What is genre, and why does it matter?

Photo by Paul Schafer on Unsplash

In researching for this post, I looked up the definition for genre. There were many different results, of course; various dictionaries all trying to say the same thing in differing words.
My favourite definition came from the Cambridge Dictionary:

genre: a style, especially in the arts, that involves a particular set of characteristics.

Put simply, a genre is an artistic style. Things that belong to a certain genre are things that share the same artistic style.

This style can be identified by the word and grammar usage, if it is a written work. It can be located by the colour scheme, or techniques and methods used, for physical artworks. If it is a fictional text, it can be typified by the tropes and cliches commonly found within it.

Here are some examples: a classical artwork can be identified by the focus on balance and symmetry. An abstract artwork will be less focused on portraying real people or events, but rather use lines and shapes to convey its meaning.

Books, too, have many different styles, or genres. Non-fiction books are characterized by containing facts rather than fiction. Fantasy books are defined by having some form of magical element. Childrens’ books have less words and more pictures, and Historical Fiction must be set in a time period that has already existed.

But why, you ask, is this important?

Well, it’s kind of like having the dictionary be alphabetized. Can you imagine going to look for a specific word in the dictionary, and not having the slightest clue where to look, because all the words are jumbled up into one huge mess?
Genre is a little bit like that. When books are assigned genres, it makes it easier to find them. It creates order in an area that would otherwise be complete chaos.

Yes, genre has limitations. If you’re looking for something ultra-specific, you’re unlikely to find it anyway. And not everything fits perfectly into a genre—some things need cross-genres, like romantasy (romance & fantasy) or historical sci-fi (historical fiction & science fiction).
Beyond that, maybe a reader doesn’t want to be confined to a genre—maybe they want to explore the endless variety of the written word, and genres are only getting in their way! Well, I’m sorry if you’ve ever felt like that.

But that doesn’t mean that categorizing by genres is an outdated system.

Here are a few ways to use genre as your new superpower:

Find out which genres you love, and explore within them! I love going to the sections in my local library where I can find all of my favourite genres, and knowing that no matter what book I choose, it will fit firmly into my personal preferences.
Or, if you’re feeling trapped by genre, go looking for a genre you have no experience with! Try something new! I recently read a play, simply because I’d never read one before. Be adventurous and step outside of your comfort zone!

Genre is also helpful in avoiding topics you don’t want to read about. I tend to avoid horror books, and true-crime stories. Another reader may avoid murder mysteries, because such topics make them uncomfortable. Someone else might know they don’t like reading poetry, and so avoid poetry books.

To repeat myself, yes, genre has limitations. But I’ve found far more ways that genre helps the everyday reader, than ways that it hinders them.

So, what do you think? Do you agree? What are your favourite genres, and why? Let me know in the comments!

As always, may every story be incredible—

Emily B.