5.1 Genre conventions and expectations

Television genres shape audience expectations and guide storytelling conventions. From setting and character archetypes to plot structure and tone, genres provide a framework for writers to craft compelling narratives that resonate with viewers.

Understanding genre conventions allows writers to meet audience expectations while finding opportunities to subvert tropes and blend genres. By aligning premise with genre elements, writers can create innovative series that stand out in a crowded marketplace and connect with target demographics.

Types of television genres

• Television genres categorize shows based on shared conventions, such as setting, characters, plot structure, and tone
• Genres help audiences know what to expect from a series and guide their viewing choices
• Some common television genres include drama, comedy, science fiction, fantasy, horror, crime, mystery, and reality TV

Elements of genre conventions

Setting and world building

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• The time period, location, and overall environment in which the story takes place
• Establishes the rules, limitations, and possibilities within the fictional world
• Influences character behavior, plot events, and thematic exploration
• Helps create a unique and immersive experience for the audience (Westeros in Game of Thrones, Hawkins in Stranger Things)

Character archetypes

• Recurring character types that are commonly associated with specific genres
• Serve as a shorthand for audience understanding and expectation
• Can include the reluctant hero, the wise mentor, the comic relief sidekick, the femme fatale, and the evil villain
• Archetypes are often subverted or deconstructed to create more complex and nuanced characters (Walter White in Breaking Bad)

Plot and story structure

• The arrangement and pacing of narrative events within an episode or season
• Genres often have characteristic plot points, such as the meet-cute in romantic comedies or the climactic battle in action series
• Story structure can follow traditional patterns (three-act structure) or experiment with non-linear storytelling (Westworld)
• Influences the rising action, climax, and resolution of character arcs and central conflicts

Theme and central conflict

• The underlying ideas, messages, or questions explored throughout the series
• Central conflicts drive character motivations and create dramatic tension
• Genres tend to tackle specific thematic territory, such as the nature of justice in legal dramas or the meaning of love in romance series
• Theme and conflict can be expressed through dialogue, visual symbolism, and character development (The Handmaid's Tale explores oppression and resistance)

Tone and style

• The overall mood, atmosphere, and artistic approach of the series
• Encompasses elements such as cinematography, lighting, music, and editing
• Genres often have a distinctive tone, such as the gritty realism of crime dramas or the heightened camp of soap operas
• Tone and style help create a consistent and cohesive viewing experience (The bold colors and fast-paced editing of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

Format and length

• The structure and runtime of individual episodes and seasons
• Genres may have characteristic formats, such as the self-contained case-of-the-week in procedurals or the serialized long-form narrative in prestige dramas
• Episode length can range from short-form web series to feature-length limited series
• Format and length impact pacing, character development, and narrative complexity (Black Mirror's standalone anthology format)

Audience expectations by genre

Demographics and psychographics

• The age, gender, income, education, and other socioeconomic characteristics of the target audience
• Psychographics encompass the attitudes, values, interests, and lifestyle preferences of viewers
• Genres often target specific demographic and psychographic profiles, such as young adult dystopian fiction appealing to teenagers seeking stories of rebellion and identity formation
• Understanding audience demographics and psychographics helps writers craft relatable characters and resonant themes

Desired emotional experience

• The primary feelings and reactions that viewers seek from a particular genre
• Can range from the adrenaline rush of action-adventure series to the heartwarming comfort of family sitcoms
• Genres create a promise of a specific emotional journey, such as the solving of a mystery or the triumph of an underdog
• Writers can use genre conventions to manipulate audience emotions and create satisfying payoffs (This Is Us delivers cathartic moments of joy and sorrow)

Familiarity vs novelty

• The balance between giving viewers what they expect and surprising them with fresh elements
• Genres provide a familiar framework that audiences find comfortable and accessible
• Novelty can come from subverting tropes, blending genres, or exploring new narrative territory
• Striking the right balance between the familiar and the novel helps keep audiences engaged and invested in the story (Stranger Things combines nostalgia for 80s Spielberg with inventive sci-fi horror)

Subverting genre conventions

Blending multiple genres

• Combining elements from different genres to create a unique and unpredictable viewing experience
• Can juxtapose contrasting tones, themes, or plot structures to generate new meanings and emotional effects
• Helps a series stand out in a crowded marketplace and attract diverse audiences
• Requires a deft touch to balance competing genre demands and maintain a cohesive vision (Buffy the Vampire Slayer blends teen drama, horror, and comedy)

