Genre
simply means category or kind. Genre is a system of classification, a
set of conventions, and way of describe audiences. That is to say, that
it is often the case that particular genres invite, imagine, or expect
particular audiences. For example, the film Nightmare of Elm's Street
is likely to attract horror fans and teenagers, but viewers who
exclusively watch romantic comedies and grandmothers are unlikely to
attend. Likewise, an opera is likely to attract one type of viewer and a
musical another, even as they both involve music, acting, and live
performance.In this course you will be reading and viewing commercial, artistic, and academic works in a variety of genres including:
academic essays
advertising
blog posts
course websites
magazine articles
memes
Powerpoint
research reports
satirical newspaper articles
speeches
text books
You will also produce writing in three different genres:
rhetorical analysis
persuasive essay
a genre of your choosing
When reading and writing different genres it is important to remember that different genres have different conventions. You would be disappointed if an action film did not depict a sufficient amount of violence or if an academic essay had no discernible thesis. As such, when producing a piece of writing in a particular genre, remember that all genres produce certain expectations.
(adapted from "Genre" by Ava Arndt)
