Generification

Generification refers to the process by which cultural or artistic elements become diluted, homogenized, and stripped of their distinctiveness due to commercialization, globalization, or widespread adoption. This often occurs when unique ideas, styles, or traditions are replicated and mass-produced to appeal to a broader audience, leading to a loss of their original depth, nuance, and cultural significance. The term suggests a flattening of creativity, where specific characteristics are generalized to the point of becoming generic.

This phenomenon can manifest in various domains, including art, music, literature, and even cuisine. For instance, a once niche musical genre might become mainstream through broad appeal, its original experimental edges smoothed out to cater to wider tastes. Similarly, a distinctive architectural style could be replicated in countless identical buildings across different locations, losing its connection to its place of origin and historical context. The driving forces behind generification are often economic, aiming for wider marketability and profitability, but the consequence is a potential diminishment of cultural richness and diversity. Critics argue that generification can lead to a superficial understanding of culture, replacing genuine engagement with a passive consumption of diluted forms.