Tumblr Post #3- Jan. 29, 2016
We are frequently asked what is a genre? The word genre originally came from the language of French (and originally Latin) word for âkindâ or âclassâ (Chandler). Genre is a term that is used to classify or describe a type or form of literature, music or any form of entertainment (âGenreâ). Genre sounds like a rather simple concept; in actuality is a very complicated way of classifying literature, music or other works of material.
Some theorists have argued that there is an abundance of genres and subgenres. In literature the broadest division is between poetry, prose and drama. There are further divisions within the drama category, such as tragedy and comedy. Shakespeare referred satirically to classifications such as âtragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, tragically-historical, tragically-comical- historical-pastoralâŚâ (Hamlet II ii).
Given these genres and subgenres in writing these to music, can we extend these to social groups, or presidential parties? Â If so, one could then argue that no set of necessary and sufficient conditions can mark off genres from other sorts of groupings in the way that movies are classified by genre.
For example, in Disney movies there are the main genres include but are not limited to: comedy, tragedy for an example could be the movie Finding Nemo, and in my opinion, everyoneâs favorite musicals. But why should we group anything into a genre anyway? As Carl Linnaeus, mentioned, âWe, as human beings have the need to group or classify like things togetherâ (Linnaeus). That way a person could easily pick out their favorite movie.
As the Encyclopedia Britannica mentions, Carolus Linnaeus, also called Carl Linnaeus, was a Swedish naturalist and explorer who was the first to frame principles for defining natural genera and species of organisms and to create a uniform system for naming them (binomial nomenclature).
College classes could be classified as genres as well. There would be horror, comedy, history, and tragedy, for an example, my statistics class could often be classified a tragedy, and who knows how many classes could be classified as a genre? Some genres are more powerful than others: they differ not only in the emotions generated in their audiences, but in the style in which they were created, From some genres we can see the connections between sexuality and powerâ (Thwaites P. 104).
If you look at the genres in music, you can see that country music is entirely different than rap music. In my opinion, Country music typically is about something that has gone wrong, or a bad relationship. So does that mean if you make a song with a break up in it would it be a country? No, of course not. For music, the genres are completely different; it is how the performer and the musical instruments interact with the performer while he/she is performing. But Lindsey Stirling is a different type of artist. Lindsay is a musician who has created something completely different. She uses a violin, which is typically used in classical compositions, but she does rock and electronic music. What Lindsey is doing is such a feat. She changed the way that we perceive the genre as she broke the norms of traditional classical music.
Books have different types of genres as well. There are historical novels, science fiction, fictional and non-fictional plays, comedy, horror, religious readings, and many others. Each individual has his/her own feelings towards their favorite genres though. In my opinion, An individual could not give a person who reads âWesternâ novels such as those books by Louis L'Amour novels. May not like a romantic genre such as Stephanie Meyerâs Twilight series and expect them to read it and enjoy it. In my opinion, romance novels are not even similar; to Western genres (Not knocking âTwilightâ just a statement) this statement just shows that each person has their own favorite genre. For example, some people love reading biographies, This genre is good for research, but it just may not have an appeal to some as a choice for pleasure reading. Then again, for some people, it might be their favorite genre.
To wrap up, genres cover a wide variety of different subjects and topics. If you think about it everything is in its own genre. Â As genres classify objects such as fruits and nuts, to music, books and movies to everything that you may interact with on a day-to-day basis.
Itâs everywhere, as a society we are always growing. Itâs not set to anything certain, but the way we classify items is always around us. Always grouping consolidating and classifying everyday things and subjects into their own genres. Would this paper be classified as Comedy for the small jokes throughout the paper? Or would it be Historical because I analyzed Shakespeare? Or would it be classified as informative? Thatâs for you as the reader to decide.
Frontline is a known television show usually found on the popular television network PBS. The name Jon is just a typical name and does not define anyone specifically. However, the article Jon and the frontline episode have several similarities. For example, the Frontline episode mentions how teenagers become âcoolâ. The Frontline episode refers to this topic as âCool huntingâ. The term âcool huntingâ is rather unique in itself but it grabs the viewers attention. Todays teenagers are always on the rise and trying to be stronger and bolder than the previous generations of teenagers, the industry and teenagers always know what the next trend is going to be. Â
Therefore, many companies host panels of teenagers, to survey them to what the newest trends are. With the research collected from the teenager it helps companies make more ethical decisions when it comes to appealing to the millennial generation of todayâs youth. It will be rather interesting to see what the next generation of teenagers decide what is hot and decide what is not. Only time will tell to show us future leaders of tomorrow what to develop and create for our next generation. Â
Bordwell, David. Making Meaning: Inference and Rhetoric in the Interpretation of Cinema. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1991. 147. Print.
Chandler, Daniel. âAn Introduction to Genre Theory.â Media and Communication Studies. N. P. 1997. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
âGenreâ. Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-webster.com. 25 Jan. 2016.
MĂźller-Wille, Staffan. âCarolus Linnaeus | Swedish Botanist.â Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <http://www.britannica.com/biography/Carolus-Linnaeus>.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Harold Jenkins. London: Methuen, 1982. Print.Â
