Blurred Lines Expose Creativity

The distinction of defining the lines of genre are not necessary. Genre lines developed as an attempt to distinguish between subtle nuances between fiction and non-fiction. As writing has developed, it has really gotten out of hand. There are so many genres and sub-genres you cannot follow all the rules. I took a class in young adult literature and there were three subgenres within this specific genre depending on language and sexual content.

            The genre lines don't get blurrier than the novel, Clockwork Orange -- a futuristic, horror, dystopia interlaced with socio-political comment. The book and movie are among my all-time favorites because of the intellectual levels provided from each scene set with contrast against white clothes to the etymology of each word the author chose to use. It was a great novel because it did blend many genres. It created an innovative concoction that sparked more than entertainment. It evoked conversation and controversy.

Each narrative is a work of art and as such there is no need to follow the dots or paint within the lines unless it suits the emotion of the work. Each work is either entertaining or
“it sucks” despite the rules that a writer follows. If you follow the lines too closely then there is no individuality. True genius comes when your imagination is allowed to wander. The blend of several different genres is similar to a good chef. He mixes several spices to create a good gumbo but there is one element that is personal - the passion or the love. Otherwise, it's just chicken and sausage.

The Boy and His Dog is also a blend of genres – a science fiction, comedy, drama, thriller film. It is a dry comedy in an alternate universe where Vic survives because of Blood, specifically because of  the dog’s ability for telepathic communication. Although different and distinctive, stretching the boundaries of the narrative, the novel and film lost influence because of the last line: “Well I'd say she certainly had marvelous judgement, Albert, if not particularly good taste." This line has been seen as sexist as Vic chose to kill the woman instead of the dog.

It does not matter what you call it or with what genre it is labeled. It is whether work entertains. Sometime, there is so much effort trying to intellectualize every nuance of a story and when it comes down to it – it either works or it doesn’t. Writing can be an experiment of sorts. However, it is not a mathematical equation that only has one right answer. It seems one thing is common within all these works of art --not totally accepted at the time. They have a cult following which has allowed them to endure past all strict lines. These works are timeless due to their transcendence beyond set boundaries, beyond the delineated genre line.