> 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