واکاوی تکامل ژانری در سینمای برتران بونلو براساس آرای توماس شاتز؛ مطالعه موردی سه فیلم جانور، بچه زامبی و کما

Generic evolution is a topic that theorists from various periods have sought to explain and classify in diverse ways. Indeed, the issue of generic evolution in film studies attempts to examine the reasons for and the modes of transformation in genre films. In defining generic evolution,Schatz refers to the simultaneous growing of audiences and filmmakers in response to the experience of a genre work. From Schatz's perspective, this evolution occurs simultaneously within the film's form (inside) and culture (outside). Schatz believes that over time, a kind of self-consciousness towards fixed conventions of the genre takes place. Generic evolution signifies a shift from social values to self-conscious and self-reflective formalism values. According to Schatz, generic evolution begins with the critique and dismantling of generic and social values, then shifts towards the values of form and aesthetics. For Schatz, generic evolution is when form and its related values becomes the main content of the work. Genre evolution is a process akin to Darwinian adaptation, where films rejuvenate themselves by aligning with contemporary times. Over periods of change, both audiences and filmmakers recognize the need to refresh genre clichés to keep them relevant and engaging. As Thomas Schatz argues, this evolution unfolds simultaneously on internal (formal) and external (thematic and cultural) levels. Internally, it pertains to the film's formal attachments and visual styles. Externally, it reflects the evolving political and social demands of newer generations, who cultivate fresh ideologies and values that challenge outdated norms. This dual dynamic ensures genres don't stagnate; instead, they mutate to mirror societal shifts. For instance, classic Westerns once emphasized rugged individualism, but modern iterations incorporate themes of environmentalism or identity politics, responding to current debates. Similarly, horror genres have evolved from supernatural fears to psychological terrors influenced by real-world anxieties like pandemics or technology. Schatz's framework highlights how these changes prevent genres from becoming obsolete, allowing them to survive through innovation. In Bertrand Bonello’s films, a contemporary French filmmaker, a manifestation of Schatz's ideas on the elements of generic evolution can be observed. In Bonello's films, visual form is fragmented, and genres are employed based on their aesthetic effect on the viewer. Bonello utilizes ambiguity and avoids straightforward storytelling. Indeed, with Bonello, the use of generic intrigues shaped with a deviation from conventional storytelling, privileges the internal experience of cinematic moments over a clear resolution in the story. This research focuses on three films from Bonello’s filmography. Although one can find generic evolution in Nocturama (2016) or House of Tolerance (2011), but these three selected films are able to demonstrate all of Bonello’s approaches towards genre: Zombi Child (2019), Coma (2022) and The Beast (2023). In Zombi Child by superimposing two different time periods, in Coma by merging the subjective state of the main character with absurd and formalistic elements, in The Beast through fragmented images of female embodiment, Bonello creates generic experiences through self-reflective form. This research proposes that the dominance of formalistic and aesthetic elements in Bonello's films can be analyzed through Schatz's perspectives.