Once the war movie becomes a familiar genre, as in the world war ii combat film, it is a story the audience knows and accepts. Props guns horse planeshelicopters grenades first aidmedical care men in practically all war films are often matched with guns and weapons to show a sense of power and it also shows how strong they can be too. With its doubleply titlemahnungwarning, this piece of discrepant pieces is named both for the film image pictured within it and for its captioned setting in the satirized passivity of a commercial movie theater. Its outbreak occurred in europe, however, involved more than 30 countries from all continents and spread to africa and the middle east. The war film as a genre is best defined as a movie in which a fictionalized or factbased. A movie genre where war is either the major action of the film or the essential background for the film s action. The war genre could even be blended with the musical genre and result in a film such as milos formans brilliant antiwar drama hair. The books in this genre can be about anything and everything pertaining to the causes or acts of war. Actionwar is a subgenre of action film that incorporates the traditional aspects on an action film into a storyline that revolves around war or wartime. The war film how does the genre war film fit within the modes. War films film genres research guides at dartmouth college. A film genre is a motionpicture category based for example on similarities either in the narrative elements or in the emotional response to the film namely. Coms war genre, including war writing, war stories, war poetry, war authors, war poems, and war war.
With that said, coming up with an allencompassing, generic definition for the war film genre presents a number of challenges. In this episode, we venture into hollywoods treatment of the war film genre. In the world of cinema, there is perhaps no other genre that is quite as effective at simultaneously addressing sociopolitical issues and assessing elements pertaining to human nature as the war film genre. A guide to classic film genres and styles thoughtco. The hollywood war film genre modulates the audiences emotional. The war film genre includes films about warfare, including naval, air or land battles. Characteristics of the war film simply put, the war film focuses on the narrative level conflicts using.
Movies have portrayed war, along with its inherent struggles, horrors and opportunities for heroism, since the early years of film. If youre interested in the chronological history of film by decade visit the section on film history by decade or the multipart section on. Light fixtures and placement that create shadows on the set, that obscure or completely hide action in certain areas of the set, or that change as the main characters emotional state changes are all ways that lighting can be used to heighten the drama and suspense in dramatic films. Themes explored include combat, survival and escape, camaraderie between.
This essay will attempt to define the genre, chronicle the history. The war genre is straightforward because the movie is very limited in its parameters. What are the characteristics of the war film as a genre. Describe at least three different characteristics and how they influence a films genre. The action typically involves individual efforts on the part of the hero, in contrast with most war films. Drama is intended to reflect human behavior and action in the midst of crisis and everyday life. This is a list of genres of literature and entertainment, excluding genres in the visual arts. War films like films in any genre tend to have a number of cliches associated.
The entries under those headings are films produced in that country. Genre characteristics 2 genre definition frequently found elements picture. Not only can these movies contain stunts, battles, and a hero, but they can also explore the more serious topic of war. While critics argue about the characteristics of every film genre, there are some generally accepted categories and styles of classic films. Lets try to create a list of 14 characteristics starting with features common to all most film noirs. An everpresent film genre, the war film is detailed in the evolution of the war film genre. Drama film is a genre that relies on the emotional and relational development of realistic characters. Musical film, motion picture consisting of a plot integrating musical numbers. Films in this genre may focus on the battles, prisoners of war, military training, life during wartime or morality and humanitarian issues of warfare. May 18, 2015 identifying the war war genre in film. Genre is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or entertainment, e. The merriamwebster dictionary defines war as a state or period of fighting between countries or groups. Link those elements together that seem most logical. The category of war movies spans nearly all film genres, including action, suspense, romance, westerns and even comedy.
As soon as cameras could take moving pictures of combat, war became a popular subject for narrative movies. Coming up with a generic definition of the war film presents problems. For educational purposes only this video contain material from several hollywood films including fox, paramount that are not my own. From westerns and world war ii to vietnam, showing the origin of the war film genre as it evolved from the western and was modified during the years in between world war ii and vietnam, before being completely changed when films about the vietnam.
The war tapes and the poetics of affect of the hollywood war film. The war film as a genre is best defined as a movie in which a. What characteristics are generally present in war films. Describe at least three different characteristics and how they influence a film s genre. In the war film, robert eberwein brings together essays by scholars using a variety of critical approaches to explore this enduringly popular film genre. This genre includes all plays or anything meant to be performed. The genre is closely linked with the thriller and adventure. Memoir is a retrospective account of a memorable event. May 14, 2014 in the world of cinema, there is perhaps no other genre that is quite as effective at simultaneously addressing sociopolitical issues and assessing elements pertaining to human nature as the war film genre. Although no one can be certain of the exact first war movie, many historians feel it is probably a oneandahalfminute pro war film, tearing down the spanish flag, made on a set in new york city immediately after the united states declared war on spain in april 1898. War and peace is what the author wished and was able to express in the form in which it is expressed.
