Genre

300 falls in the genres of war/action/historical/drama. The major generic conventions within the text are; Drama Films are serious presentations or stories with settings or life situations that portray realistic characters in conflict with either themselves, others, or forces of nature. A dramatic film shows us human beings at their best, their worst, and everything in-between. E.g. Leonidas has the decision of dis-obeying his countries law by not going to war on a religious holiday obeying it and allow Sparta to be under threat.

As it is also historic the film accurately portrays the past with the use of events/locations/props /costumes/language etc. For example, Spartan clothing and buildings. The film also follows the conventions of an action film by showing a hero (Leonidas) facing challenges and having fights. And it is also a war film as throughout the film there are frequent battle scenes.

The major generic themes in the text are patriotism, war, love and freedom. Many of the characters in the text are determined to make sure that Spartan does no fall, especially Leonidas. He is so determined that he only takes 300 men to fight millions. It is impossible for the Spartans to win this, but the audience soon sees that the 300 men are just as determined as Leonidas and they are all willing to die for Sparta.

I think this text toys with the audience later in the film the 300 slaughter thousands without losing one of their own even though it is impossible for them to win this battle due to their good start the audience start to believe that they could win the battle.  However as the 300 begin to be killed one by one, the audience loose hope in the 300. 

However the audience are reassured that Sparta can finish the battle when in the last scene the camera dollys out show how huge the Spartan army is. This makes the film like an emotional rollercoaster, toying with the audience’s emotions.

Zack Snyder is the director of 300 he tends to director action films based on graphic novels such as Watchmen and Suckerpunch therefore making him strongly associated with the text as people may have seen his other films making them want to see this one .

Gerard Butler (King Leonidas) is also associated with the text, he as stars in many Historic/action /drama such as   Beowulf and rock ‘n’ rolla and films based on graphic novels such as Tales of the Black Freighter. The audience know his style in acting so the know what to expect from films he stars in.