Deconstructing tropes

• Examining and critiquing the recurring motifs, characters, and storylines associated with a genre
• Exposes the underlying assumptions and power dynamics that genre conventions often reinforce
• Can create a more self-aware and socially conscious viewing experience that challenges audience expectations
• Risks alienating viewers who prefer the comforts of traditional genre fare (Watchmen deconstructs the superhero genre to explore issues of race and policing)

Inverting expectations

• Deliberately defying or contradicting the anticipated outcomes or character arcs of a genre
• Creates moments of surprise, shock, or subversive delight for the audience
• Can upend power dynamics, challenge moral assumptions, or reframe the central themes of the story
• Requires careful setup and foreshadowing to feel earned and impactful (The Good Place inverts expectations of the afterlife sitcom)

Genre evolution over time

Impact of technology

• Advancements in production tools, distribution platforms, and viewing habits shape the form and content of genre storytelling
• Streaming services have enabled more niche and experimental genre content to find an audience
• CGI and VFX have expanded the scope and spectacle of genres like science fiction and fantasy
• Social media has made genre fandom more participatory and influenced the development of transmedia storytelling (Black Mirror: Bandersnatch's interactive choose-your-own-adventure format)

Influence of cultural trends

• Genres reflect and respond to the dominant values, anxieties, and aspirations of their cultural moment
• Changing social norms and political climates can inspire new subgenres or reframe classic genre conventions
• Genres can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and power imbalances or challenge and subvert them
• Tracking cultural trends helps writers anticipate audience appetites and craft resonant and relevant stories (The Handmaid's Tale and the resurgence of feminist dystopian fiction)

Landmark innovative series

• Groundbreaking shows that introduce new genre elements, storytelling techniques, or thematic concerns
• Inspire imitators and shape audience expectations for subsequent genre entries
• Often become touchstones of their era and influence the broader cultural conversation
• Studying landmark series helps writers understand the evolution and potential of their chosen genre (The Sopranos and the rise of prestige antiheroes)

Aligning genre and premise

Expressing premise through conventions

• The premise is the core concept or "what if?" question that drives the story
• Genre conventions provide a toolkit for exploring the implications and complications of the premise
• Skillful use of conventions can help articulate character motivations, escalate conflicts, and build to a satisfying resolution
• Misalignment of premise and conventions can create a muddled or unsatisfying viewing experience (The premise of The Walking Dead is expressed through post-apocalyptic survival horror conventions)

Genre as a framing device

• Genre can function as a lens or metaphor for examining deeper thematic ideas or social issues
• Fantastical or speculative genres can provide an allegorical distance to explore real-world problems and power dynamics
• Grounding genres like crime or legal drama can offer a procedural framework to investigate character psychology and moral dilemmas
• Genre frameworks help audiences connect abstract concepts to concrete and relatable situations (The science fiction premise of Battlestar Galactica functions as an allegory for post-9/11 politics and religion)

Premise-convention mismatch

• When the genre conventions undermine or contradict the central premise of the story
• Can happen when writers prioritize genre tropes over the logical implications of their world or characters
• Creates a sense of inconsistency, contrivance, or thematic incoherence that breaks audience immersion
• Often stems from a lack of clarity or commitment to the core values and conflicts of the premise (Mismatched tone and genre conventions can muddle the satirical premise of a dark comedy)

Genre and marketability

Genre trends and cycles

• Genres go through periods of popularity and oversaturation based on cultural trends and commercial success
• Following a genre trend can help a series capitalize on audience demand and buzz
• Standing out within a popular genre requires a fresh take or distinctive voice
• Predicting the next genre trend requires an understanding of cultural undercurrents and untapped audience desires (The resurgence of true crime documentaries and podcasts in the 2010s)

Niche vs broad appeal

• Niche genres target a specific and passionate audience demographic with narrowly tailored conventions and themes
• Broad appeal genres aim for a wide and diverse viewership by blending conventions and featuring universal themes
• Niche series can cultivate a dedicated fanbase and generate buzz, but may struggle to achieve mainstream success
• Broad appeal series can attract a larger audience, but may struggle to stand out in a crowded marketplace (Game of Thrones' broad appeal vs Battlestar Galactica's niche sci-fi audience)

Pitching with comp titles

• Referencing successful series or films in the same genre as a shorthand for tone, style, and audience
• Helps producers and executives quickly understand the vision and marketability of a series concept
• Comp titles should be well-known and relevant, but not so iconic as to invite unflattering comparisons
• Effective pitches blend familiar comp titles with a unique and specific premise (Pitching a series as "Breaking Bad meets The Wire")