Define the media term, 'genre' analyse 3 television programs for their codes and conventions.

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Define the media term, ‘genre’ analyse 3 television programs for their codes and conventions.

“If a group of media texts have a similar form/structure or pattern of elements, then this might be due to a link in genre.  Films of the same genre have distinctive characteristics or conventions, but individual elements that make them distinct.”

3 quiz shows that use similar codes and conventions that define their genre are, “Bruce’s price is right”, “Michael Barrymore’s strike it rich” and Les Dennis’s family fortunes.  When considering what makes a quiz show I would assume that there are a few key elements that it must include.  For example, there is generally a studio, a host and a sequence of games played by “regular” contestants to win a big prize.

Bruce’s price is right follows these rules almost completely, the protagonist is the host Bruce Forsyth who is an old English man.  This might be surprising as you would assume they would chose a youngish host, however average age of a viewer of this type of show is probably about 60.  This is because the show has a daytime slot, and younger people are at work or school it is only the retired that will watch regularly.  Of course they will not be able to relate as easily to a 20 something presenter, as they would to a familiar old man.

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The stock characters are the contestants who are different each week, and the audience.  The contestants tend to be of a similar age to the viewers however sometimes slightly younger, and the audience is mixed.  The contestants play a series of games and have to guess the price of items to win bigger and better prizes; there is a final game in which the winning contestant gambles his/her prizes for the best prize, which is usually a holiday, car or money.

In Bruce’s price is right there are a few icons, which have become familiarities over the years. ...

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