1. Film Genres
To differentiate between genres, sub-genres and hybrid genres
To understand and apply Propp’s Character Theory

2. What genre does this film belong to?
What do the visuals connote?
Plane crash
Ship on fire
Globe
Desert and camels
Beach
Silhouetted man in a trench coat
Dog

3. Film Genres Genre is defined as a style or category.
Genres could include:

4. Action adventure Animation Comedy Horror Musical Rom-Com
A film that revolves around stories primarily set in the late 19th century in the American Old West.
A film that is unsettling and designed to frighten and panic and invoke our hidden worst fears.
A film where the hero is thrust into a series of challenges that typically include physical feats, extended fight scenes, violence and frantic chases
A film in which songs sung by characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing.
A film intending to make an audience laugh through amusement and most often work by exaggerating characteristics for humorous effect)
A film in which individual drawings, paintings or illustrations are photographed frame by frame to achieve continuous motion.
A film based on speculative, fictional science-based depiction of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science e.g. extra- terrestrial life forma, alien worlds, time travel etc.
A film that deals with love in a light, humorous way with true love’s ability to surmount most obstacles.
Action adventure
Animation
Comedy
Horror
Musical
Rom-Com
Science Fiction
Western

5. Sub-Genres Sub-genres are divisions of genres.
For example, the comedy genre can be divided into 19 sub-genres:
Musical comedy
Alternative comedy (differs from traditional punchlines)
Observational comedy (pokes fun at everyday life)
Black comedy (deals with disturbing subjects)
Physical comedy (slapstick)
Blue comedy (typically is sexual in nature and uses profane language)
Prop comedy
Spoof (the recreating of a book, film or play)
Character comedy (derives from a persona)
Sitcom (situational comedy)
Cringe comedy (a comedy of embarrassment)
Sketch (a shorter version of a sitcom)
Deadpan comedy (telling jokes without a change of face)
Surreal comedy (based on absurd situations)
Satire (humour based on important news events)
Improvised comedy
Wit/word play (intellectual forms off humour including puns)
Insult comedy
Mockumentary (a parody using the documentary style)
Dumb and Dumber Trailer -

6. Hybrids
Hybrid genres blend themes and elements from two or more different genres
Ghostbusters Trailer -
Which two genres are blended in the Ghostbusters poster?

7. Propp’s Character Theory
Another way of understanding genres is by looking at the way the characters are portrayed.
Vladimir Propp developed a character theory from 100 tales he analysed. He noticed there were 7 different broad character types:
The Dispatcher
The Donor
The False Hero
The Helper
The Hero
The Princess
The Villain
Struggles against the hero
Prepares the hero or gives the hero a magical object
Helps the hero in the quest
Person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative
Perceived as a good character in the beginning but emerges as evil
Character who sends the hero off on a mission
The victim/seeker/winner

8. Propp’s Character Theory
Villain - Struggles against the hero
Donor - Prepares the hero or gives the hero a magical object
Helper - Helps the hero in the quest
Princess - Person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative
False Hero - Perceived as a good character in the beginning but emerges as evil
The Dispatcher - Character who sends the hero off on a mission
Hero - The victim/seeker/winner
Answers:
Villain
Donor
Helper
Princess
False hero
The dispatcher
The hero

9. Shrek & Propp’s Theory Villain Donor Helper Princess False Hero
The Dispatcher
Hero
Fairy Godmother
Prince Charming
PiB & Donkey
Shrek
Farquad
Fiona

10. The Hunger Games & Propp’s Theory
Villain
Donor
Helper
Princess
False Hero
The Dispatcher
Hero
Cinna
Peeta
Primrose
Haymitch
Katniss
President Snow

11. The Dark Knight & Propp’s Theory
Villain
Donor
Helper
Princess
False Hero
The Dispatcher
Hero
Rachel Dawes
The Joker
Lucius Fox
Alfred
Jim Gordon
Batman
Harvey Dent

12. Analyse the synopsis for a film using Propp’s Character Theory:
Home Learning
Analyse the synopsis for a film using Propp’s Character Theory:
What genre does it belong to? What is the sub-genre? Is it a hybrid?
Who is the hero of the story? What is their goal?
Who is the villain of the story? What is their goal?
Do other characters serve other roles?