On Genres

Why hasn’t a film like Tropic Thunder (or any Marvel blockbuster) been canceled for featuring Robert Downey Jr. in blackface?

How does Dave Chappelle maintain his status as a comedy icon despite some of the controversial boundaries he pushes? 

How does Eminem continue to earn widespread acclaim even when his songs clearly depict murdering his ex-wife?

The answer lies in genre.

Communication and artistic genres frame how we interpret messages. The cultural imagination relies on these frameworks to guide how we process what we see and hear.

YouTube creators can have fun altering a film's genre through its score. For instance, re-editing Mrs. Doubtfire as a thriller or removing John Williams’ iconic music from Star Wars.

Ultimately, genre tells the audience: “Interpret this narrative through this lens, not that one.”