Final answer:
Comedy and tragedy are the two foundational genres off of which all film genres build. Comedies are humorous and light-hearted, often ending happily, while tragedies are serious, focus on noble characters, and usually end with death or great loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
All film genres are said to build off of two primary genres, which are comedy and tragedy. These foundational genres have both existed since the beginning of Western Theatre and serve as the pillars upon which other genres are built. In the realm of drama and film, genres are differentiated based on the emotional response they invoke in the audience and the overall tone of the narrative.
Comedies are characterized by their light tone, humorous content, and often happy endings, prompting laughter and amusement from the audience. On the other hand, tragedies are serious in tone, focusing on the downfall of the protagonist due to a tragic flaw or hamartia, and are typically associated with noble characters, elevated language, scenes of suffering, and usually end in death or loss, thus eliciting intense emotions.
Other genres, such as melodramas and tragicomedies, also exist within the spectrum of drama, incorporating elements from both comedy and tragedy. Tragicomedies, for instance, often feature everyday characters dealing with significant subject matter that may conclude with a positive outcome, thus blending the characteristics of the two main genres.