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]

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.