Understanding

GENRE
Year 11 and 12 ATAR English
 Learning
OBJECTIVES

Explain the Explain why genres

Provide a definition
difference between change over time
for the terms sub-
genre of form and and how authors
genre and hybrid
genre of subject can manipulate
genre.
matter. them for an effect.
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.
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
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
Genre of autobiography
advertisement
memoir
movie

FORM biography
blog
campaign poster
news story
novel
opinion column
documentary podcast
One way of thinking about genre is
through consideration of the form and drama / play poem
structure of the text. editorial prose
essay short story
Some common genres of form we might feature article speech
study in English class include the film poster song lyrics
following:
letter TV show
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 feature article will have a catchy title, synopsis, author byline,
subheadings, columns, tear out sections and images.
A short story will have characters, setting, point of view, plot
structure and one or more themes.
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.
Genre of historical

SUBJECT
action
adventure horror
biopic musical

MATTER bildungsroman
comedy
crime
romance
satire
science fiction
drama sport
This is a more common way of thinking
dystopian thriller
about genre and it focuses more on the
content, audience and intended effects of fantasy tragedy
a text. gothic western

Some common genres of subject matter

include the following:
Characteristics and
CONVENTIONS
For each of these genres there's a list of associated conventions we can
expect to see. For example:

The western genre 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.
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.
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.
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!
Elements USED