Presentation Title
The Structural Development and Social Function of Popular Film Genres
Major Field of Study
Liberal Studies
Location
Dominican University of California (online)
Start Date
19-6-2021 9:00 AM
End Date
19-6-2021 10:20 AM
Abstract
This paper explains the form and social function of Hollywood film genres as contended by the Ritual School of film theory. Ritualists consider cinematic genres as formations of modern mythology, structurally-orientated around currently-irreconcilable cultural contradictions or sources of anxiety. A genre’s physical conventions provide a lexicon of metaphors for continual exploration and debate on an underlying source of social discord. This process is seen most clearly in the formation of new genres in response to periods of drastic social change. To illustrate, this paper refers to the classic Western, the 1950s Sci-fi film, and the post-9/11 Superhero genre.
The Structural Development and Social Function of Popular Film Genres
Dominican University of California (online)
This paper explains the form and social function of Hollywood film genres as contended by the Ritual School of film theory. Ritualists consider cinematic genres as formations of modern mythology, structurally-orientated around currently-irreconcilable cultural contradictions or sources of anxiety. A genre’s physical conventions provide a lexicon of metaphors for continual exploration and debate on an underlying source of social discord. This process is seen most clearly in the formation of new genres in response to periods of drastic social change. To illustrate, this paper refers to the classic Western, the 1950s Sci-fi film, and the post-9/11 Superhero genre.
Presenter Biography
Michael Schock is recent graduate of the Reed College MALS program. He has studied screencraft and film narrative for 13 years, publishing three books on the subjects. He currently teaches online courses on screenwriting and is in search of an academic position.