Contemporary Literary Genres

Main thing

Contemporary literature refers to written works produced after World War II, specifically from 1945 onwards. It is characterized by its reflection of modern society, often breaking traditional writing rules and incorporating technology.Here are five contemporary literary genres with their characteristics:

1. Literary Fiction: Focuses on in-depth character development and style over plot, often tackling serious themes and societal issues.

2. Young Adult (YA) Fiction: Targets teenage readers, dealing with coming-of-age themes and often featuring young protagonists.

3. Crime/Mystery: Involves suspenseful storytelling with a focus on solving a crime or unraveling a mystery.

4. Magical Realism: Blends magical elements with the real world, creating a sense of wonder and questioning reality.

5. Digifiction: A genre that uses digital technology to tell stories, often interactive and multimedia-based.

Terminology

• Contemporary Literature: Literature written after World War II (from 1945 onwards). Example: "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini.

• Literary Fiction: A genre focusing on in-depth character development and style over plot, often tackling serious themes and societal issues. Example: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

• Young Adult (YA) Fiction: A genre targeting teenage readers, dealing with coming-of-age themes and often featuring young protagonists. Example: "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.

• Crime/Mystery: A genre involving suspenseful storytelling with a focus on solving a crime or unraveling a mystery. Example: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson.

• Magical Realism: A genre blending magical elements with the real world, creating a sense of wonder and questioning reality. Example: "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez.

• Digifiction: A genre that uses digital technology to tell stories, often interactive and multimedia-based. Example: "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" on Netflix.

An analogy

Contemporary literary genres are like a wardrobe full of different outfits, each representing a unique style and purpose. Just as you choose an outfit based on the occasion, mood, or current trends, readers select a genre based on their interests, emotional state, or societal relevance.

A main misconception

A common misconception about contemporary literature is that it's all about modern or futuristic settings. In reality, contemporary literature can be set in any time period as long as it was written after 1945. It's more about the time of writing than the time of setting.

The history

1. 1945: The birth of contemporary literature, marked by the end of World War II.

2. 1950s-1960s: The rise of literary fiction and crime/mystery genres.

3. 1970s: The emergence of magical realism, popularized by Latin American writers.

4. 1990s: The boom of young adult fiction with series like "Harry Potter".

5. 2000s: The advent of digifiction with the rise of digital technology.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. Book Club Selection: If you're part of a book club, understanding contemporary literary genres can help you suggest diverse and engaging books for your group to read.

2. Writing Inspiration: Aspiring writers can explore different contemporary genres to find their niche or to experiment with blending genres in their work.

3. Teaching Tool: Teachers can use the knowledge of contemporary literary genres to create engaging lesson plans, helping students appreciate the diversity of contemporary literature.

Interesting facts

1. The term "Young Adult" was coined by the Young Adult Library Services Association in the 1960s.

2. Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude", a magical realism novel, sold over 50 million copies worldwide.

3. "Digifiction" is a relatively new genre, emerging with the rise of digital technology in the 21st century.

4. The crime/mystery genre is one of the most popular genres, with Agatha Christie being named the best-selling author of all time.

5. Literary fiction often garners more critical acclaim, with most Nobel Prize in Literature winners being authors of literary fiction.