gen·re/ˈZHänrə/
Noun: A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.
A text is classified in a genre through the identification of key elements which occur in that text and in others of the same genre. These elements may be referred to as paradigms, and range from costume to music to plot points to font (depending on the medium). Audiences recognise these paradigms, and bring a set of expectations to their reading of the text accordingly: the criminal will be brought to justice at the end of the police thriller. These paradigms may be grouped into those relating to iconography (ie the main signs and symbols that you see/hear), structure (the way a text is put together and the shape it takes) and theme (the issues and ideas it deals with).
A text is classified in a genre through the identification of key elements which occur in that text and in others of the same genre. These elements may be referred to as paradigms, and range from costume to music to plot points to font (depending on the medium). Audiences recognise these paradigms, and bring a set of expectations to their reading of the text accordingly: the criminal will be brought to justice at the end of the police thriller. These paradigms may be grouped into those relating to iconography (ie the main signs and symbols that you see/hear), structure (the way a text is put together and the shape it takes) and theme (the issues and ideas it deals with).
Analysis of Genre in Music Videos
Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
Nicki Minaj's video for 'Super Bass' incorporates many of the codes and conventions of the pop genre, yet takes a feminist stance when some theories are applied. The video seeks to represent Nicki as an independant, strong female, an important quality to have as a female rapper in a heavily male-dominated genre. The video is mainly pink-themed, emphasising this stress of femininity and 'girl power'. When Goodwin's analysis is applied, we can realise that the video seeks to challenge the pre-conceptions associated with women in music videos, for example the theory of voyeurism and 'looking' at women is reversed, with men being put in a more subordinated aesthetic position, focusing on their chests etc. Schwichtenberg's theory is also challenged, claiming that males do things for females to passively react to, however the women in the video have more control over the men, for example when the protagonist pulls the male's tie, and he reacts passively. In terms of genre, Goodwin's analysis is followed in terms of the genre characteristics, e.g. it is a pop video and synchronised dance routines are used. There is a clear relationship between the lyrics and the visual, particularly at the beginning where money and plane flying is mentioned and these images are then shown.
