What's a Genre?

[JLRemora2]

I opened a separate thread on genres, since some folks seem bent on trying to figure out those pesky genres.

What is a genre?

According to the Oxford dictionary, the origin of the word 'genre' is from 19th century France, meaning 'a kind'. But, using the same dictionary, the definition is bit ambiguous, "A style or category of art, music, or literature".

I think we can narrow that a bit by specifying it be a literary genre, since that seems to be the actual focus.

Further more, just to put everyone on a mutual footing, a literary genre is usually determined by literary techniques, tone, content, and/or length.


[1] Literary technique is, basically, how a writer uses a literary device (some kind of narrative) to create, develop and explain the story to the readers.

[2] Tone is the writer's attitude toward, and/or thoughts and feelings about the subject matter and the readers.

[3] Content is just that, information conveyed to the readers.

[4] Length is mostly used when writing fiction, as those particular literary genres are sometimes helped by determining word count.


All this is just a very basic characterization of the qualifiers used to determine a genre. In my opinion, there is no wrong or right answer in defining or determining a literary genre.

However, based on these non-qualifiers, and qualifiers, what do you think is a literary genre?

 

[sunandshadow]

1a. Literary technique also includes formatting categories like scripts vs. prose vs. poetry.

I'd say it's worth separating format/length genres from content genres. It's similar to the way that video games have gameplay genres which are totally separate from story/setting genres.

But in all cases I think that it's useful to consider genre from the point of view of "contract with the reader". Readers and writers exist in communities focused around expectations of what a story should be like. Any one of these communal expectations could be considered a subgenre, and a genre is a group of expectations that share some similar aspect.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think there is a right answer to this, and I don't think it makes much difference how one wants to distinguish literary genres or how specific a genre is supposed to be.

I think the most common way that people think of genres is in terms of their content. Genres of fiction could include crime thrillers, horror, romance, westerns, etc. It makes sense to think of it this way, I think, because this sort of grouping corresponds with the divisions and tastes of the reader audience, and perhaps with the way the publishing industry regards the divisions in literature (but others here know much more about that than I do).

That's not the right answer, necessarily, but it may be useful to think of it this way.

 

[SamScribble]

There are all sorts of 'classifications' that we instinctively understand but, sometimes, struggle to describe. Maybe 'genre' is one of those.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

There are all sorts of 'classifications' that we instinctively understand but, sometimes, struggle to describe. Maybe 'genre' is one of those.

Genre, I discovered, is the style of the composition. Writers are cluesless about genre, because most writers have no style bwyond imitation. Genre is best seen in music, where its possible to play a Beethoven bagatelle in a ragtime style. I'm the villain the OP whines about, because I wanted to get at the plausible meaning if genre.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCfGXwx1mJs

Beethoven in ragtime.

Liberace plays wwith NOLA, itself a piano novelty genre.

 

[JLRemora2]

I'm the villain the OP whines about, because I wanted to get at the plausible meaning if genre.

Au contraire!

I can't speak to your villainy. I simply wanted to give this topic it's own niche in the cosmic scheme of things, so as not to detract from the topic of the other thread. Plus, I believe this subject is worthy of a philosophical discussion.

No more, no less.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Au contraire!

I can't speak to your villainy. I simply wanted to give this topic it's own niche in the cosmic scheme of things, so as not to detract from the topic of the other thread. Plus, I believe this subject is worthy of a philosophical discussion.

No more, no less.

On the other thread all were clues of what genre is. Genre makes sense when seen as style.

 

[TxRad]

On the other thread all were clues of what genre is. Genre makes sense when seen as style.

Or category or several other dozen things.

Go take your meds, you are as usual making something simple into something complicated. Need some attention do we.

 

[JLRemora2]

I still believe that a genre, especially in literature, is one of those descriptors that is difficult to ascribe to any particular definitive. That is my opinion, based on how homogeneous most literary works have become. And, I also believe that the readers' opinion help define (sometimes, solely define) the genre that a literary work is a part of.

Again, I say, it's my opinion based on my own sense of perception.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I still believe that a genre, especially in literature, is one of those descriptors that is difficult to ascribe to any particular definitive. That is my opinion, based on how homogeneous most literary works have become. And, I also believe that the readers' opinion help define (sometimes, solely define) the genre that a literary work is a part of.

Again, I say, it's my opinion based on my own sense of perception.

9% of posters here devoutly believe all opinions are created equal.. I aint one of them. Your opinion makes no sense to me. I aim to make sense of the world. For when you know what something is you unlock the door to innovation, like TEX does when he uncaps a jug of MAD DOG 20/20.

 

[Hypoxia]

There are all sorts of 'classifications' that we instinctively understand but, sometimes, struggle to describe. Maybe 'genre' is one of those.

My background includes botanical training. I see fairly clear distinctions between varieties, species, genera, families, orders, etc -- the Linnean hierarchy of categorization. A similar structure can be applied to literary endeavors, if one wishes to slip into anal-retentive OCD librarian mode. Let's see, is Erotic Horror a hybrid? Ah, the joy of taxonomy...

 

[TamLin01]

But in all cases I think that it's useful to consider genre from the point of view of "contract with the reader". Readers and writers exist in communities focused around expectations of what a story should be like.

This is your best answer. By and large, a genre is a set of expectations--some that you fulfill and some that you subvert, depending on your approach.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

This is your best answer. By and large, a genre is a set of expectations--some that you fulfill and some that you subvert, depending on your approach.

