With genre generating websites, you are clearly able to see the different conventions of each genre. As you keep pressing the generate button, you will get more and more examples of each genre and reoccurring themes will start to appear. These generators create simpler ways to learn about a genre.
SCIgen
In the SCIgen generator, many reoccurring themes pop up in each paper. For example, each paper had an abstract, introduction, analysis, and conclusion; these topics are all common components of a research paper. Although the website generated gibberish papers, this genre of papers is commonly used for scientific purposes. The authors of these papers research are usually experts in their fields and are conducting high level research. They publish papers in their fields where they organize data to back up their theories. Once they are published, other experts then start to reply on their findings. The style of writing in this genre most definitely uses jargon. The research papers are meant for those who already have an in depth knowledge about the subject; therefore, the writing is formal and sophisticated. On this website, the format of each generated paper is the same. It is written like a research paper that one would use when they are writing a formal paper for class. Many people quote and cite these research papers when writing or analyzing a topic. For example, in the class “Intro to Communications,” offered here at UCSB, we used this genre of papers to analyze a commercial. In commercials, advertisers use different techniques to appeal to the viewer; in the paper, we cited research papers that demonstrate that these techniques do indeed work.
Comic Strips
The website created, in my opinion, not very funny jokes. However, one can definitely pick up on the conventions of a comic strip through this generator. Comic strips are ordinarily formatted with three boxes and contain a short dialogue between characters. It is an animated drawing that is easy to read. The strips can be filled with puns, jokes, or even entertaining stories. With this genre, one cannot create a long story that goes on for 18 boxes; the strips are supposed to be short and to the point. Usually found in the comic section of the newspaper, this genre is can almost always be turned to for a good laugh.
Memes
Take a famous image or video then write in a funny saying: that is essentially what a meme is. Memes arouse on social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and BuzzFeed. They started using these images to get a point across and they would go viral. Memes are supposed to be funny and used for comic relief in many different situations. They are used to make things funny and provide inside jokes. Memes, obviously, should not be used in serious articles or papers. This genre is specifically made for informal writing. The type of writing used in memes is meant to be sassy, funny, or sarcastic. Formatting of memes are different from any other textual genre; they have a picture in the background, and with white letters it labels the picture with the caption.
Fairytale Plots
In the fairytale plot generator, it gives you a sentence that can be created into a short story or an entire novel. Words like “magic”, “save”, “brave”, “monster”, “defeat”, and “escape” are commonly used words in a fairytale. This genre can be used for multiple reasons but it is most common for it to be used as bed time stories for children. They always have a happy ending and have a calming feel to them. You would not use this genre to talk in every day language; it is more of a story that someone someone would read. From the generator, it is visible that none of the plot lines would actually occur in real life. For example the website generated, “The story is about a brave tailor who must find a magic ring, evade an unwanted lover, and save a prince to return home. Things are complicated by the main villain trying to kill the main character.” This plot line entails no plausible adventures that might actually occur in real life. The link to this generator is: http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/fairytaleplot.htm
I think you've done a really good job at describing each generator's conventions and purpose. For the SCIgen website, "jargon" was a good word to describe the language of a science based research paper. I agree with you that they are written for those who have prior knowledge on the subject or field of study. I didn't think the comic website created funny jokes either. However, I feel that maybe you could have expanded a little more, paragraph wise, in describing other elements that make a comic a comic. Thought bubbles, for example, are a specific convention to comics in particular. Your fairly tale generator is a really cool idea that I've never heard of before! It was important that you pointed out words relating to that genre, and that it is unrealistic and intended for children. Overall I think you've done a really good job at describing each genre from each of the websites.
ReplyDeleteYou've mentioned conventions of each genre generator clearly. I like you say that the authors of research papers are usually “experts”. I think this is an important convention, but I did not thought of. In the “comic strips” part, I suggest you to add some examples to clarify the conventions you've found. I really like the word “comic relief” you used in your article, which means releasing of emotional, and it is new word for me. It is interesting that you choose “Fairy tale Plots” as the additional generator to analyze. I definitely agree with you that they always have a happy ending. That’s true when I try to look back upon the fairy tales I have read before. As stories for children, fairy tale plots are typically creative and unrealistic. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your PB and I like the additional genre you picked.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I like that you divided and labeled your PB into sections. It makes it very easy to understand and makes the overall PB look incredibly organized. I like that you mentioned that with actual research papers, other scientists and qualified people will read and respond to the author’s findings. I never really considered that in regards to the genre, and I think it was an excellent point to make. I like how you described the comics as short and to the point. It was a very good insight to make and definitely speaks on the nature of the humor of comics. I feel like you included a good definition of what a meme is. It took me a while to think of how to describe them, but your description is pretty much spot-on. I really like the concept of a fairytale generator! That’s a really cool and unique genre to explore. Overall, nice work!
ReplyDeletePriya,
ReplyDeleteNice bio. Don’t let your choice of major stress you out too much—as least, that’s my advice. I had a super-hippy advisor in college that always said: follow your heart. That was her suggestion for any of life’s big decisions, so that’s what I’ll offer you here. If accounting/econ is where you heart is, go for it.
PB1A: You gave a thoughtful analysis of fashion blogs. The textual examples you incorporate from With Love From Kat helped to strengthen your claims—way to be specific. I also like how you looked at the commercial side of this—how it’s tied into social media, success, and their $ living.
PB1B: You nailed the basic conventions of the SciGen piece. For the cartoons, though, I was hoping you might get more specific. For instance, does it adhere to the standard audience for what most folks likely expect for a cartoon? I don’t think so, so stating that and incorporating quotes and/or describing the imagery of the scene could really help you drive that “rhetorical observation” home. For the memes: again, try to get a BIT more specific. Is there any recurring theme to the pictures that are typically posted? Do they adhere to a similar audience(s)? Why/not?
The fairtyale plot generator sounds really cool. Can you pass the link along?
All told, great blog, smart thoughts, and all-around solid work, Priya.
Grade for both PBs: 5/5
PB1A: “Check/check plus.”
PB1B: “Check/check minus.”
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