Research - Finding Genres

01/18/25


As we start preparing for our briefs, my partner, Nicole, and I are trying to find a suitable genre to make our 2 minute film introduction. We have some ideas for what we don't want to do; such as sci-fi, thriller, and horror, and especially not musical or sports. Through process of elimination we decided to research mystery, adventure, fantasy, romance, comedy, and western to get ideas and see what interests us. Nicole and I are dividing the research evenly, with her doing mystery, adventure, and comedy, while I will do fantasy, romance, western. 

Fantasy: 

Fantasy is defined as fiction that is set in a faraway land or fictional universe, and sometimes inspired by mythology or folklore. Fantasy usually has many tropes, especially classic ones like Good vs. Evil and Quest or Journey and they help the stories be exciting and imaginative, providing a different reality from real life.

The Quest or Journey trope focuses on a character leaving their normal life and traveling through dangerous or magical places to achieve an important goal. Along the way, they face obstacles that help them grow and change. This trope makes fantasy feel adventurous and engaging, and it keeps the audience interested in what will happen next. 

Most fantasies are inspired by mythology and folklore, where it borrows ideas from traditional legends and fairy tales that have been passed down for centuries. These include:
- witches

- magical creatures

- enchanted objects

- curses

- heroic journeys
- battles between good and evil
Because these stories are culturally familiar, they give fantasy films a timeless quality and help audiences quickly understand the rules and meanings of the fantasy world. 

Some of my favorite fantasy movies are:

       

        

Wizard vs. Doctor

The Wizard of Oz and Doctor Dolittle have a lot of the same fantasy notes. Both drop an ordinary person into an extraordinary world, like Dorothy into the colorful land of Oz, and Dr. Dolittle into a world where he can talk to animals. Each goes on a big adventure, meets strange creatures, and faces challenges that couldn't happen in real life. On paper, they’re both packed with the a good fantasy's essential ingredients.

However, The Wizard of Oz just works better as a fantasy especially because every magical element in Oz connects back to Dorothy’s emotional journey. The Yellow Brick Road, Wicked Witch, and many other characters all matter to her goal of getting home, making the audience feel like they're right there with her. In Doctor Dolittle, the fantasy feels more like a collection of fun ideas, with a two-headed llama, a giant snail, but without that same emotional pull. It’s entertaining, but it doesn’t pull the audience into its world as completely. Oz doesn’t just show you a fantasy, it makes you believe in one.

Links used:

https://ellapointon.weebly.com/conventions-of-the-fantasy-genre.html-f
https://nofilmschool.com/fantasy-genre-f
https://medium.com/@joshegosi/the-roots-of-dark-fantasy-in-mythology-and-folklore-a1b20f7db552
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/american-oz-why-wizard-oz-so-wonderful/
https://www.nytimes.com/1967/12/20/archives/screen-that-grand-zoomanitarian-doctor-dolittle-arrives-for-the.html

Romance:

At its heart, the romance genre is storytelling that puts love front and center, and showcases the exploration of emotional connection and intimacy. People enjoy it because it shows both the joys and struggles of love, making it relatable and engaging, while turning our own feelings into a satisfying story. The genre relies on classic tropes like Love at First Sight, Opposites Attract, Forbidden Love, and Will-They-Won’t-They tension to create excitement and keep audiences invested. Romance can appear in many forms, from historical dramas to rom-coms and even romantic fantasy, which is why it remains so popular.

Love at First Sight is a classic romance trope where two characters feel an instant and undeniable connection, as if destiny brought them together. It often happens in a memorable moment, like across a crowded room, at a carnival, or in a chaotic scene. Some iconic characters with this trope are:

- Tony and Maria in West Side Story

- Noah and Allie in The Notebook

This trope works because it gives the romance a magical, epic beginning, making audiences believe the couple is meant to be and immediately invest in their story.

