Genre Of Fiction Research Articles

The Genre and Trends of Crime Fiction in Nigeria

The field of crime fiction in Nigeria remains under-explored in scholarly discourse. This lacuna is particularly notable given the absence of comprehensive academic works dedicated to this genre. Crime fiction, which delineates narratives surrounding criminals, their crimes, detection and investigation processes, and underlying motivations, has been a prolific subject in Nigerian creative literature. Despite the substantial body of Nigerian literary works delving into themes of crime, punishment, and motivation, it is intriguing that the genre has not garnered significant critical analysis. This study adopts a diachronic approach to trace the historical evolution of crime fiction in Nigeria. It further investigates various sub-genres within this literary category and examines how a multitude of socio-political dynamics have influenced the thematic focus of Nigerian crime fiction. The study posits that crime fiction is gaining relevance in contemporary Nigerian society. It reveals that a significant corpus of these narratives grapple with issues such as colonialism, militarism, corruption, government apathy towards human and national development, and other opaque political and economic elements that perpetuate Nigeria’s precarious journey towards democratic stability.

Translingualism 2.0

This article examines recent technological and cultural developments that have transformed the publishing industry in the past two decades—the rise of social media platforms for writing and reading genre fiction as well as the translingual practices they enable. My focus on the digital aims to update earlier studies of translingualism in a world literary space (Stephen G. Kellman, Pascale Casanova). In particular, I examine a French-language platform (Fyctia) and a multilingual one (Wattpad) to argue that digital platforms’ affordances and constraints shape the translingual strategies of their writers and readers.

The Patent Law Origins of Science Fiction

This Article reveals the surprising role of patent law in shaping the literary genre of science fiction. Drawing on previously unpublished sources, the Article shows that Hugo Gernsback— the so-called “father” of science fiction who started the first all-science-fiction magazine in 1926—believed that works of science fiction are analogous to patents. Like patents, science fiction stories can disclose useful information to the public about new inventions. Like patents, science fiction stories can influence future inventors and drive innovation. Gernsback went even further, positing that some of the inventions depicted in science fiction should themselves be patentable. In 1952, he urged Congress to reform the Patent Act to make so-called “Provisional Patents” available to science fiction authors who depicted major technological developments before their time. He argued that science fiction authors who filed for Provisional Patents should get an extra thirty years in which to show their invention worked. If they could do so, they would thereafter be able to obtain an ordinary patent, to last another twenty years. Many will find Gernsback’s proposal deeply problematic from the perspective of patent policy, and rightly so. Granting patent rights too early in an invention’s lifecycle creates new and unjustified opportunities to hold up innovation. A science fiction author who obtained a Provisional Patent for a theoretical invention could crawl out of the woodwork half a century later and sue the very people who figured out how to make the invention work. Gernsback’s ideas for patent reform were half-baked and, the Article shows, probably self-serving. Nonetheless, exploring the connection he cultivated between patents and science fiction yields many surprising insights for science fiction and for innovation policy. Science fiction has more in common with patents than it might seem. Although science fiction does not typically impart enough information to “enable” others to make and use the inventions it describes, science fiction can inspire readers and supply them with a motivation—in Gernsback’s words, a “stimulus”—to implement science fictional inventions in the real world. Science fiction, like patents, can play a role in promoting innovation.

Second-Person Narration and Self-Reflectivity: The Effectivity of the Narrative Technique in Empathizing with and Identifying the “Other” in N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth (2015-17) Trilogy

ABSTRACT The paper aims to disabuse the critics of their consensus regarding the strangeness and unpredictability of the second-person “you” and subsequently highlight the potential that it possesses. While exploring the ambiguous yet multi-faceted identities of the “other” has often been one of the central concerns of the black science fiction and fantasy genre, the employment of second-person narration to reconcile the dilemma posed by the ambivalent selves of the “other” is the hallmark of science fiction and fantasy writer N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth trilogy (2015–17). To that end, the paper attempts to close read the alternate identification and displacement feature of “you” as an effective technique to construct the “black female identity” that is constituted of fluid and multi-dimensional representations of female selves. It also highlights the self-reflective nature, that is, the tendency of the “you” in the text to reflect on its own slippery self while concurrently negotiating with the refracted selves of Essun. The final section engages with the significance of second-person narration in the theory of mind debate and how Jemisin’s execution of it makes the story of Essun readily available to the readers by making them partake of her experience, thus triggering the readers’ empathy.

