For my first blog, I will be answering the questions “How has the academic reception of popular genres changed overtime? What might be the value of studying them?” I will mention the marvel cinematic universe, harry potter series, the Lord of the ring’s series, and Veep the television series.
“Genre refers to a group of text that share certain similarities whether of form, performance context, or subject matter,” as said by William Allen (Allen, 2014). Popular genre refers to a grouping of more modern genres such as anime, science fiction, fantasy, film noir, and graphic novels (Mountfort, 2020). Though consumed and enjoyed by many, in forms of major blockbusters such as the marvel cinematic universe () or the harry potter series(Rowling,), the popular genre is often considered on the lower end of the genre hierarchy, with popular genres beginning its academic reception by being viewed as separate and lesser text when compared to other mega genres such as poetry and drama (Mountfort, 2020). Looking into popular genres there were and still are many expected stereotypical features attributed to a piece of the popular genre such as predictable plotting and two-dimensional characters (Mountfort, 2020). However, a shift has occurred with popular genre text now being included in literature programs, alongside texts on the higher end of the genre hierarchy, as well as being taught separately and a good example of this is the very paper I am currently writing this blog post for. Therefore, the change in the academic reception of popular genres is the fact that there is now a space within the academic field for it to be discussed within, something that wasn’t there when the genre itself first formed.
On the second question what might be the value of studying them? About popular genre the value in the studying of them I believe might stem from the very reasons for its “gradual acceptance in the academic field” (Mountfort, 2020). The look into the supposed popular genre stereotypes would allow for a great study into why these familiar beats resonate with such large audience, we can ask why orphaned male leads such as Captain America, harry potter and Frodo who then find themselves as the only one to be able to complete a task to save the world draw in such large followings when not many of the audience resembles these characters within these fictional worlds. While at the same time the study of why the antithesis of these heroes often garner similar amounts of praise such as Selina Meyers a female politician and her goal, like many of the characters in the show, to become president of the united states(). I would love to know to understand why I, as a teenager, found myself enamored by the story of this middle-aged politicians fight for a chance to be president when in reality voting for or even rooting for her would be a far from my thinking. It’s the question of the validity of the popular genre’s stereotypes and the question of why such large audiences are drawn to these texts gives just two of many reasons why I believe there is a great value of studying them.
Allen, W. (2014). Why literary genres matter. Retrieved from https://blog.oup.com/2014/05/why – literary-genres-matter/
Iannucci, A (creat). (2012). Veep [Television]. United States: HBO
Johnston, J (dir). (2011). Captain America: the first avenger [film]. United States: Marvel Studios
Mounfort, P (auth). (2020). ENGL602 popular genres. Retrieved from https://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_96250_1&content_id=_5273101_ 1&mode=reset
Rowling, J. K (writ). (1997). Harry potter and the philosopher’s stone. London: United Kingdom
Tolkien, J. R. R (writ). (1954). The lord of the rings. United Kingdom: George Allen & Co
Pop Genres 2020 