Chosen Film Posters- Genre codes

Genre codes refer to the repertoire of elements associated with different film genres that help the viewer understand what to expect from the film.
It is the shorthand signifying system used by film industries to suggest the genre of the movie to its audience.
These are identified through elements such as title, tagline, credits, imagery, colour scheme, and typography used in the poster.

Analysing the genre codes in a film poster requires us to interpret the various elements in poster like colour, typography, images, composition, and iconography.
For instance, a horror film might use dark colors, an eerie photograph, and a scared facial expression of the actor to suggest fear and suspense.
Similarly, an action movie might choose a bold, rugged font with high contrast and action-filled image to signify thrill and high energy levels.

The successful communication of genre codes is a significant aspect of film poster’s success in attracting the right audience.
Theoretically, the more accurately the genre codes portray the film’s actual content, the more likely the target audience will be interested in seeing the film.
This reinforces the importance of visual clues and prompts that film posters provide to engage and connect with their audiences on the emotional level.

The film poster of The Dark Knight Rises uses the codes very effectively to depict the genre and attract its target audience.
The poster uses the symbol of the broken Batman mask against the background of a burning city, tapping into violence, darkness, and chaos, signalling the film’s action and thriller genre.
The text ‘The Legend Ends’ in bold adds a sense of climax and anticipation. The bold white text against the dark background stands out, indicating the high-contract and violence nature of the action genre.

Genre codes in film posters are crucial tools in communicating the nature of the film’s content to its potential audience.
A thorough understanding of genre codes and their proper implementation can result in effective marketing and improved box office success.
As such, the insight into genre codes is crucial in understanding the role of film marketing in the media landscape.