Black Pulp: Genre Fiction in the Shadow of Jim Crow by Brooks E. Hefner (review)

Black Pulp: Genre Fiction in the Shadow of Jim Crow by Brooks E. Hefner (review)

Nostalgia, Masculinity, and Real Person Fiction: The Obama Biden and Bernie Sanders Mysteries

Published in 2018, 2019, and 2022 respectively, Hope Never Dies and Hope Rides Again, subtitled An Obama Biden Mystery, and Feel the Bern: A Bernie Sanders Mystery by Andrew Shaffer offer crime stories that feature the former President and Vice-President and, analogously, Senator Bernie Sanders as amateur investigators. Described as ‘[e]vocative of noir thrillers and bromantic buddy-cop movies’ on Penguin Random House’s website, the novels rest on a premise that, this paper argues, is carried not only by a liberal nostalgia for the Obama presidency and, in the case of Feel the Bern, small town life, but also by certain stereotypes about gender and race (‘Obama Biden Mysteries Series’). Thus, this paper asks how nostalgia, masculinity, and especially a certain kind of liberal white masculinity, and race interact with the depiction of crime in this series. Furthermore, it traces how all of these aspects are influenced by and contingent on the conventions of the (sub-)genre of real person fiction.

"Narrativity and Cognition: Early Mind-Driven Plots in Henry James's Notebook Synopses"

Abstract: Inspired by a blend of narrativity studies and cognitive narrative theory, and based on an updated conception of the epistemic plot, this paper sets out to investigate how fictional cognition propels narrative progression from the earliest compositional stages of Henry James's tales as documented in his notebook synopses. Placed in a wider context, moreover, and given James's conviction of the storyness of the representation of consciousness, this paper also invites debate on his role as a remote harbinger of the narrativity of the mind, so characteristic of contemporary cognitive approaches to the fictional genre.

Interview with Translator Edward Gauvin

Abstract In this interview, award-winning translator and author Edward Gauvin reflects on his practice as a translator of over four hundred graphic novels, including works by major French comics artists, illustrators, and scriptwriters, such as Gébé, Marjane Satrapi, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Emmanuel Guibert, Joann Sfar, Lewis Trondheim, Zeina Abirached, Christophe Blain, Philippe Druillet, Enki Bilal, Blutch, and so on. He discusses how he approaches the theoretical and practical problems he has encountered as a translator—from well-trodden topics like speech balloon fit to his dynamic understanding of genre fiction. He also offers an insider's perspective on translators’ (often precarious) position within the larger the comics industry and talks about his favourite translations, as well as his current and future projects.

Resilience Amid Ruins: A Logotherapeutic Analysis of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven

The corpus of literature concerning pandemics and disease outbreaks, within the genre of post-apocalyptic pandemic fiction, has seen a notable surge, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 crises. These works, which often delve into the existential search for meaning amidst societal collapse, suffering and chaos, resonate profoundly with the contemporary world. There is a scholarly imperative to investigate the portrayal of optimism and resilience in the face of adversity, as depicted in pandemic literature. This study aims to elucidate optimistic coping mechanisms depicted in Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven (2014) a seminal work in its genre with striking similarities to the era of COVID-19. This analysis will utilise Viktor Frankl’s optimistic existential philosophy, Logotherapy, as a framework to examine how the novel’s characters navigate and find meaning in their drastically altered, post-pandemic reality. The study aims to elucidate how Logotherapy’s principles align with the character’s experiences and their search for meaning in a decimated world.