The war film genre is not necessarily tightly defined. The war film as a genre is best defined as a movie in which a fictionalized or factbased story is told about an actual historical war. In fact, one of the conventions of the genre that developed during the period. Documentary film can encompass anything from robert flahertys pioneering ethnography nanook of the north to michael moores antiiraq war polemic fahrenheit 911, from dziga vertovs artful soviet propaganda piece man with a movie camera to luc jacquets heart. Books in the war nonfiction genre are about the acts, reasons behind, countries, economics, governments, politics, equipment, strategies, and people involved with, and affected by, war. In this way, one can argue that all scripted television. If youre interested in the chronological history of film by decade visit the section on film history by decade or the multipart section on milestones in film history. The term epic originally came from the poetic genre exemplified by such works as the epic of gilgamesh and the works of the trojan war cycle. The first war film to be documented was a onereel, 90second propagandist effort the vitagraph companys fictitious tearing down the spanish flag 1898, produced in the year of the spanishamerican war. In classical literature, epics are considered works focused on deeds or journeys of heroes upon which the fate of many people depend. Rate your music is an online community of people who love music. War movies history film genres and hollywood youtube.
While drama film relies heavily on this kind of development, dramatic themes play a large role in the plot as well. Uniform helmet mud blood camouflage bandages gas mask. Several genres exist within drama, each with their own storytelling methods, character types and dramatic approach. A war novel is a novel in which the primary action takes place in a field of armed combat, or in a domestic setting or home front where the characters are preoccupied with. That list also contains foreign produced war films. Some argue that it is a genre, while others contend that film noir is more of a tone or mood in the film, and some contend that film noir is more of a visual style. Though largely focused on combat or preparation for fighting, the genre also embraces other war related subjects. What is characteristic of the recent cycle of war film docudrama. Defining the war film war films children, movie, role. In addition, film noir cannot be defined only by characteristics in the film, because while there are certain traits that are present in many films, they are not necessarily. Although no one can be certain of the exact first war movie, many historians feel it is probably a oneandahalfminute prowar film, tearing down the spanish flag, made on a set in new york city immediately after the united states declared war on spain in april 1898. Before the montage that is the war film, consider a photocollageaboutwar on film, from 1937, by the famous antinazi polemicist john heartfield. However, dont overlook the list under the second heading. Memoirs may cover only one event or aspect of the authors life.
In this genre the film you write may be prowar, or anti war. When analyzing films for school work or projects, you may be asked to use some or all of the characteristics above. Mar 14, 2011 drama film is a genre that relies on the emotional and relational development of realistic characters. Griffiths 1918 silent film hearts of the world depicted trench warfare from the world war i era. Documentary film can encompass anything from robert flahertys pioneering ethnography nanook of the north to michael moores antiiraq war polemic fahrenheit 911, from dziga vertovs artful soviet propaganda piece man with a movie camera to luc jacquets hearttugging wildlife epic march of the penguins. War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about naval, air, or land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. Oct 11, 2015 war is often the setting for another genre, such as the love story. Action films are a film genre where action sequences, such as fighting, stunts, car chases or explosions, take precedence over elements like characterization or complex plotting.
War films as a major film genre emerged after the outbreak of world war i. Sequences portraying battles that involve tanks, fighter planes, warships, firearms and handtohand combat have been consistent hallmarks of war movies since the earliest days of the genre. Often, these dramatic themes are taken from intense, real life issues. From some words about war and peace, published in 1868 in russian archive.
A war film is a film dealing with the theme of war, focusing generally on the naval aspect, air, or land disputes. Listed below are some of the most common and identifiable film genre categories, with descriptions of each type or category. Feb 19, 2018 war genre whats the best definition for the war genre. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. In context to the film genre we will be discussing the war film. Although usually considered an american genre, musical films from japan, italy, france, great britain, and germany have contributed to the development of the type. Defining the war film war films children, movie, role, news, story. All of which is to say basically, it is what it is. In addition, film noir cannot be defined only by characteristics in the film, because while there are certain traits. Action war is a sub genre of action film that incorporates the traditional aspects on an action film into a storyline that revolves around war or wartime. The first musical film, the jazz singer 1927, starring. If you want to find war films from other countries, scroll down the list to see war films followed by a country name. The most dramaticand frequently the most enduringefforts to define and articulate americas illfated involvement in vietnam emerged from. Try to think of the film as a whole and how the elements mentioned above work together to bring out the main message of the film.
A war movie made after the strife has ended needs to find other purposes, and unlike movies made during the fighting, needs to justify its morality. War genre code and conventions plot narrative unrest. Fighting that war, planning it, and undergoing combat within it should fill the major portion of the running time. As budgets spiraled out of control on films like apocalypse now and heavens gate, studios became more reluctant to invest money in epics, and the genre faded from the screens, with only the occasional sweeping tale notably the english patient and titanic reviving the widescreen glory of the epic of yesteryear. We know as a feature film the audiovisual production or cinematographic production, which has a minimum duration of 60 minutes, is also considered as a feature film that production with a duration greater than fortyfive minutes is produced in a support format of 70 mm with a minimum of 8 perforations per image. The examination of these films centres on their similarities to and differences from the conventions of the war genre and seeks to determine whether the distinctive characteristics of naval film narratives justify their categorisation as a separate genre or subgenre in popular cinema. To define the war film, it is thus necessary to establish parameters, the first of. The fateful nature of battle scenes means that war films often end with them. A war novel is a novel in which the primary action takes place in a field of armed combat, or in a domestic setting or home front where the characters are preoccupied with the preparations for, or recovery from, war. Feature film what is, definition, characteristics, types. War genre whats the best definition for the war genre. A movie genre where war is either the major action of the film or the essential background for the films action. Though largely focused on combat or preparation for fighting, the genre also embraces other warrelated subjects.
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