Genre is a category of artistic works that is defined by particular techniques and forms of expression. In the 21st century, the genre of media works has become more open to interpretation due to the large volume of content produced. A short film can challenge perceptions of genre by blending elements of multiple genres in new ways. Genre is constantly evolving through creative works that inspire further innovation, rather than limiting the types of stories that can be told. For example, the short film "Across the Hall" has characteristics of both the thriller and film noir genres through its ambiguous title, lighting techniques, and use of an unreliable narrator to keep the audience guessing about a character's identity.

1. Genre:A class or category of artistic endeavor, having a particular form, content
&technique.
In the 21st genre of a text, whether it be a film, book or any piece of media has
become something susceptible to interpretation due to the high volume of media
being distributed everyday. Many of which challenge our ideas and philosophies
of life, a good short movie can have an outstanding impact that causes a change
in the way you think of life.
In the same way a short film can challenge what we think a particular genre is by
cross referencing or bridging several genres together in a way never done
before. Because so much media is being distributed, we’re are not running out of
idea, indeed it does become harder to create original material, but every time
something new is created it leaves us with some little inspiration to create
something else.
- David Buckingham, “Genre is not… simply ‘given’ by the culture: rather it
is in a constant process of negotiation and change.
This quote just confirms it, nearly every time we see something new, we are
negotiating amongst ourselves what it means to us.
For example, Most would categorize the short movie Across the hall a thriller,
whereas, I do think it has several thriller features, such as the vague and
enigmatic tittle combined with the unbelievable amount of low key lighting
throughout the film.
I also think those are features of a film noir. No public authority is involved like
in most popular film noirs such as LA Confidential, but we have a characters
identity, which at first as the audience we are led to think we know who the
character is. We are led to think that the best friend is the Protagonist. As the
film goes on he turns out to be the exact opposite. The Antagonist.
That last paragraph can be summed up in one word. Mystery. Because that’s
what a film noir is about. Keeping the audience in the dark until the very end
(excuse the pun) or for eternity as they know it.