Genre 5: Hybrid Genres

Nicholas Abercrombie (1996) suggests that: 'the boundaries between genres are shifting and becoming more permeable'

This is the creation of the idea of hybrid-genres. Which have become more popular in modern times. This is the idea that genres are using parts of others genres and no longer one specific genre.

Abercrombie is concerned with modern television, which he suggests seems to be engaged in 'a steady dismantling of genre’. By this he explains that overtime we are seeing a break-down of genre as codes and conventions of different genres are becoming more complex, perhaps they're no longer as recognisable as specific genres. 

David Bordwell (1989)
Bordwell states that 'any theme can appear in any genre' expanding on the idea of hybrid genres and crossing-themes. His argument is that there is no set of sufficient conditions which can mark off a genre from other sorts of groupings in ways that all film-goers or experts would find acceptable.

David Buckingham (1993)
In addition to the above theories Buckingham adds that genre isn't just a 'given' by a culture it is a constant  process of negotiation and change. Genres are not fixed and therefore this allows for genre-crossover. A good example of this is Kylie Minogues, "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" 

In this video we can see the genre of 'Pop' and 'Sci-Fi' merging and crossing over. It has dancing and performance which is typically seen as a pop convention however the setting and theme is sci-fi therefore we can see how the genre isn't fixed and has got elements of each of the genres.