Research: Why Audiences Like Genres

"Genres are created through a process of repetition and recognition leading to anticipation and expectation." - Graham Burton


This explains why genres use the same conventions over and over again to create a product that the audience expects and is familiar with. This pleases them as the audience likes to feel as though they know what they're getting with the product, creating a positive response.

Nick Lacey stated that genre texts are always a combination of the "familiar and the unexpected."

The familiar aspect of genre allows the audience to relate to the typical conventions but also gives them something new to keep the genre evolving and interesting for the audience.