The term ‘genre’ has been a long standing one in a range of fields of inquiry, yet the notion has become somewhat ossified in many ways, sometimes leading to the neglect of real consideration of genre-related issues in the study of communication (whether written, spoken or otherwise). Most commonly, we see genre conceived as the Cambridge Dictionary defines it, as “a style, especially in the arts, that involves a particular set of characteristics”. Yet other views exist and some of them may prove very useful for a student of language and communication.
This course offers participants a chance to reconsider genre from the point of view of communication of the kind they themselves are interested in. The course will begin with a critical survey of genre theory, yet instead of focusing solely on theoretical matters, the purpose is to re-energize genre analytical approaches with a special emphasis on communication: that genres are exploited in relation to the communicative purposes of the author, the communicative context, and the recipients, the expectations and reading habits of communities or audiences receiving the message.
This course offers participants a chance to reconsider genre from the point of view of communication of the kind they themselves are interested in. The course will begin with a critical survey of genre theory, yet instead of focusing solely on theoretical matters, the purpose is to re-energize genre analytical approaches with a special emphasis on communication: that genres are exploited in relation to the communicative purposes of the author, the communicative context, and the recipients, the expectations and reading habits of communities or audiences receiving the message.
- Opettaja: Juha-Pekka Alarauhio