What is Genre?
Genre is a “type” or “category” of film. As the film industry grew, genres became useful for production, distribution, and marketing. They set audience expectations, making it easier to decide what to watch. Common genres include action, comedy, romance, and sci-fi. There are also “supra-genres,” like silent vs. sound or Hollywood vs. world cinema, which don’t directly guide production but influence how people view films.
Who Decides Genre?
Producers first used genre to increase profits by aligning with audience preferences. Early surveys showed that westerns, comedies, and detective stories were favorites. Genres also shift over time. For instance, musicals and westerns were highly popular in earlier decades but became less common later. However, movies like Frozen and The Greatest Showman show that some genres can still make a strong comeback.
Canon and Its Preservation
The “canon” in film studies refers to movies with long-lasting cultural or artistic value. The canon is influenced by archives, scholars, critics, and audiences. Archives play a big role by choosing which films to restore, keeping classics like The Wizard of Oz alive for new viewers. Critics and scholars also promote certain films, while audience favorites—like The Shawshank Redemption—add to what’s considered classic.
Changes in Film Access
With digital technology, how we watch films has changed a lot. Fans can now view movies not just in theaters but also on streaming services. While streaming makes access easier, it also comes with issues like content removal and regional restrictions, which have led some to prefer owning DVDs or Blu-rays.
Some personal idea
I think genre and canon are useful for organizing movies, but they can sometimes feel limiting. Not all movies fit perfectly into one genre, and some unique ones don’t get much attention because of this. The canon often includes only “serious” or “artistic” films, while many movies that people enjoy might be left out.
Streaming has made it easier to watch many films, but there’s a problem: movies can be removed when licenses change. This makes me feel that having physical copies is still important, especially for hard-to-find films. Overall, while genre and canon help us choose, I think it’s good to stay open to all kinds of movies, even if they don’t fit traditional ideas of “great cinema.”