Genre and

Representati
ons
Ashamae Swyer
 Genre
The genre of our short film is a Romantic
Drama, which can be referred to as a
Hybrid genre, which occurs when two
seemingly different genres are merged
together to form a new and developed
genre that utilizes codes and
conventions from both.
 Codes
Codes refer to the systems of signs within a media text that
a genre uses to create meaning. Codes can be broken into
two sub-sections; Technical and Symbolic codes. Technical
codes refer to ways in which the microelements are used to
create meaning within a text, whereas Symbolic codes look
at the inferred meaning behind the text, or the
connotations.

In terms of our short film, there are a lot of codes used to

create meaning within our text that are both Technical and
Symbolic. For example, multiple close-ups of our female
protagonists (Karina) heart-shaped locket signifies its
importance to the character and the story. However, when
it is looked at symbolically, it symbolises the love for her
deceased boyfriend that she fights to hold onto.
 Conventions
In comparison to codes, conventions refers to the
typical way of doing things. This could be a group of
factors that collectively allow a genre to be identified
by audiences.

In our short film, we have included many of these

typical factors, so that the film is immediately
identified as a Romantic Drama. One explicit example
is the use of heart and flower symbols that were
prominent throughout our short film.
 Representations
The term Representation refers to the ways in
which groups/individuals/ideals/topics are
portrayed in the media. Tell Me You Love Me
can be assessed in terms the different
Representations that are present within the
short films narrative. For example, the
collective identity of teenagers in the short
film is presented as very emotional, which
fits in with the medias view of teenagers as
being aggressive and displaying irrational
emotions.
 Semiotic
Representations
Semiotics refers to the study of signs, and
heavily linked to the ways in which these signs
are used in media texts. In terms of the Semiotic
Representations that are seen in our short film,
there are many symbols used to signify love and
death, which appear to compliment each other
throughout the short film. These can be through
the use of hearts, background piano music,
cemetery setting, bouquet of roses, etc. These
symbols could fit into both categories, meaning
that it was easier for us to show the genre.
 Character
Representations
The Character Representations of the two
protagonists, Karina and Hayden, have elements
that make their portrayals appear stereotypical
of teenagers, but also appear to subvert the
stereotype, like how Karinas character develops
and becomes more mature in her approach
towards death by the end of the short film. This
idea of teenage characters developing maturity
can be seen in the media (i.e. teen dramas, Teen
Wolf), however the stereotypical portrayal proves
to be the dominant view in the media.