Another popular trope is The Breakup & Grand Gesture, where a couple faces a major crisis, like a misunderstanding or outside pressure, that tears them apart, creating an “all is lost” moment. The story then builds to a dramatic payoff, where one character goes to extreme lengths to prove their love and win the other back, whether it’s a rain-soaked confession, a public speech, or a heartfelt declaration at a wedding. This trope works because it raises the emotional stakes, delivers a satisfying resolution, and leaves audiences with a sense of hope.

I tend to keep romance movies only for special occasions, and so far my favorites are:

 

       

Slow-burn or Memory Loss?

Both The Notebook and 50 First Dates are romance films, but they handle the genre very differently. The Notebook is a sweeping love story following Allie and Noah over decades, filled with heartbreak, family pressure, and the emotional weight of long-term relationships. In contrast, 50 First Dates is more comedic, focusing on Henry’s efforts to win Lucy’s love every single day due to her memory loss, creating funny and repetitive situations. Both films use classic romance tropes like Love at First Sight and The Breakup & Grand Gesture, but The Notebook emphasizes epic, emotional stakes, while 50 First Dates leans into humor and charm.

When comparing the two, The Notebook stands out as the stronger example of romance because the audience becomes completely absorbed in a world of passion and fated love. Its use of tropes feels meaningful: every separation, letter, and reunion carries emotional weight, making audiences feel the depth of the characters’ connection. 50 First Dates is entertaining and heartwarming, but the daily reset prevents the story from building the same timeless emotional impact, making it more of a lighthearted, feel-good comedy than an unforgettable romance.

Links used:

https://nofilmschool.com/romance-movie-genre#

https://www.mandy.com/magazine/article/romance-genre-explained-79192/
https://musiccitydrivein.com/2020/11/10/the-notebook-film-review/
https://www.vogue.com/article/things-i-thought-50-first-dates

Western:

This genre holds a unique place in film because they capture the spirit of the American frontier. These stories aren’t just about cowboy hats or high-noon duels; they’re about survival, justice, and morality in an untamed land. Westerns often focus on rugged people traveling harsh landscapes, and establishing control over situations or areas. 

One of the most recognizable tropes in Westerns is the lone hero, often a cowboy or gunslinger who works by their own moral code. This character usually stands apart from society by fighting against danger and injustice alone while defending people or enforcing justice in lawless towns. Examples include Ethan Edwards in The Searchers or Man with No Name in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The lone hero trope is popular because it creates tension in the movie while highlighting that individual and their courage, which is important to the genre's appeal. 

Another key trope is the dramatic showdown, usually a gunfight between enemy groups of law and chaos. These moments are tests of the character's skills and courage, and often take place in iconic locations like dusty streets or saloons. Classic examples include the duels in High Noon and the standoffs of Unforgiven. Showdowns are important because they intensify suspense while providing a strong resolution, that goes back to the genre’s focus on justice, honor, and survival in a harsh world.

Although I don't watch Western's, these are some I've heard of:
 

     

Corruption and Trauma

Killers of the Flower Moon and The Harder They Fall are both examples of Westerns, each showing the genre in its own way. Killers sticks to historical events, diving into justice, corruption, and revenge in 1920s Oklahoma with the Osage Nation, while The Harder They Fall is all about style, action, and big, dramatic showdowns. Both have horses, gunfights, and that classic frontier vibe, with characters facing moral choices, survival challenges, and the age-old law versus lawlessness conflict. They hit the main Western beats, but in very different ways.

Between the two, Killers of the Flower Moon comes out on top as a stronger Western. It feels more grounded and real, mixing classic Western themes like revenge and honor with a story based on actual events. The stakes are scarier, the choices matter more, and you can really feel the harshness of the frontier life and the manipulation felt by the Osage people. It sticks in your mind long after the credits roll, unlike the lighter Harder They Fall.

Links used:
https://nofilmschool.com/western-genre#

https://www.sothetheorygoes.com/the-western-genre/

https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?title_type=feature&genres=western

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/killers_of_the_flower_moon

https://ireviewwesterns.com/the-harder-they-fall-review/