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We_Get_It_You_Vape t1_jeel4fl wrote

Reply to comment by Griffen_07 in Do you think it's still possible to create new genres? by DiagonallyStripedRat

The definition of genre is, "a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content".

You're overthinking or mistaking what it means to be a genre. LitRPG stories share a particular style and/or content, so it absolutely meets the definition of genre. Do many LitRPG stories also happen to be fantasy stories? Absolutely. But that doesn't change the fact that LitRPG is also a genre.

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Griffen_07 t1_jeenapj wrote

It’s a sub-genre.

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We_Get_It_You_Vape t1_jeet4b1 wrote

You do realize that sub-genres are, by definition, also genres, right? One could argue that fantasy is a sub-genre of literary fiction. Does that mean fantasy is not a genre? See how ridiculous that sounds?

You’re trying to do all these mental gymnastics to say that LitRPG isn’t a genre, but meets the very definition of genre.

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Griffen_07 t1_jeeu4s4 wrote

It depends on how high up the category tree you go.

Lord of the Rings for example is fiction, fantasy, adventure, epic

Circe is fiction, fantasy, myth inspired, coming of age. One could also make a case for fiction, fantasy, women's lit.

Most LitRPG is fiction, fantasy, adventure, LitRPG

I hold that everything below the second split is a sub-genre not an independent genre. If you want a further refinement fantasy belongs to Speculative Fiction along with Science Fiction, Horror, and Alternative History.

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We_Get_It_You_Vape t1_jef2mnj wrote

I'm glad we've established that your feelings on what "genre" means holds more credence than the actual dictionaries.

And, since you seem to still be focusing on sub-genres, I'll say it one more time: Sub-genres are still genres.

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Griffen_07 t1_jefcvle wrote

Since you are focusing on dictionaries, Webster defines a sub-genre as one that belongs to a larger genre.

The OP asked about new genres on the level of romance, thriller, and mystery. These are higher level splits.

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We_Get_It_You_Vape t1_jeffn56 wrote

> Since you are focusing on dictionaries, Webster defines a sub-genre as one that belongs to a larger genre.

It's funny you didn't post Webster's full definition. We both know why that is.

Their definition of sub-genre is, "a genre that is part of a larger genre".

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