1. Introduction
Genre is an important classification technique used in films, literature, music and so forth. Although significant, genre is not a fixed idea in film. There are many grey areas when subgenres, subversions and hybrids are included. A single film can cross over many genres and therefore cannot be put into a single category. For example Tim Burton’s movie Corpse Bride, released in 2005. It would be wrong to solely consider this a romance film, even though the conventions of the romance genre are greatly emphasised. Corpse Bride includes characteristics of a musical and a horror film. This assignment discusses the importance of genre in film and why genre can be greatly argued when it is applied to Corpse Bride to distinguish …show more content…
The film tells the story of Victor, a nervous young man who is arranged to marry the vacant eyed Victoria. After running out from his wedding rehearsal, tragic events occur and Victor finds himself accidently married to another woman- Emily. Victor desperately seeks to return to Victoria, to fulfil his promise of marrying her but Emily doesn’t want lose her new husband. Eventually Emily realises that Victor does not love her so she consents him to marry Victoria, allowing herself to find peace from this (Mcdermott 2005). From this simple plot analysis, it may appear that Corpse Bride is a romance. This is not true because this synopsis contains only half the facts of the film. Corpse Bride includes musical numbers to express character’s feelings or to explain their circumstances. The most important subversion of this film is that Emily, the blushing bride, is a rotting corpse. This film cannot be only considered a horror, a romance or musical rather hybrid of all three. In order to fully argue this statement, it is critical to understand these three …show more content…
Lyrics relate back to the story, providing insight into the situation or emotions relevant to the individuals (Dirks, T [sa]). Sound films were revolutionary after the silent film genre, the first musical film release was The Jazz Singer in 1927 (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica [sa]). Famous musicals include Grease and Singing in the Rain. Corpse Bride does include many aspects of the musical genre. Mr Bone-Jangles explains the events that led up to Emily’s death through song. Not greatly emphasised in the film, a dance number is included through the skeletons but synchronised actions (to the lyrics sung) are used more. To take the musical elements completely out of this film would not necessarily change the plot nevertheless is very effective when used in Corpse Bride. It shows the difference between the worlds of the living and the dead, where the dead are jazzy and lively compared to the morbid songs of the living. The musical numbers also cut the time it would take to explain why characters are in certain
Genre is an important classification technique used in films, literature, music and so forth. Although significant, genre is not a fixed idea in film. There are many grey areas when subgenres, subversions and hybrids are included. A single film can cross over many genres and therefore cannot be put into a single category. For example Tim Burton’s movie Corpse Bride, released in 2005. It would be wrong to solely consider this a romance film, even though the conventions of the romance genre are greatly emphasised. Corpse Bride includes characteristics of a musical and a horror film. This assignment discusses the importance of genre in film and why genre can be greatly argued when it is applied to Corpse Bride to distinguish …show more content…
The film tells the story of Victor, a nervous young man who is arranged to marry the vacant eyed Victoria. After running out from his wedding rehearsal, tragic events occur and Victor finds himself accidently married to another woman- Emily. Victor desperately seeks to return to Victoria, to fulfil his promise of marrying her but Emily doesn’t want lose her new husband. Eventually Emily realises that Victor does not love her so she consents him to marry Victoria, allowing herself to find peace from this (Mcdermott 2005). From this simple plot analysis, it may appear that Corpse Bride is a romance. This is not true because this synopsis contains only half the facts of the film. Corpse Bride includes musical numbers to express character’s feelings or to explain their circumstances. The most important subversion of this film is that Emily, the blushing bride, is a rotting corpse. This film cannot be only considered a horror, a romance or musical rather hybrid of all three. In order to fully argue this statement, it is critical to understand these three …show more content…
Lyrics relate back to the story, providing insight into the situation or emotions relevant to the individuals (Dirks, T [sa]). Sound films were revolutionary after the silent film genre, the first musical film release was The Jazz Singer in 1927 (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica [sa]). Famous musicals include Grease and Singing in the Rain. Corpse Bride does include many aspects of the musical genre. Mr Bone-Jangles explains the events that led up to Emily’s death through song. Not greatly emphasised in the film, a dance number is included through the skeletons but synchronised actions (to the lyrics sung) are used more. To take the musical elements completely out of this film would not necessarily change the plot nevertheless is very effective when used in Corpse Bride. It shows the difference between the worlds of the living and the dead, where the dead are jazzy and lively compared to the morbid songs of the living. The musical numbers also cut the time it would take to explain why characters are in certain