Genre isn't FETISH, dear.

 

[Hypoxia]

By and large, a genre is a set of expectations--some that you fulfill and some that you subvert, depending on your approach.

I recall fine war tales with no troops, no battles, none of the usual action shit -- the war genre minus the active war, just the effects. And classic films with horror, lust, and murder all totally offstage, suggested but not displayed. We have room to be subtle, yes? Twist those expectations.

Meanwhile we can have genera and sub-genera and sub-sub-genera, labeled and shelved safely away. Furry BDSM, right here. Vinyl obsession, over there. Three-dicked unicorns, up against the wall. Hairy Hindu armpit lovers, move back. But where do I find volunteers to slurp-up my toe-jam?

 

[SimonDoom]

My background includes botanical training. I see fairly clear distinctions between varieties, species, genera, families, orders, etc -- the Linnean hierarchy of categorization. A similar structure can be applied to literary endeavors, if one wishes to slip into anal-retentive OCD librarian mode. Let's see, is Erotic Horror a hybrid? Ah, the joy of taxonomy...

The trouble with trying to analogize story taxonomy to biological taxonomy is that biology has a scientifically rigorous standard for putting things into this or that category: common descent. With stories, there is no such standard.

I think sunandshadow's answer is the best one. The primary usefulness of thinking in terms of genres in fiction is to try to match the author and reader. We use "genres", or whatever you want to call them, as a way to target the audience for which we want to write. So the criterion for placing things in this or that category isn't something objective, it's reader expectation, whatever it may be.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

The trouble with trying to analogize story taxonomy to biological taxonomy is that biology has a scientifically rigorous standard for putting things into this or that category: common descent. With stories, there is no such standard.

I think sunandshadow's answer is the best one. The primary usefulness of thinking in terms of genres in fiction is to try to match the author and reader. We use "genres", or whatever you want to call them, as a way to target the audience for which we want to write. So the criterion for placing things in this or that category isn't something objective, it's reader expectation, whatever it may be.

^^^^OFFICIAL TRANSLATION: Whatever.

Dear Reader, on this board there's an attitude that any old stupid opinion is as worthy as any informed opinion. Genre means something or it means nothing.

 

[emap]

Little further translation, genre means as much as noirtrash.

So how much does he mean? I have no idea.

Honestly most of the time he is sort of funny, and definitely odd, other times you sit there laughing at the tripe he wrote. Sometimes you look at what he put and think what an idiot. Most of the time you are left trying to figure out if he was actually trying to make a point or just typing to type.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Little further translation, genre means as much as noirtrash.

So how much does he mean? I have no idea.

Honestly most of the time he is sort of funny, and definitely odd, other times you sit there laughing at the tripe he wrote. Sometimes you look at what he put and think what an idiot. Most of the time you are left trying to figure out if he was actually trying to make a point or just typing to type.

Different strokes for different folks. If I say E=MC2 to you, I gotta say corndog to PILOT and Mad dog 20/20 to TEX. If I said E=MC2 to TEX he's hear what a dog hears. BLAH BLAH BLAH, Ginger.

Genre means something or other, and 99% of posters don't got a clue. There are many definitions, but the definition that makes sense is STYLE. What does the story remind you of?

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Since none of our resident Nimrods know what GENRE is, I keep searching.

In genre fiction there is an implied contract between writer and reader that justice of a kind will be exacted; “good” may not always triumph over “evil,” but the distinction between the two must be honored. —Joyce Carol Oates, New York Review of Books, 14 Aug. 2003

She doesn't know either. So youre in good company.

On another site the resident PILOT characterized genre as anything you want it to be. Cartoonist Al Capp called such things SHMOOS. A shmnoo could be lumber or leather or prime beef or the best fuck of your life.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

https://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/784089.jpg



A GENRE

 

[Hypoxia]

The trouble with trying to analogize story taxonomy to biological taxonomy is that biology has a scientifically rigorous standard for putting things into this or that category: common descent. With stories, there is no such standard.

We can establish such standards. Simple textual analysis can identify words and phrases commonly associated with any genre/genus of writing. Closer analysis will point to the sub-species. Yes, it can be done scientifically. Can we get a grant?

Noirtrash is on your Ignore List.

Whatever, JBJ.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

We can establish such standards. Simple textual analysis can identify words and phrases commonly associated with any genre/genus of writing. Closer analysis will point to the sub-species. Yes, it can be done scientifically. Can we get a grant?

Whatever, JBJ.

So far none of you Nimrods have illustrated what genre is or aint. I aim to find out.

 

[sr71plt]

Eventually, James, you'll realize that even when we know (or care) what the hell you're nattering on about, we're not your servants. You haven't just gone around one bend on this thread--you're steaming around the third bend. I don't give a shit that you can't get your pointy little head around what a genre is, and I feel no need to help you with that.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Eventually, James, you'll realize that even when we know (or care) what the hell you're nattering on about, we're not your servants. You haven't just gone around one bend on this thread--you're steaming around the third bend. I don't give a shit that you can't get your pointy little head around what a genre is, and I feel no need to help you with that.

This is like the 3rd time you said" I DONT KNOW." Your fawning disciples expect more from you. Last time I counted I got exactly zero friends here, I' ve never had any. I wanna learn something, and if any or all frown and pout...so be it. The way I see it I aint lost much with no friends in this mob.