Zack Bergamini Generalizing About Genre Works Cited: Devitt, Amy J.

"Generalizing about Genre: New Conceptions of an Old Concept." College Composition and Communication. 4th ed. Vol. 44. N.p.: National Council of Teachers of English, 1993. 573-86. Print.

Summary In this article, Amy Devitt discusses genre and how many different theorists conceive it. She believes that the original notion of genre should be thrown out in a way so that we have new sense of the word. Devitt believes that many criticize genre because it can be very trivial. You have to treat it as a form. However, a formal view of genre can be troubling between individuals and a group or society. She then goes on to say that the regular use of genre contradicts of how writing works. Genre can also be classified and it all started with Aristotle who put poems into different categories, or genres. Nowadays genres are broken down to subgenres or modes and that causes static products. Devitt then discusses about the origins of genres and how it goes away from the formal features and that form really does not equate to form. She goes on to say that the theory of genre must see behind the classifications. It entails so much more. Devitt goes on to say that there are new concepts of genre. She says that genre connects to themes, participants, and purposes. She also says that genre develops because the

Analysis After reading this article, genre became much clearer to me. Devitt in my opinion clearly defines not only the original theory of genre, but the new theory as well. I thought this article was actually easier to read as well compared to past articles about genre. I think Devitt clearly states her cases and gives great examples of her findings. I do agree with her new theory. I guess I always believed that genre was more than just a form of how something is written. I always thought that genre was part of contexts, how it genres can mixed, and how the writer keeps the genres in mind while writing his or her narrative so that the reader understands there genre, just to name a few. To be honest when I first discussed genres in class about a week ago I really did not know why we were discussing it so much it just was not something I thought was very heavy in meaning and had many depths. However, I am very wrong in that assumption and now understand more of why we have a whole section in our English class about genres. It really is important and has more than one meaning. It is also always being researched for more ways to

reader responds to what the writer writes. Knowing the genre means knowing detail, tone and approach. Much more than just the form. Semantic research has kept genre a funcational concept. When someone creates a genre they also create a situation. However, it can turn bad if the writer uses the genre in a wrong way. Devitt says not to change genre or situation throughout the narrative because that can make the reader confused and it will not make sense. They are inseparable. Genres construct and respond and they become actions. She says these dynamic genres are fluid rather than rigid. Unfortunately, she says that genre can be deterministic and that can cause problems in texts. Devitt talks about implications in this article as well. She says that genre connects readers and writers. More research has to be done in the genre in order to teach it correctly. Devitt believes that teaching genre in classrooms should a very critical thing to teach. With this new theory of genre we can figure out so much more in literacy than ever before.

describe it and how its ever evolving. From reading this article by Devitt this really has gave a me a new view and I think that genres may be one of the most important keys in literacy and composition theory. However, I may have just fallen under her spell because like she said shes got those genre colored glasses so I may have stolen a pair after reading this article.