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June 1998, Week 2

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Subject:
From:
Scott Hutchins <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 11 Jun 1998 11:19:06 -0500
Content-Type:
TEXT/PLAIN
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TEXT/PLAIN (57 lines)
There is a book on the "adventure" film as a genre, and it suggests that
people might be surprised that it covers Buster Keaton's _The General_,
even though it's as much an adventure and war film as it is a comedy.
If this is something you're interested in, I can check it up at the
library, because I don't know what it's called, but I could pick it off
the shelf.
 
Scott
 
 
 
On Tue, 9 Jun 1998, Brian Taves wrote:
 
> > Date:    Fri, 5 Jun 1998 18:18:49 +0100
> > From:    Ingvald Bergsagel <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Action as genre
> >
> > Does anyone know of genre-studies done on action-films? I've found plenty
> > on western, noir, gangster, sci-fi, adventure and other related genres, in
> > addition to (naturaly) writings on screen-violence mentioning classic
> > action-flicks, but nobody seems to have analysed action as a genre.
>
> I think the reason is, as I suggest in my book on the historical adventure
> genre, because "action" itself is not a genre.  The types you've mentioned
> above are genres, whereas action is a style uniting them.  The word action
> itself does not imply a specific type of story or formula, but rather a
> way of treating a story and an emphasis on certain types of elements.
> Action is a male-oriented approach dependent on physical movement,
> violence, and suspense, with often perfunctory motivation and romance.
> Action tends to shift sentiment, character, dialogue, and family to the
> background.  In action films a hero succeeds by facing death, courageously
> overcoming dangers and adversaries.  Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Shane,
> the Thief of Bagdad, Luke Skywalker, and Robin Hood are, I would argue,
> all action heroes--but each belongs to a separate genre (mystery,
> espionage, western, fantasy, science fiction, historical adventure,
> respectively).
>
>
> Brian Taves
> Motion Picture/Broadcasting/Recorded Sound Division
> Library of Congress
> 101 Independence Avenue, S.E.    Washington, D.C.  20540-4692
> Telephone:  202-707-9930; 202-707-2371 (fax)
> Email:  [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Disclaimer--All opinions expressed are my own.
>
> ----
> Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite
> http://www.tcf.ua.edu/screensite
>
 
----
Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite
http://www.tcf.ua.edu/screensite

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