Body genre
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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+ | [[Image:The Bitter Potion.jpg|200px|thumb|left|''[[The Bitter Potion]]'' (c. 1635) by [[Adriaen Brouwer]]]] | ||
+ | [[Image:Mona Lisa Smoking a Pipe.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This page '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is part of the [[laughter]] series.<br>Illustration: ''[[Mona Lisa Smoking a Pipe]]'' by [[Eugène Bataille]]]] | ||
[[Image:The Raven.jpg|thumb|right|200px| | [[Image:The Raven.jpg|thumb|right|200px| | ||
Body genre: [[comedy]] and [[humour]]; effect: [[laughter]] | Body genre: [[comedy]] and [[humour]]; effect: [[laughter]] | ||
<br>Illustration: poster for ''[[The Raven (1963 film)|The Raven]]'', a [[horror-comedy]]]] | <br>Illustration: poster for ''[[The Raven (1963 film)|The Raven]]'', a [[horror-comedy]]]] | ||
{{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
- | :''[[popular culture]]'' | ||
- | In [[genre theory]], [[narratology]], [[visual culture]] and [[music]], '''body genres''' refer to genres that have an [[effect]] on the spectator's [[human body|body]]. This physical effect has the body caught in the grips of intense sensation or emotion, making the body display a [[physical reaction]]. The term was first brought forward by film scholar Carol Clover who included horror and pornography. [[Linda Williams (film scholar)|Linda Williams]] expanded the definition to include [[melodrama]]. Jahsonic was the first to include laughter to the definition. | ||
- | Generally, body genres are considered of lower value than "mind genres", or "[[cerebral]] genres" (which appeal to the [[intellect]] rather than the body). | + | In [[genre theory]] and [[narratology]] '''body genres''' refer to genres that have an [[effect]] on the [[audience]]'s [[human body|body]]. These genres produce a physical effect, catching the body in the grip of an intense sensation or emotion, making the body display a [[physical reaction]]. |
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+ | The concept was first used by [[Richard Dyer]] in his essay "Male gay porn: Coming to terms" (1985): | ||
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+ | :"The fact that [[porn]], like [[weepies]], [[thriller]]s and [[low comedy]], is realized in/through the body has given it low status in our culture. Popularity these genres have, but arbiters of cultural status still tend to value "spiritual" over "bodily" qualities, and hence relegate porn and the rest to an inferior cultural position."[https://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC30folder/GayPornDyer.html] | ||
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+ | The term "body genre" was coined by film scholar [[Carol J. Clover]] in "[[Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film]]" (1987) to designate "the sensation or "body" genres, [[horror]] and [[pornography]], the only two genres specifically devoted to the arousal of bodily sensation". | ||
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+ | In "[[Film Bodies: Gender, Genre, and Excess]]" (Film Quarterly, 1991) [[Linda Williams (film scholar)|Linda Williams]] expanded the definition to include [[melodrama]]: "I am expanding Clover's notion of low body genres to include the sensation of overwhelming pathos in the "weepie."" | ||
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+ | Generally, body genres are considered of lower value than "mind genres" or "[[cerebral]] genres", (which appeal to the [[intellect]] rather than the body). | ||
The physical reactions in body genres are: | The physical reactions in body genres are: | ||
+ | * [[horror]] (and thriller): the fear causes the physical reaction of [[trembling]] produced by [[adrenaline]], of [[Perspiration|sweating]], [[chill]]s and possibly [[goose bumps]] | ||
+ | * [[erotica]] and [[pornography]]: the physical reaction is [[sexual arousal]], [[tumescence]], [[vaginal lubrication]] and [[orgasm]] | ||
* [[comedy]] and [[humour]]: the physical reaction is [[laughter]] | * [[comedy]] and [[humour]]: the physical reaction is [[laughter]] | ||
* [[melodrama]]: the physical reaction is [[crying]] which produces [[tears]], the genre is also called a "[[tearjerker]]". | * [[melodrama]]: the physical reaction is [[crying]] which produces [[tears]], the genre is also called a "[[tearjerker]]". | ||
- | * [[horror]]: the physical reaction is trembling, by the fear that produces [[adrenaline]] | ||
- | * [[erotica]]: the physical reaction is [[sexual arousal]] and [[orgasm]] | ||
- | == In music == | + | == Music == |
- | Similarly, in music there are mind and body genres as well. The example of a musical genre with a focus towards the body is [[dance music]]. | + | Similarly, in music, a distinction can be made between mind and body genres. The example of a musical genre with a focus towards the body is [[dance music]]. |
== See also == | == See also == | ||
*[[Genre theory]] | *[[Genre theory]] | ||
*[[Human body]] | *[[Human body]] | ||
*[[Embodied philosophy]] | *[[Embodied philosophy]] | ||
+ | *[[Popular culture]] | ||
{{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} |
Revision as of 22:35, 25 July 2019
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In genre theory and narratology body genres refer to genres that have an effect on the audience's body. These genres produce a physical effect, catching the body in the grip of an intense sensation or emotion, making the body display a physical reaction.
The concept was first used by Richard Dyer in his essay "Male gay porn: Coming to terms" (1985):
- "The fact that porn, like weepies, thrillers and low comedy, is realized in/through the body has given it low status in our culture. Popularity these genres have, but arbiters of cultural status still tend to value "spiritual" over "bodily" qualities, and hence relegate porn and the rest to an inferior cultural position."[1]
The term "body genre" was coined by film scholar Carol J. Clover in "Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film" (1987) to designate "the sensation or "body" genres, horror and pornography, the only two genres specifically devoted to the arousal of bodily sensation".
In "Film Bodies: Gender, Genre, and Excess" (Film Quarterly, 1991) Linda Williams expanded the definition to include melodrama: "I am expanding Clover's notion of low body genres to include the sensation of overwhelming pathos in the "weepie.""
Generally, body genres are considered of lower value than "mind genres" or "cerebral genres", (which appeal to the intellect rather than the body).
The physical reactions in body genres are:
- horror (and thriller): the fear causes the physical reaction of trembling produced by adrenaline, of sweating, chills and possibly goose bumps
- erotica and pornography: the physical reaction is sexual arousal, tumescence, vaginal lubrication and orgasm
- comedy and humour: the physical reaction is laughter
- melodrama: the physical reaction is crying which produces tears, the genre is also called a "tearjerker".
Music
Similarly, in music, a distinction can be made between mind and body genres. The example of a musical genre with a focus towards the body is dance music.
See also