RESEARCH - What is Genre?

A genre is a type of media product. It helps to quickly establish differences between different media forms. This happens through particular genre conventions, and also through tropes. To get more specific, there are also sub-genres (variations of certain media types), which helps the audience understand the kind of media they're about to consume even more.

However, media forms don't always have to be incredibly specific. Hybrid genres combine two or more different kinds of media forms into one (like a science-fiction thriller or action comedy).

PICKING FAVOURITES

1. Science Fiction

This genre is great because of its versatility. It can tackle all sorts of issues through metaphoric premises, and is able to handle small, human conflict just as easily as it ponders grand philosophical questions - even pairing the two.

2. Coming-Of-Age Tales/Teen Dramas

This genre is great, because it usually blends comedy with drama in a mostly unique way. The characters usually have to discover something life changing, and that moment often plays out through an emotional beat, but the comedy comes from some of the childish joy the characters still retain. There's more to it, too, that I love, but I feel that sends out the base message best.

3. Animation

Animated movies, whether they're from Pixar or Studio Ghibli, win a spot in my heart. They're able to visually do things that no other genre could ever do, and this leads to some really interesting (and potentially groundbreaking) methods of visual storytelling.