From Conflict To Mutualism

'Anti-genre' has become a recently popularized critic term.A genre text is usually identified as 'anti-genre' when it contains some irregular or anti-traditional plot.However,this description could be as confusing as the term 'anti-genre' itself.Even referring to genre theory,there is still no solid conclusion upon what exactly anti-genre is.Thus,anti-genre is generally taken for granted.Hollywood film genres,specially at the age of the classical Hollywood,are basically considered as an approach to maximum profit within Hollywood industry,or as some narration about American society and mass culture,which is deeply rooted in the myth of 'American Dream'.Whereas social impact,evolving in aesthetics and the collapse of classical studio system in 1960 s,anti-genre opposing to classical genres came up,and the combat and interaction of the duo continued into the contemporary Hollywood.Through a view of historical study and a theorypractice structure,this thesis takes anti-genre as a phenomenon in the development of Hollywood film genres,and into the dimension of American social culture,by which expected to provide a brand-new vision for genre study.This thesis includes three chapters.Chapter One will offer a series of approaches to anti-genre.Firstly,it sets up a 'multi-discourse' to the concept of antigenre through cultural,narrative and industrial approaches,and concludes that subversion to the myth of American Dream is the core of anti-genre.Secondly,it points out that social transition&cultural impact,European aesthetics&youth directors and threats to Hollywood industry lead classical genre to anti-genre.Last part of this chapter will briefly mention about the pattern of anti-genre,which can be described as subversion and digestion.After claiming all these approaches,the following two chapters will dig into history and text study by analyzing anti-genre in different stages and its interaction with multiple factors like classical genre,social context or aesthetics intention in every stage.Chapter Two tells from the declining period of the classical Hollywood to the end of New Hollywood.During this time,Anti-genre grew out of its precursor,which is so-called 'sur-genre',and reached its highest peak in 1970 s.Classical genre and anti-genre also created a typical structure of binary opposition.Chapter Three focuses on the changing form of anti-genre in the age of the contemporary Hollywood or post-Hollywood.The reviving of conservatism and refreshing postmodernism leaded classical genre and anti-genre from conflict to mutualism.Besides,the end of each chapter will discuss the significance and function of anti-genre through discourses of genre,culture and myth,which each chapter separately focuses on.Through this brief study on Hollywood anti-genre films,this thesis expects to provide at least some meaningful reference for upcoming scholars.