What's in a genre?

[hawkwing_lb]

jennygadget asks: What's at the core of the (fantasy) genre?.

What would you consider “core genre?” Both in terms of definition and representative titles?

(the genre of the book in question is fantasy, but really I'm more curious how people define any genre - especially the kinds of stories that are "central" vs. along the edges, so answer as your whims take you)

Does this term even make any sense to you?

I'm not all that sure. I think it's more of a line of descent and sprawling family tree, myself. But it's an interesting question. (I like those.)

Comments

[oursin]

A banyan tree, perhaps?

Though I'd even problematise the idea of a main trunk.

'Core' is also a problem for me as interesting stuff is more likely to be happening at the margins.

But whatever is wrong with 'large, contains multitudes, contradicts itself'? I am resistant to definitions of The Real True Whatever and the One True Way:

There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays,
And every single one of them is right!

[hawkwing_lb]

Maybe more like one of those seaweeds with all the tendrils...

I'm on the side of the large contradictory multitudes, myself. But there are folks who aren't, as I've learned lately.

[oursin]

Someone, somewhere, relatively recently introduced me to the term 'rhizomatic' - i.e. like root systems which sprawl all over the place and have nodes of juncture here and there - but can I remember the context? No. It's Friday of a rather hectic week.

[hawkwing_lb]

I think that's the best metaphor for genre I've yet heard.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Mmph. The link seems to be broken. Not her post, just your link to it...

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Fixed now.