Genre Features of G.D. Grebenshchikov Journalism (based on Minutes of Silence correspondence)

The article is devoted to the identification of genre-forming features of G.D. Grebenshchikov's journalistic creativity on the material of his work Minutes of Silence. The genre analysis of the text based on the description of its themes, composition and style allows one to assume that the genre nature of the writer’s journalistic work can be defined as multi-genre, with a clear inclination to the genres of fiction. Thus, the themes identified in the process of analysis (war, parting and loneliness) are relevant to the historical period of the creation of the work and, in general, to the journalism of the early twentieth century, but the theme of love (devotion, fidelity) as one of the key themes of Russian literature, is traditionally revealed through the genres of the story, novella, novel. In terms of composition, G.D. Grebenshchikov's text is closest to the genres of portrait sketch and reportage, but the author present in the text is interested not so much in the external background of the event, as in the dynamics of internal states and experience of the characters. In non-fiction works of the writer there is a peculiar author's style, which allows one to actualize the author's understanding of the observed event through a variety of stylistic means.

Temporal Journeys and Human Perception: Analyzing Nonlinear Narratives and Scientific Fantasy in the Film Arrival

This paper explores the nuanced interaction between temporal journeys, nonlinear narratives, and human perception, using the highly acclaimed film Arrival as its focal point. Drawing from theoretical frameworks in time perception, cognitive psychology, and narrative theory, we investigate the convergence of these perspectives in the analysis of nonlinear storytelling. The literature review encompasses studies on the impact of nonlinear narratives on audience perception, relevant theories on time cognition, and scholarly works dissecting Arrival within the science fiction genre. The film analysis section dissects Arrival, highlighting its nonlinear narrative structure, the portrayal of temporal journeys, and the role of language in shaping temporal perception. The paper explores how Arrival challenges traditional notions of time and reality, scrutinizing cognitive aspects like memory and consciousness, and the linguistic impact on temporal understanding. The scientific fantasy within Arrival, notably linguistic relativity, is scrutinized for its balance between scientific grounding and fantastical elements. Audience reception and impact investigate how nonlinear narratives, exemplified by Arrival, influence audience expectations, preferences, and broader cinematic trends. The paper concludes with reflections on the implications of Arrival within the context of temporal journeys, human perception, and the lasting impact on the science fiction genre.

Mindscapes of Mystery: Comparative Approaches in the Works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie

Mystery fiction, also known as detective fiction or crime fiction, is a literary genre that revolves around solving a puzzle or mystery often related to the criminal events. It typically features a central mystery, such as murder, theft, or other mysterious circumstances, that serves as the driving force of the narrative. This research delves into the comparative approaches adopted by two celebrated mystery writers, Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, in their literary works. With a specific focus on their iconic detectives, Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple, respectively, the study thoroughly analyzes various aspects of their storytelling techniques. By closely examining their works, the research sheds light on the distinct writing styles, plot structures, characterizations, and thematic elements employed by each author. This exploration provides valuable insights into the individual contributions of Doyle and Christie to the mystery fiction genre. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of historical context on the development of their characters and intricately woven mysteries. It unravels how societal and cultural factors impacted their narratives, adding depth to the characters and their adventures. The findings of this comparative analysis not only offer a deeper appreciation of the enduring appeal of Holmes and Miss Marple as fictional detectives but also demonstrate the broader impact of Doyle and Christie on the landscape of detective literature.

Kekerasan Yang Dialami Oleh Tokoh Utama Dalam Novel 00.00 Sepasang Luka Yang Berakhir Duka Karya Ameylia Falensia

In the study under study is related to the study of fiction, namely a novel where the novel is a type of fiction genre that is written in writing where it has several elements of imagination and also in writing where it has some elements of imagination and is also related to wishful thinking while literary criticism is an analysis related to the analysis that deals with the examination of elements that have errors so that the critique generally focuses on the author's some of the author's confusion in writing so that the literature criticism is the result of evaluating a piece of literature. This review aims to describe and reveal violence against female characters in Ameylia Falensia's Nobel. This research utilizes the psychoanalysis method, namely to find out how the deviation in the character and what causes it. In this scope, the researcher took a study that focuses on one of the literary works entitled focused on one literary work entitled 00.00 a pair of wounds that ended in grief written by Ameylia Falensia that ends with grief written by Ameylia Falensia. The results of this study found that there were several cases of psychological and psychological violence. Where the victims generally get a sense of trauma and fear that can trigger a person to do activities that are not in accordance with a person's activity is not in accordance with his reasoning so that it always ends with murder.

