The aim of the descriptive approach is to place a large number of films into a small set of groups based on common characteristics such as theme or visual style. This means concentrating on the formal and stylistic qualities of films. Try the following introductory exercise to familiarise yourself with this approach: The functional approach to genre, focuses instead on the role genre plays in society itself. The Functional approach examines film and the viewing of films as a shared, social ritual, with different audiences sharing common expectations and experiences. In relation to genre in particular, try the following.
