Crossgenre

Crossgenre, or cross-genre, is a term used across literature, cinema, music, and related media to describe works that blend elements of two or more distinct genre traditions. Rather than conform to a single, stable category, crossgenre works mix conventions, tones, and structures from different genres to create hybrid forms. The practice can occur within a medium or across media, and may be motivated by experimentation, a desire to reach diverse audiences, or critical engagement with genre boundaries.

In literature, crossgenre includes novels that merge mystery with literary fiction, speculative fiction with romance, or realist narration with magical realism. In film, crossgenre appears in blends such as action-comedy, science-fiction westerns, or horror-romance. In music, crossgenre encompasses jazz fusion, rock-rap hybrids, and classical crossover. Theatre and performance also experiment with inter-genre formats, combining drama, dance, and multimedia elements to create new expressive modes.

The concept raises questions about genre boundaries, authorship, and marketing. Some critics view crossgenre as genuine innovation that expands expressive possibilities; others see it as a marketing label or a response to audience segmentation. Because genre definitions are fluid and context-dependent, what counts as crossgenre can vary across periods and cultures. As a working descriptor, crossgenre remains a flexible category used to analyze and describe works that defy easy classification.