Musical Genre:
Within the musical genre, popular elements are typically singing and/or dancing. The main characters of the film typically perform dances and/songs throughout the scenes, as this is an important element of the entire genre. A typical film convention that is usually broken within the musical genre is the act of looking directly at the camera. During performances and dances, it is not abnormal for the main characters to occasionally look at the camera for a quick glance. As characters sing and dance, when they make eye contact it usually evokes a more personal connection to the viewer.
Artificiality, which is the “quality of being made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally”, is quite common in musical genre films. As has been understood, the conventions of artificiality are actually embraced within musical films. Dramatic lighting and wind machines are some of the artificial props, part of the controlled mise-en-scene, that grabs the viewers attention.
Movement and sound, which are two of the basic elements of the film medium are embraced through the musical genre in many ways. Characters in the film use the artistic outlet of music and dance to let out their feelings. This is a main way to express emotion for the characters in these films. The dancing and singing is also not limited to being a secret, or not as known within the film world, but rather the characters perform and sing in public, in gas stations, in traffic jams, in supermarkets and many more everyday places that typically a dance/sing performance would not break out in. Many times the way the main character in the musical film expresses their stresses or hardships is through the artistic elements of singing and dancing. Often times we see character development this way as well.
Often times, these musical genre films are intertwined with romance plots as well. This is a common theme seen in many musical films. Musical films started becoming a thing after sound in motion pictures was invented. With the launch of synchronized sound that could be used in film, the genre emerged with so many new opportunities than other genre films could do.
Musical genre examples :
West Side Story:
This film is a fight between two different ethnic groups, the Jets which are the American group of people and the Sharks, which was people from Puerto Rico. The issue between the two groups is the Sharks have moved in on the territory of the Jets and the two groups fight and attempt to settle their differences through music and dance. The groups compete in alleyways, basketball courts, and dance showdowns to see which group is superior.
Grease:
This film is romance musical comedy that is about two students that meet during the summer and end up going to the same high school, fall in love. Throughout the film, elements of dancing and singing are used to develop the plot. This film is highly indicative of dancing as a group, as seen in the school dance held in the gym. The couple advances in their relationship as they grow closer to each other through dancing.
http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Musicals.html
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