PB1B - Genre Generation!

PB1B: Inspecting Genre Generators

  The various conventions of writing genres can be invaluable for literary analysis and construction, assisting writers with a framework for efficient expression of their ideas in a writing piece. For this blog entry, I will discuss the implications of a few key genres as they are found within a couple of online “genre generators”. The first type of writing piece to be analyzed takes the form of a formal research paper, as generated by a website developed by MIT researchers.

  As with any formal piece of writing in an academic environment, the generated research papers follow a simple set of conventions that are meant to speak to the ethos of the author and legitimize the results of the study in question. This leads to a basic structure which first states the name of the study along with all researchers involved and an abstract providing the reason for the study, typically in the form of a question yet unanswered by science. Following this short introduction, papers of this type proceed to explain the experimental process in greatly detailed paragraphs riddled with jargon and complex terms. Embedded within these lengthy walls of text lie a series of figures and graphs which help the reader to visualize the data presented by researchers and improve comprehension of ideas. The final key to a successful research paper involves an extensive reference list which speaks to the sheer amount of effort and magnitude of people which contributed to the completion of the study. This is a stark contrast to the next genre in question, which takes a much more disordered tone.

  The PandyLand comic generator perfectly illustrates the nature of common comic strips, which appear to be random yet still hold a variety of conventions that set them apart from other types of media. Most of the comic strips which are generated have completely random dialogue that rarely combine to form a cohesive conversation or idea, but can be quite humorous in this respect. As the generator shows, this genre is characterized by short dialogue remarks between characters, strung together by a choppy series of images depicting the situation at hand. The use of simple cartoon images lends to the relaxed tone of the genre, keeping everything simple and to the point. Further, some choice comic strips could be considered relaxed to the extent of coming across as quite crass to some audiences due to the use of many offensive topics or crude language.  This suggests that comics should primarily be used in a casual context for the purpose of comedic relief, and the target audience should be carefully considered.

The next online generator happens to be a meme generator, which transposes short comedic phrases onto symbolic images meant to better display the purpose of the joke. All memes appear to use a similar set of base images which bring this genre to life and provide a familiar background which can be applied to a variety of jokes. Typically, generated memes consist of a setup line as well as a second phrase completing the joke, keeping the tone fairly casual and direct. This illustrates the usefulness of memes as a simple way to communicate comedic ideas in a familiar context to which other readers can relate and comprehend efficiently.

  For the final genre type analysis, consider the conventions of a love letter. This can be explored through the online generator, ‘Letter Generator –UK’, leading to the discovery of a variety of fundamental building blocks for this type of writing piece. Love letters always take a sentimental tone, often including memories and recollections of good times spent with the reader as well as a general outline for the reason behind the profession of love. This genre is meant to appease to audience and make them feel good, which is accomplished with a series of compliments and flattery embedded within a letter. As with all generators in this series, the basic conventions and components from which genres are derived can be discovered and analyzed within the sea of randomness and disorder spurted out by these websites.