What does "genre" mean to you?

[Spiff]

It has been super interesting following the metal thread below as it sort of epitomizes the vastly tired allegiance we have with genres of entertainment. As far as I'm concerned genres are just used to classify things in order of similar qualities, though many of us seem to have a sort of blind obedience to them.

So how do you view genres? Is it something you care about, or do you just shut up and listen to the music? Is it fair to judge an entire genre of something?

Genres are cool since they help us define our tastes and help us further our relationship with whatever art we find pleasurable. The problem is every genre out there has distinct preconceived notions (see country music), and I'm not sure those opinions are well justifiable. What do you think?

 

[Dter ic]

To any typical parent dubstep seems to be the new "rap" that you label new music and make it seem bad. "It's just a bunch of noises" they say, when they've only come across Skrillex's Scary Monsters and Nice sprites. Dubstep is more varied then that. You have the heavy aggressive kind like Excision - X Rated to more mellow ones such as Aether - Stargazer.

Genres help with finding similar kinds of music which is useful but sometimes it can be hard for artists to break out of the mold with a different sound without resorting to staying to some tried and tested formula.

 

[Crunch Punch]

Genres really shouldn't be viewed as strongly as some people seem to view them. It should just be a reference point to identify similar types of music with each other. Instead we have over-exaggerated stereotypes which alienates people and stops them from venturing anywhere outside of their comfort zones. For example one of my sisters, who usually listens to k-pop, pop and r'n'b once told me that she doesn't listen to metal or rock because she thinks it's just 'really loud guitars with butch white men screaming or growling'.

Generalizations like these can only cause conflict and confusion :l

 

[Blurryface]

To me, genres are just something to label music as to make it easier for us to find music to our liking. I don't really care about genres too much, only when someone tries to classify bands like Of Mice & Men as screamo, which isn't a genre really. And about judging an entire genre, I don't think it's fair. As an example, lets take rap. People judge it based on the mainstream songs that mostly speak of sex and drugs, etc etc. Because of that, people judge the entire genre. BUT there are songs that are rap and aren't like that. It's like judging a book based on it's cover.

 

[maccrash]

I think they're very important, but I'm also a hopeless pedant when it comes to this type of thing: I think I have upwards of 200 different genres listed on my MusicBee right now, but that's the way I like it -- specific enough to have a good idea of what exactly I'm getting into. they're also of course helpful for movies & books too.

like, for example, you can say that AC/DC and Modest Mouse are both 'rock' but in reality the two bands are incredibly different -- hence the divide between AC/DC's 'hard rock' and Modest Mouse's 'indie rock.' and those two genres in and of themselves are both quite broad as well. etc.

 

[Golurks Were Meant to Fly]

I don't really care too much about genres. My taste in music is pretty erratic and a lot of times I can find something I enjoy in a song. Genres just make it easier to get a sense for an artist and if you'll like their stuff etc. I don't think they should be as nearly as defining as they are though.

 

[Ullion]

I agree with Golurks, I listen to a variety of different music, regardless of genres. Mind you, there are some genres I do my best to stay away from. But my favourite artists/bands are mostly different genres:
-Streetlight Manifesto + Mustard Plug
-Flobots
-Buckethead
-Nightwish
-Anime OSTs
-Richard Cheese
etc :S

 

[Starry Windy]

I personally think that genres are the style of every music (like Classics, Jazz, Pop, Rock and more), and knowing the genre of the song will be helpful if you want to find the song that suits your taste.