Practice Essay for Genre Question

Genre is dependent on the social context within which it is created.

When films are created, they must show an insight to society at the time of production,
films are a window for viewers to observe a more lavish version of their own lives. The
road movie genre was no exception to this idea. They showed aspects of society and were
dependent on society on their content. Three Road Movies that clearly show this idea is It
Happened One Night, Bonnie and Clyde and Thelma and Louise.
Every genre has its own set of codes and conventions, aspects that allow us to categorise
them into these genres. The narrative of the road movie genre, shows us an emotional and
physical growth on a journey to self discovery, they challenge social mobility and social
diversity, there are at least two central characters who are followed along this journey.
These characters, obviously, have a form of transport that takes them along this journey,
typically a car. The car aides in the convention of the all mighty crash, the end of the
movie, the climax of death and destruction. Finally, the genre shows the ability to law
break, be free of constrictions, authority and responsibility.
Genres dependency on society is shown in It Happened One Night directed by Frank
Capra. This movie showed the journey of two people, Ellie and Peter, on a journey to
escape Ellies controlling father. This is the important convention of escapism from
authority. The content of this movie was dependent on the introduction of the Hays Code,
a set of compulsory guidelines, set down for moviemakers, in the early 1930s. The Hays
Code was introduced after many sinful acts took place in Hollywood during the late
1920s. The Catholic Church, which was the most common form or religion at the time,
believed that if film was seen to be condoning this, more sinful behaviour would surface.
This code effected Capras choices in the movie. One aspect of the code stated that,
Pictures shall not imply that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common
thing. When Ellie and Peter were in the same sleeping in the same room, they had to
make the wall of Jericho, an ancient Christian city, out of blankets to avoid breaking
this rule. This was important as they couldnt risk breaking the rule, or their film would
lose right to air. This meant that the narrative had to be tame and would bore audiences
today.
Bonnie and Clyde, was also a movie that was effected by the time in which it was
produced. In the 1960s, 30 years after the actual events of the infamous robbers, the
movie was released. The changed the narrative, convention of the journey they took.
During the actual journey of these law breakers, Bonnie was merely a pretty tool, she was
a well educated woman who merely fall in love with Clyde, she had never even fired a
gun. They were also not the nice likeable robbers they were made out to be. Clyde was
violent, and killed many innocent victims along the way. When he was eventually gunned
down it was seen as showing justice for his crimes.

This however was contradicted in the film. After the abandonment of the Hays Code in
1968, Bonnie and Clyde, was free to change the factual events of the story. Another
aspect of the code stated that, No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral
standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be
thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin. This code is far from what we see
in the film. The narrative structure is altered to show that the wrong doer is good.
Bonnie is regular seen shooting guns, this was important as it showed her character as
strong and free spirited, far from her actual role. This is important to the changing
society, were woman were gaining more rights, and leaving their subservient image
behind.
When the pair were gunned down in the film by the police, we feel like they are hard
done by, that the punishment was not worthy of the crime. This is important in the 1960s
society. While the Vietnam War was taking place, American citizens protested their
involvement in it. A large antiauthority movement broke out. In Bonnie and Clyde, this
was shown by the lack of respect and the undesirable end that was carried out, by the
police.
The conventions of the road movie genre continued to change and evolve, this was
evident some 20 years later when Thelma and Louise was released. This movie was
released during a very important feminist movement. Although they had already won the
fight for women to have the vote, feminist groups still worked tirelessly to ensure that
gender discrimination was a thing of the past. Thelma and Louise, addressed the issue of
oppression of women. The movie was dependent on societys regard of this issue as
important. When Thelma, the oppressed house wife, and Loiuse, the underpaid and over
worked waitress, head off on their journey, they find the ability to be free of the
constrictions of being a women in the 90s.
The narrative changed dramatically from the young wife in It Happened One Night, to
Louises character, who was unmarried and sexually free. The men are seen as the
antagonists during the film, the ones who steal, rape and beat, those who cannot be
trusted. To show audiences that women were liberated, Thelma and Louise choose to
drive over a cliff, ensuring death, rather than giving into the oppression and authority that
awaited them upon capture. This resulted in the key convention of the climax causing
death to the main characters. This was important to the early 90s audience, as they liked
the ability to see strong women escaping their hardships and having free lives without the
usual restrictions of being a woman.
Genre, especially road movies are extremely dependent on the situation of society, those
who are to view the film, what they can handle and what they want. As seen in the three
movies, It Happened One Night, was influenced greatly by the Catholic church and their
demands, Bonnie and Clyde, was dependent on citizens wanting to see an
antiauthoritarian film, and Thelma and Louise, helped show oppressed females that they
could be free and independent from the usual constrictions.