Hydrosocial Precarity and Postmillennial Indian Fiction: Reading Prayaag Akbar’s Leila

This paper aims to make a contribution to the debate on how hydropolitics help us understand the socio-spatial dynamics of urban space and identity formation by reading the speculative city in Prayaag Akbar’s Leila (2017). The paper attempts to give Leila, frequently read under dystopic genre fiction, a hydropolitical reading, an overlooked critical paradigm, particularly in the context of postmillennial Indian fiction. To that end, it draws upon the concept of hydrosocial territories to spatialize the city-splitting in Leila. This kind of approach critically reconfigures water, as a new social, that shapes the spatial. The paper charts how the neoliberal “Council” in Leila governmentalizes the hydrosocial relations. Central to its hydroterritorial apparatus is the utilization of different contours, including pipe politics, water time, and hydraulic citizenship that induce hydrosocial precarity.

From inglorious basterds, aliens, and hobbits: The structure of fictional film genre preferences and its relationship with time perspective and individual time span orientation.

From inglorious basterds, aliens, and hobbits: The structure of fictional film genre preferences and its relationship with time perspective and individual time span orientation.

“Social Workers Should Be Required to Watch this Episode” : Social Media Perceptions of Television Portrayals of Fictional CPS Workers

Child Protective Services (CPS) workers appear in television plotlines across every fiction genre, and these depictions are often quite unfavourable. Customer engagement behaviours (CEBs), or what viewers say in online forums or on social media influence how other viewers perceive CPS workers. This interconnectivity is examined here through the framework of CEBs and Social TV using case studies from four popular programs: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), Shameless, Law and Order: SVU (SVU), and The Sandman. These case studies were compared for accuracy against observations given by a former Child Protective Investigator, whose feedback indicated that the realistic programs (SVU and Shameless), while being overly dramatised, had more authentic and balanced CPS portrayals than the fantasy programs (BtVS and The Sandman). Common themes from the audience in the CEBs are: CPS workers are overworked, underpaid, and too bureaucratic; greed motivates some families to foster or adopt children; and that the system of protective services is broken.

On the coordinate change in the Turkish literary process

Abstract: In this study, the author examines the literary landscape in Turkey given the new dimension opened by the vertical gradation of fiction. The division of literature into high literature (classic), middle-tier (Belles-lettres), and low-tier literature (for mass consumption) is becoming increasingly prominent. Belles-lettres seems to be the most mobile of those, with its representatives being able to, over time, find themselves both at the top and the bottom rung of this paradigm. Zülfü Livaneli's works straddle the line between the high literature and belles-lettres, while books by Barış Müstecaplıoğlu are a perfect example of mass literature becoming regarded as belles-lettres. Another productive approach is horizontal gradation – dividing modern Turkish literature into genres. This is especially true for mass literature, where a clear classification into genres and subgenres is pretty much a precondition for existence. The study singles out such genres of mass literature as detective novels, women's romance novels, and historical adventure novels. Speculative fiction occupies a special place in this, with its genre affiliation being a topic of major discussions. The Turkish literature of the 2000s features several principal genres of speculative fiction: sci-fi (K. Kutlu, G. Berkkan, H. Balçı) with alternative history being a part of such (G. Dayıoğlu, H. Kakınç); fantasy with its subgenres of urban fantasy (S. Yemni, S. Atasoy, G. Elikbank, F. O. Şeran, C. Yücel), "sword and sorcery" fantasy (B. Müstecaplıoğlu, A. Aras, G. Canbaba) and dark fantasy (S. Ersin, G. Öğüt), as well as the genre of dystopia (A. Şaşa). In conclusion, the author argues that analyzing literary pieces necessitates operating with both the vertical and horizontal paradigms simultaneously.

