Activity 3.11
January 23, 2026
Instructions:
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Working on your own, research different film and TV genres to identify binary oppositions that are commonly associated with the genre. You could present this as a list or table, or create a mind map for each individual genre.
-Do any of the binary oppositions you have identified reflect the changing nature of
society?
-Do they signify any social, cultural or universal hopes and fears?
My Response:
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Documentary= Fact vs. Fiction
-Documentaries definitely reflect societal change because as time goes on the
themes and topics of each one are usually about and a reflection of what is going on in the current world such as politics and climate change.
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Romance=Desire vs. Obligation
-According to societies expectations and relationship norms at the time, that is how “love” and all it entails will be presented. For example, romance movies from the 1950s will be much different from those produced in the 2020s because societal roles and moral expectations have changed tremendously.
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Horror= Life vs. Death
-I don't believe stereotypes and or expectations of horror films have changed much over the years, in fact many of today's horror films are spinoff or inspired by older movies. Although some may include newer fears of today's generation, I think collective and general fears have been used for decades in terms of horror film production.
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Fantasy=Mortal vs. Supernatural
-I believe fantasy films can be versatile for those of all different ages and all
diverse cultures however, with the advancements of modern technology I believe heroism and villains as characters with real intentions have emerged and grown into something more people are interested in.