Christian Metz model of genre development.

In lesson we identified films in the horror genre and used Christian Metz model of development to recognize the horror genres existence and development.


Introducing Metz theory;
Christian Metz in his book LANGUAGE AND CINEMA (1974) explored the development of genre film and suggested that genres pass through four phases of existence:

1) The experimental- The cabinet of Dr Claigan (1919), Nosferatu (1922)
2) The classic- Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931)
3) The parody- Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948), carry on screaming (1968) scary movie (1998)
4)The deconstruction- Se7en (1995), The sixth sense (1999), The Blair witch project (1948), Scream (1996)

Explanation of 4 phases;

1) By experimental we mean the phase of early films which explored and experimental with horror themes in its narratives. Films such as the cabinet of Dr Claigar (1919) and Nosferatu (1922)

2) By classic we mean the phase of films which established the narrative conventions of the horror genre in its most successful and defining period. Hollywood films such as Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931) made by Universal.

3) By parody we mean films that have mimicked the horror genre in some comical way. Films such as Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948), carry on screaming (1968) and Scary movie (1998)

4) By deconstruction we mean films which have taken the generic elements of the horror genre amalgamated them into varying sub genres. Films such as Se7en (1995), the sixth sense (1999) The Blair Witch project (1998), Scream (1996).