GENRE
What are aesthetic genres?
Genres are aesthetic templates that are used to guide the creation of various modes of art. In novels we have Harlequin Romances, Murder Mysteries, Psychological Thrillers, etc. In painting we have Expressionism, Pointillism, Abstraction, etc. In popular music we have Country & Western, Rock ‘n Roll, Jazz & Blues, etc. In classical music we have the String Quartet, the Symphony, the Concerto, etc. In theatre we have the Farce, the Drama, the Musical, etc. In dancing we have Ballet, Tap Dancing, Square Dancing, etc. Elaborate and extensive lists could be compiled for every mode of art, with considerable disagreement between various list- makers as to what categories to nominate, and which modes fit into which categories.
Different genres have different fans, audiences and markets. Since most artists want to reach an audience and a market (hopefully with a considerable overlap in these two groups), they will study the characteristics of the various aesthetic templates in the field(s) in which they are working. Audiences will have certain expectations as to how a Murder Mystery or a Country & Western song will be composed. There will be an appropriate vocabulary, a recognized set of themes, pace or cadence that modulates the material. There may be syncretism in modalities, in which, for example, a Murder Mystery is set in the Country & Western music business – but in that case a blend of elements from both templates will be expected. Some types of aesthetic templates may fall out of public interest, and new templates may be created which take their place, or enlarge the field of available artistic modes.
How are genres used?
Some artists are primarily trying to just make money, and they will use their talents and develop their arts to the extent that they realize that objective. One renowned writer of action thrillers acknowledged some years ago that his themes, plots, vocabulary and characters were created solely to appeal to the market that bought those kinds of books – and using his income as a standard, he did very well by this template. Other artists struggle with some innovative or unconventional mode – what they are attempting to do, in fact, is to create a new artistic market, and it is often quite a struggle (James Joyce’s “flow of consciousness” novels are an example, as are Edgar Allan Poe’s stories that blend mystery and esoterica).
Many artists have “hobby-horse” themes that they explore in various directions. For writer D.H. Lawrence it was “sexuality,” for composer Franz Joseph Haydn it was “humour,” for the Canadian Group of Seven painters it was “nature.” Artists are not “compelled” to follow templates, but the further they depart from them, the less likely are they to find audiences or markets for their efforts. Extreme deviance in aesthetics is no more appealing than it is in ethics.
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