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Understanding genre can help us understand the texts themselves. Different genres involve particular sets of characteristics that are common features meaning that audiences will develop certain expectations based on genre
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Understanding GENRE www.sudo24.com
Learning OBJECTIVES Explain why genres change over time and how authors can manipulate them for an effect. Explain the difference between genre of form and genre of subject matter. Provide a definition for the terms sub-genre and hybrid genre. www.sudo24.com
Introducing GENRE The word genre came from the french word that means 'category' or 'type'. It refers to the ways that texts, such as literature, art or media, are categorised based on their content, form or style. Understanding genre can help us understand the texts themselves. Different genres involve particular sets of characteristics that are common features meaning that audiences will develop certain expectations based on genre. www.sudo24.com
Purpose & FUNCTION It can be useful to group texts into categories for the following reasons: Authors can appeal to specific audiences Audiences want to seek out the types of texts they enjoy It gives us a way of organising and making sense of texts It distinguishes the way in which the text is to be delivered e.g. read, performed, delivered orally www.sudo24.com
Types of CATEGORIES Texts can be categorised by any of the following: Audience e.g. young adult fiction Style e.g. blockbuster Context e.g. Australian literature Historical periods e.g. Elizabethan plays, modernist novels We will focus on two main ways of categorising: Genre of form Genre of subject matter www.sudo24.com
Genre of FORM Autobiography Advertisement Biography Blog Campaign Poster Documentary Drama / Play Editorial Essay F3eature article film poster letter Memoir Movie News Story Novel Opinion Column Podcast Poem Prose Short Story Speech Song Lyrics TV Show One way of thinking about genre is through consideration of the form and structure of the text. Some common genres of form we might study in English class include the following: www.sudo24.com
Characteristics and CONVENTIONS For each of these text types there's a list of associated conventions we can expect to see. It's important to learn the conventions of each form. For example: An advertisement will have a bold headline, detailed body copy, image, slogan and company signature. A featurearticle will have a catchy title, synopsis, author byline, subheadings, columns, tear out sections and images. A shortstory will have characters, setting, point of view, plot structure and one or more themes. www.sudo24.com
What about SUB-GENRE A sub-genre is a specific category within a genre. The main genres we know can be broken down further into different categories. For example: Poetry can include ballad, epic, haiku, lyrical, ode, sonnet, quatrain, free verse etc. Fiction can include short story, novel, fable, fairytale etc. Prose can include essays, autobiography, biography etc. Drama can include tragedy, comedy, romantic comedy, absurd theatre etc. Film can include feature film, documentary, short film etc. www.sudo24.com
Genre of SUBJECT MATTER Action Adventure Biopic Bildungsroman Comedy Crime Drama Dystopian Fantasy Gothic Historical Horror Musical Romance Satire Science fiction Sport Thriller Tragedy Western This is a more common way of thinking about genre and it focuses more on the content, audience and intended effects of a text. Some common genres of subject matter include the following: www.sudo24.com
Characteristics and CONVENTIONS For each of these genres there's a list of associated conventions we can expect to see. For example: The westerngenre generally features cowboys, outlaws, gun fights, the American West, saloons, cacti, spurs and themes of the frontier. The gothic genre generally features medieval buildings or haunted settings, emotional characters, supernatural events, mystery and fear. The dystopian genre generally features a totalitarian ruler, futuristic technology, a bleak setting, surveillance and division of the citizens. www.sudo24.com
What about HYBRID GENRES A hybrid genre blends the features of two or more genres. For example: Romantic Comedy combines themes of love with a humorous, light- hearted mood. Dark fantasy combines elements of the horror genre with fantastical or magical settings and characters. Crime drama combines a serious tone with criminal and detective narratives. Sci-fi Adventure combines elements like advanced technology and space travel with an epic journey of some sort. www.sudo24.com
Subverting EXPECTATION Not every text adheres to the conventions of its traditional genre. Traditional genres can be reinforced but they can also be challenged, subverted or manipulated for various effects. This means an author will use these different cliche literary or cinematic elements deliberately but with a slight change that undermines and reverses its typical meaning. Author's might do this to create something new or to surprise or challenge the reader or viewer. www.sudo24.com
Changes Over TIME It's important to remember that genres can change and adapt through time depending on context, audience, form and technology shifts. Because genres reflect our world and ideas about humanity, they are always evolving because society and culture changes over time to suit new situations and challenges. Changing audience expectations also means that writers and directors need to adapt by adding or omitting elements to offer something new and relevant.
Your TURN Now that you have an overview of the ways in which we can discuss and apply genre to our English studies, keep an eye out for how authors and directors use the various genres to convey ideas and position audience response. Good luck! www.sudo24.com
