Example articles
1. The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/aug/01/fantasmas-review-this-wildly-creative-comedy-is-a-beacon-of-hope-for-tvs-future
2. The BBC - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c727g7nd5ymo
3. The Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/artsentertainment/tv/reviews/intruders-tv-review-a-multistranded-plot-and-uninterestingcharacters-9821732.html
4. The Irish Times - https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2024/08/06/around-my-island-review-the-meath-sailor-is-an-engaging-figure-but-film-is-anticlimatic/
How
many typical features of the genre can you identify? Look for :
• Layout
• Content
• Linguistic features, including style
For
each feature that you identify :
• Name the feature
• Describe the purpose of the feature*
• Give examples from at least three of the extracts.
*Note that if you are working on genre analysis for the Delta Module One exam, stating the purpose of the feature is not required in your answer to Paper 1/5, section a. However, if you are analysing genres for other reasons (eg in order to use a genre approach when teaching writing) understanding the purpose of the feature is important in order to be able to explain it to learners.
Suggested Answer
Layout and content
1. Starts with a headline in large bold font (to catch the eye of the reader) stating that it is a TV review and giving an indication of whether the review will be favourable or unfavourable (to interest the reader and make them want to read on and find out why the reviewer has that opinion). Examples : All four reviews – eg review 2 :
Welsh couple lose on Love Island but win hearts
2. There will also sometimes be a subhead under the headline (ie a sentence giving more information) in lighter colour, smaller or less emphasised font etc. This also serves to stimulate the reader’s interest and make them want to read on. Example: Review 4 : Television: Thomas Dolan is an engaging figure but the documentary tells a story that feels as if it has yet to reach its conclusion
3. There is then a photo of a scene and/or characters from the show, with a caption in small font underneath. This makes the show seem “real” and adds visual interest which a solid block of text would lack (Examples : All four reviews)
4. The text is blocked in paragraphs. The first paragraph again tries to draw the reader in by describing an intriguing scene, extreme opinion of the reviewer or other attention catching fact. Examples : all four reviews.
5. Later content of the reviews may include : descriptions of what happened (eg 1,2,4), descriptions of the protagonists (all four reviews) and the reviewer’s opinion of the programme’s quality (reviews 1,3,4). The first two topics give the reader an idea of the programme even if s/he has not seen it, while the third serves the overall purpose of any type of review: evaluation.
Linguistic features
1. Neutral to informal style - eg :
• informal multiword verbs – crams in (1), match up to (2), stick around (3), hold off (4)
• informal colloquial expressions sort of (1), jammed (2), guy (4)
• informal figurative language - stuffed to bursting (1), a stumbling block (2), falling between two stools (3)
• a mix of full forms, especially after noun phrases with a noun head rather than a pronoun, and contractions, Example - Review 3: The story has been adapted from... / she’s been keeping a low profile
• more formal sentence construction, for example:
a)
the use of long complex or complex/compound sentences Example-
review 3: She speaks with admiration of
Dolan, but you have to wonder why RTÉ didn’t screen a doc about her
achievements and hold off on Dolan’s story until he accomplishes his dream of
circumnavigating the country.
b) the use of a preposition before a relative pronoun. Examples: … without which he cannot get a job (1); a heavy drinker with whom he has not been in contact since he turned 12 (4)
This blend of informal and more formal stylistic devices ensures that the text is clearly “written” rather than “spoken”, but at the same time is easy to read and gives the impression that the writer is "talking to” the reader.
2. Personal reference: First person pronouns are used, the writer referring to him/herself as I, and including the reader saying we. Again, this makes the readers feel that a “real person” is speaking directly to them :
Personally, I’m not sure these under-written
characters are engaging enough… (3)
Instead, we get an agreeable but inessential documentary (5)
3. The same effect is achieved by the use of second person pronouns and determiners, and rhetorical questions, both of which make it sound as if the writer is addressing the reader directly:
A good test might be to consider your tolerance for… (1)
That’s before you even get to the multi-stranded plot (2)
Wouldn’t it have been better to hold off making a film until he finally achieves his goal? (3)
4. Frequent use of adjectives, often premodified by an intensifying adverb, to evaluate the programme:
.. Fantasmas is a fantastically creative and
theatrical little diamond (1)
..the utterly baffling new paranormal
thriller Intruders. (2)
.. an agreeable but inessential documentary (3)
