D RA M A

GENRE RESEARCH

DRAMA SUB GENRES

• Crime

• Historical

• Comedy

• Melodrama

• Romantic

• Period piece

• Realist

DRAMA HISTORY

• During the 1940s. Movies were mostly pantomime styled melodrama in silent movies. Movies such as The Grapes of Wrath (1940) helped change this as it showed the effects of the depression, helping form the drama genre.• During the 1950s actors became known for

starring in dramatic movies. James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis were among the few Hollywood actors who became well known for acting in dramatic movies.

ICONOGRAPHY- CRIME DRAMAS

• Typically, in crime dramas, the same type of characters tend to show up, for example, there almost always are mob bosses, drug dealers and some sort of law enforcement involved (FBI agents, police).

• In regards to the narrative, there is usually a whodunit mystery involved, as well as a character being murdered and people living in rough areas.

• In terms of props, guns, drugs, expensive cars and weapons are always present.

ICONOGRAPHY- HISTORICAL DRAMA

• Historical (or period) dramas are usually based on historical fact, and channel different representations of English social class (Royal Family, Aristocracy). They use the stereotypical representations of social class, race, ethnicity and national identity.

• In some, we witness a female victim narrative, they are aspirational women fighting for respect and individualism.

• Each character in historical dramas has their own storyline.