Codes And Conventions Of The Crime Genre/Our Film

Codes and conventions

The crime genre typically holds aspects of the drama/action and thriller genres meaning they share similar codes and conventions which could be classed as sub-genres. Despite this, the stereotypical crime genre holds its own aspects which make it unique and thus its own genre. As mentioned in my 'The history of the crime genre post' the genre is constantly evolving as its two surrogate genres codes and conventions change. It is this, the codes and conventions associated and the films found within these genres that appealed to us as a group, which is why we have chosen to base our film around them. The conventions of a film are what is usually portrayed within a film - what the audience expects to see for them to be able to understand and enjoy the plot. Codes are the signs used within a film to establish the type of genre/sub-genre it is based around. Codes and conventions help the audience to establish the genre through the use of camera angles, sound and characters.

The pacing of crime films is often slow, fluctuating in action throughout, providing the audience with short bursts of intensity, (typically in the form of action or mystery) as the plot reaches its climax. Often if violence is used it is used to ensure the audience does not believe that the lifestyle portrayed is good, which adds a sense of realism, as well as ensuring the characters are kept out-side of typical morality. Detectives are a stereotypical character expected to play a part in the crime genre, and the characters used are usually multidimensional to add a human element and give the audience a method of connecting to the character. Despite this, the detectives are usually portrayed in a way which makes them seem superior, something often shown in the Realist sub-genre of crime, creating a sense of mystery and awe around them. Characters within crime sub-genres also contain obvious human flaws such as greed or misunderstanding, making them believable characters and allowing the audience to connect with them upon these common grounds. At the same time their human flaws are often themes which are explored and are usually the downfall of the characters.

Many crime films focus on the juxtaposition between different people, for example the family of the detective's in comparison to the family of the criminal or the family affected by the adverse effects of the crime. This adds a sense of reality to the genre, which allows the audience to connect in more depth, producing a higher level of enjoyment due to the ability to relate or evoke emotion. From research, looking at films with a target audience ranging between 15-24, the protagonists often tend to be aspiring gangsters, constantly trying to strive for more money and a better life. The plots often centre around the rise and fall of these gangsters showing them both succeed and then come undone. The films often portray comic sequences to make the characters more endearing to the audience however they often show aspects of society winning in order to enforce negative attitudes towards crime. Another stereotypical criminal in the crime genre is a deranged, unhinged character. These characters are almost always men, who are fuelled by a certain aspect of the antagonist's life, such as wealth or greed. Typically the antagonists are vulnerable females targeted for either their looks or lifestyles.