermind character provides a binary opposite of James Bond (a binary opposite is a contrast between two people or things - like good and evil or night and day). In each James Bond film there is always a heroine. |
| Media text | Settings and iconography |
|---|---|
| Spectre | James Bond is always smartly dressed and uses many hi-tech gadgets to help him in his quest. The story plays out in various exotic and cinematic locations across the world. |
| Media text | Technical Codes |
|---|---|
| Spectre | As with all action adventure films, it contains many special effects and features a fast paced style of editing. |
| Media text | Audio codes |
|---|---|
| Spectre | The James Bond theme song is instantly recognisable to audiences. Diegetic sound to enhance the actions, such as loud explosions. |
| Media text | Visual Codes |
|---|---|
| Spectre | James Bond is well-dressed and displays cool and calm gestures and behaviour - even when involved in action sequences. |
| Media text | Hello! Magazine |
| Genre | Lifestyle |
| Sub-genre | Celebrity |
| Narrative | Weekly coverage of celebrities and royalty, with exclusive content about their personal lives. |
| Characters | Film stars, sports personalities, musicians, artistocracy and the Royal Family. |
| Settings and iconography | Hello! is set in the personal world of celebrities - with photoshoots often taking place in their own homes or with them on holiday. The iconography includes the luxury products, home decor and clothing belonging to the celebrities. |
| Technical Codes | Photographic filters and airbrushing are used to enhance the images. |
| Visual Codes | The layout and design of each issue of Hello! is carefully considered, with designers and editors working together to select photographs, fonts and colours to create a magazine that is enjoyable to read. |
| Media text | Genre |
|---|---|
| Hello! Magazine | Lifestyle |
| Media text | Sub-genre |
|---|---|
| Hello! Magazine | Celebrity |
| Media text | Narrative |
|---|---|
| Hello! Magazine | Weekly coverage of celebrities and royalty, with exclusive content about their personal lives. |
| Media text | Characters |
|---|---|
| Hello! Magazine | Film stars, sports personalities, musicians, artistocracy and the Royal Family. |
| Media text | Settings and iconography |
|---|---|
| Hello! Magazine | Hello! is set in the personal world of celebrities - with photoshoots often taking place in their own homes or with them on holiday. The iconography includes the luxury products, home decor and clothing belonging to the celebrities. |
| Media text | Technical Codes |
|---|---|
| Hello! Magazine | Photographic filters and airbrushing are used to enhance the images. |
| Media text | Visual Codes |
|---|---|
| Hello! Magazine | The layout and design of each issue of Hello! is carefully considered, with designers and editors working together to select photographs, fonts and colours to create a magazine that is enjoyable to read. |
