Blog Post #7- Genre Hybridity

Genres is a category of a type of media form that has similarities in form, style and subject matter. However, there is a difference in genres and genre hybridity.

 What is Genre Hybridity? 

Genre Hybridity is when the cast of a film enhances storytelling which allows the filmmakers to blend elements from different genres which creates a newer, unique narrative that reaches a more broader audience. Below are three different film examples of genre hybridity. 

"We Live In Time" is a newer released movie (2024) that focuses around a couple who was recently diagnosed with something deadly and traumatic. 

The genres of this film/how they are represented: 

• Romance: Audience members are given the opportunity to fall in love with our two protagonist over the years. There are things like wedding rings, character development, emotional journey, intense, tragic.
• Comedy: Timing of jokes, family, props.
• Drama: Different conflicts, tragedy, emotional theme, real life situation, strong narrative.
• Comedy/Drama

Throughout this film we are taken on a roller coaster of emotions. Our female protagonist Almut is diagnosed with cancer. This is considered as a tragedy which takes Almut and her family on a roller coaster of emotions. She falls in love with our male love interest Tobias where they later have a kid together. It shows how the couple processes a cancer diagnosis but still raise their kid the best to their ability (drama). The two characters go through a wedding proposal and an emotional journey (romance) to make the most out of the time Almut has left. The movie grabbed the attention of romance lovers but also peaked the interest of those interested in more of a drama filled film, making this an example of genre hybridity. 

"Saltburn" is another newer released film (2023) about two college classmates spending the summer together. 

The genres being represented in this film is: 

• Thriller: Weapons, drugs, edge of your seat, tension, unexpected twist, fast-paced plot.
• Comedy: Soundtrack, timing of jokes.
• Psychological Thriller: Minds of the characters, mental instability, complex relationships
• Drama: Relationships, fast-paced

In this film, viewers are kept on the edge of their seat throughout the entire film. With our two protagonist being college classmates, there is a lot of drugs and alcohol throughout the film. You are kept on the edge of your seat with a lot of unexpected twist with an ending that leaves your jaw on the floor (Thriller). In the film, you are portrayed to be in the mind of the protagonist Oliver. As the film progresses you are under this impression that there is something seriously wrong with him mentally and he might not be very stable (Psychological thriller).

The last type of film is "It Ends With Us" (2024). This is a film about two people who fall in love but he is not the man she thinks he is and their relationship is nothing close to as it is portrayed.

Genres that are being represented are: 

• Romance: Two love interest, love triangle, children, living together, marriage
• Drama: Children, divorce, fighting, soundtrack, backstory
• Melodrama: Personal relationships, intense conflicts, emotional struggles

In this film, the viewers are introduced early on to the two main protagonists (Lilly and Ryle). They end up falling in love and moving in with one another (romance). The two then go out to eat and run into Lilly's ex-boyfriend (Atlas) which leads her to be confused and now they are in one big love triangle. The original male love interest, Ryle, begins to get aggressive with Lilly and ends up with them getting a divorce after welcoming their first child into the world. This film focuses closely on the background of Lilly and Atlas (melodrama) and the conflicts between Lilly and Ryle as they begin to know each other more. 

By creating films with genre hybridity, it creates a more intense plot. There are multiple things happening at once and it brings in the attention of multiple people. I used these movies as examples to explain genre hybridity because they all share the similar genres I plan to use throughout my film so it was a good learning experience!