The Redemptive Implications of Chen Qiufan’s Waste Tide

Waste Tide, Chen Qiufan’s debut sci-fi novel, has received growing critical attention. While most of the scholarship focuses on the explicit themes of globalization, post-human, cyborg, and alienation, the perspective of Christianity and the redemptive implications it reveals have not been given due attention. Christian stories and doctrines referred to in the novel are quite closely related to the theme of the redemption of the characters. By presenting the characters’ redemption journey with Christian principles, Chen Qiufan reveals their complex inner world and points out the ways to realize self-redemption. This paper argues that Waste Tide can be most meaningfully interpreted as a story of sin and redemption by utilizing the genre of science fiction. Love, forgiveness, confession, and atonement are emphasized in the novel to serve as the remedies for fallen humanity in a world of technological development and global capitalism. A thorough analysis of the Christian underpinning in this novel reveals Chen Qiufan’s strength in characterization and presenting important moral concerns in a world dominated by technoscience through the Christian voice.

Https://medialing.ru/proekt-povorota-sibirskih-rek-dinamika-prezentacii-v-tekstah-sovetskih-smi/

This article discusses how US and UK liberal media slowly but surely created a skewed representation of 45th US President Donald Trump. Asserting that the media are biase and the images of Donald Trump in print media show political slant of the newspapers, the research analyzes partisan media and image portraying words therein. Usage labels enable identification of the ever-powerful lexical instrument used by the media to create a distorted image of the politician and manipulate the citizens; therefore, the paper aims to analyze evaluative lexical items used in media texts to mould required images of Donald Trump. The research examines the articles on Donald Trump’s key activities in early 2020 in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and the Independent. The methodological framework includes the data of the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), which is evenly divided between the five genres of spoken discourse, fiction, popular magazines, newspapers, and academic journals. Analyzing words in terms of their usage frequency in each of these genres provides a clear picture of the target audience. The Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners provides the most precise and comprehensive classification of the style labels, including “formal”, “informal”, “literary”, “impolite”, “showing disapproval”, “journalism”, and “phrasal verbs”. This combination of the corpus-based approach and the dictionary-based approach resulted from the need to supplement the research with quantitative and qualitative data to study manifestations of political slant in the media holistically. Analyzing image portraying words in the media enables us to describe the key evaluative vocabulary, study Donald Trump’s profile and interpretations of his activities in the liberal media, identify political bias and distortion of facts in mass communications, and define new trends in journalism, medialinguistics, and political communication.

‘“But will I write disgustingly?” The Shock of Transmission in Martin Amis’s The Zone of Interest’

This article explores the way British writer Martin Amis approaches the issue of the transmission of the trauma of the Holocaust in his novel The Zone of Interest (2014). Amis offers to engage once again with the genre of perpetrators fiction as the novel adopts the point of view of Nazi officials and recounts the daily lives of officers working in a nameless camp meant to resemble Auschwitz. Amis thus returns to a literary tradition that has long been reflecting on the possibility and ethics of writing about the trauma of the Shoah. This article will recontextualize the publication controversy that erupted after Amis’s French and German editors refused to publish the text. It then intends to follow Marianne Hirsch and Leo Spitzer’s injunction to ‘scrutinize the “acts of transfer”’ so as to identify the narrative mechanisms used in the novel to transmit the horror of the Holocaust. This paper will examine how Amis uses the paratext of his novel to question his approach to the memory of the Shoah and to situate his position regarding the matter. Yet the publishing controversy suggests that Amis’s intention of creative transmission might be threatened by the very way of telling history. In light of Rita Felski’s work on the reader’s engagement with a text, this paper will therefore determine how Amis resorts to using shock and disgust as a way of letting something of the Holocaust ‘pass through’ while challenging the aesthetic pleasure one might experience in reading those testimonies.