(originally posted: September 26, 2004)

What is genre?

Such a loaded, vague, resilient term.

Let's take a brief look at some links that offer definitions.

An Introduction to Genre Theory by Daniel Chandler.

"The classification and hierarchical taxonomy of genres is not a neutral and 'objective' procedure. There are no undisputed 'maps' of the system of genres within any medium (though literature may perhaps lay some claim to a loose consensus). Furthermore, there is often considerable theoretical disagreement about the definition of specific genres. 'A genre is ultimately an abstract conception rather than something that exists empirically in the world,' notes Jane Feuer (1992, 144). One theorist's genre may be another's sub-genre or even super-genre (and indeed what is technique, style, mode, formula or thematic grouping to one may be treated as a genre by another). Themes, at least, seem inadequate as a basis for defining genres since, as David Bordwell notes, 'any theme may appear in any genre' (Bordwell 1989, 147)."

Definition of Genre from the Wikipedia

""Genre" is originally a French word meaning "kind", "sort" or "type"; in grammatical terminology, it refers to the artificial concept of masculine or feminine grammatical gender."

And here is an interesting comments-based discussion of genre definitions in Dan Green's "The Reading Experience."

The simple definition I chose to pursue for the purpose of this discussion comes from Dictionary.com and offers four entries from different sources.

Genre is defined as:

1. A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, marked by a distinctive style, form, or content.

2. Kind; genus; class; form; style, esp. in literature.

3. (Fine Arts) A style of painting, sculpture, or other imitative art, which illustrates everyday life and manners.

4. A kind of literary or artistic work; a style of expressing yourself in writing.

And here is my personal definition:

Genre is a form of fiction or literature that can be described within a narrow framework -- either using theme, emotional resonance, or another type-bestowing label.

It is basically a sub-type.

In addition to the very broad-stroke definition above, I would like to emphasize one other aspect of genre.

At the heart of genre lies story.