Tyylilaji

Tyylilaji is a term used in Finnish literary and media criticism to refer to a stylistic category or subgenre that describes how a work is executed, rather than what it is about. It focuses on the formal and aesthetic choices that shape a work, such as narrative technique, voice, pacing, mood, imagery, symbolism, and structural arrangements.

In practice, tyylilaji complements the broader genre (laji) by signaling the manner in which conventions are applied or manipulated. While a genre may indicate subject matter like crime, romance, or science fiction, the tyylilaji explains the execution—for example, a realist, ironic, lyrical, or fragmented approach within that genre. Works can combine multiple tyylilajit or shift between them, reflecting artistic aims, historical context, or audience reception.

Common areas of analysis under tyylilaji include narrative perspective (first person, unreliable narrator), discourse style (plain, ornate, colloquial), tempo and rhythm, use of symbolism or metafiction, and the interplay of form and content. In film, theater, journalism, and digital media, critics use tyylilaji to discuss how form influences interpretation, mood, and meaning.

Tyylilaji is not fixed or universal; it evolves with changing tastes, technologies, and critical frameworks. It is a useful concept for describing how a work achieves its effects through execution, and for comparing different works within or across genres. See also genre (laji) and style (tyyli).