Genres classification

[WriteRead]

Can anyone tell me what's the diff between Lit/Com and Mainstream/Contemp?

I know what's the diff between Lit and Com, or I think I know, but what's the others?

Confused. I searched for it but couldn't find any explanation.

Dan

[sarbruis]

I've never heard the word contemporary used as a genre class. To me it seems that's just an adjective used to say literature was written recently.


Other than that, mainstream is the same thing as commerical, and literary is not. Comm/mainstream is more plot-driven in nature that literary, which is primarily based on characters and has little plot. There are also combinations of these, such as novels that ride the border, or literary thriller, for instance, which is a thriller with better prose and characters than your regular Tom Clancy novel.

I hope that helped.

[pixiejuice]

There is a good discussion already started on this topic.

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11768

[WriteRead]

pixiejuice - I saw the thread after I posted mine, so... sorry 'boudat!...

sarbruis - the definitions for lit and com are clear to me. What I didn't know, or understand, was the mainstream and contemp.

If, as you say, mainstream is com, then why do they use it? Silly q, I know, just confusing the people. And they have such categories (mainstream and lit) in the Writer's Digest writing contests.

The lit vs com are dealt w in various bks about writing, for ex., but mainstream and contemp are not, yet they're mentioned as a genre in themselves. They do it on purpose, don't you think? http://absolutewrite.com/forums/images/icons/icon12.gif Just as they mar our life as writers all day long, ha-ha.

Dan

[maestrowork]

Mainstream/contemporary -- about people in modern times, probably within one generation...

Mainstream/historical -- about the past.

[JenNipps]

Other than that, mainstream is the same thing as commerical, and literary is not. Comm/mainstream is more plot-driven in nature that literary, which is primarily based on characters and has little plot. There are also combinations of these, such as novels that ride the border, or literary thriller, for instance, which is a thriller with better prose and characters than your regular Tom Clancy novel.

While I do agree with most of what you said, I don't think it's quite correct to say literary work has no plot. I do agree that it may not be as plot-heavy as some mainstream works, but there is still plot. *s*