génre

Genre is a category or class of artistic works defined by shared conventions, styles, and subject matter. It helps audiences set expectations and guides creators in choosing forms, themes, and audience targets. Genres are used across literature, film, television, music, video games, and other media, and they often evolve as new works blend existing conventions or introduce novel approaches.

Etymology and usage: The term originates from Old French genre, from Latin genus meaning kind, type, or race. In English and other languages, genre denotes both a broad category and a set of characteristic features that distinguish works within that category. In French, genre also carries the broader sense of category or kind, and in linguistic contexts it can refer to grammatical gender.

Conventions and classification: Genres are defined by recurring elements such as narrative structures, settings, motifs, and tone. Examples include drama, comedy, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and documentary in narrative media; and genres such as symphonic, jazz, rock, and electronic in music. Many works are hybrids, combining conventions from multiple genres to create novel effects or broaden appeal.

Purpose and critique: Genre classification serves practical purposes in production, criticism, and marketing, helping producers plan audience reach and distribution. Critics and scholars debate the rigidity of genre boundaries, arguing that strict divisions can stifle experimentation, while others view genre as a useful heuristic for analyzing form and cultural expectations.

See also: Genre theory, genre painting, genre fiction, subgenre, cross-genre.