TAGLISH 21st Century Literature - MODULE 2 - 21st Century Literary Genres

Summary

This video explores a variety of 21st-century literary genres, showcasing how modern literature has evolved with unique forms. It covers illustrated novels, digifiction, graphic novels, manga, doodle fiction, text talk novels, and chic literature, along with flash fiction, science fiction, and creative non-fiction. The video also touches on the growing trend of blogs and hyper poetry, highlighting their experimental and interactive nature. With examples from popular works, the video provides an engaging and informative look at contemporary literary trends, emphasizing the diversity and creativity found in today’s written world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Illustrated novels feature 50 to 100 illustrations or drawings, helping readers interpret the story, with examples like 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' and 'The Arrival'.
• 😀 Digifiction, also known as triple media literature, involves combining text, images, and videos to convey the story. Examples include 'Skeleton Creek' and 'Level 26'.
• 😀 A graphic novel is essentially a comic book in novel format, with popular examples such as 'Archie Comics' and Marvel's superhero stories.
• 😀 Manga, originating from Japan, refers to comics in specific styles, including subgenres like Shonen, Shojo, Seinen, and Josei, with famous examples like 'Naruto' and 'Sailor Moon'.
• 😀 Doodle fiction combines illustrations or doodles with the narrative, often adding humor, as seen in 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and 'Timmy Failure'.
• 😀 Text talk novels use communication methods like blogs, text messages, or emails to tell the story, with examples like 'Jung Vince Cass' and 'James' text conversations'.
• 😀 Chiclet or chick literature deals with modern womanhood and often features a light-hearted, humorous approach to issues, exemplified by books like 'The Night Before Christmas'.
• 😀 Flash fiction is a very brief story, often under 1000 words, with 'Six Word Flash Fiction' like Ernest Hemingway's 'For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn'.
• 😀 Creative nonfiction blends factual storytelling with literary techniques, offering a creative yet truthful narrative, as demonstrated in works like 'One Thousand Gifts' and 'Wind Sand and Stars'.
• 😀 Science fiction explores speculative ideas like space travel, time travel, and extraterrestrial life, with examples like 'Mockingjay' and 'The Hunger Games'.
• 😀 A blog is a personal website with posts about experiences, opinions, and topics of interest, while a vlog includes video content, both contributing to modern digital culture.
• 😀 Hyper poetry involves non-traditional formats, sometimes incorporating clickable links and found mostly online, starting in the 1980s as part of the digital literary movement.

Q & A

What is an illustrated novel, and how does it differ from traditional novels?

An illustrated novel includes 50-100 illustrations or drawings, which help the reader interpret the story. Unlike traditional novels that rely solely on text, illustrated novels blend text and visuals to convey the narrative, offering a unique reading experience.

What are some examples of illustrated novels mentioned in the video?

Two examples of illustrated novels are *The Invention of Hugo Cabret* by Brian Selznick and *The Arrival* by Shaun Tan.

What defines digifiction, and how is it different from traditional forms of literature?

Digifiction, or 'triple media literature,' integrates text, images, and video. It requires readers to engage with all three media types to get the full story, offering a more interactive and immersive experience than traditional literature.

Can you provide examples of digifiction works?

Examples of digifiction include *Skeleton Creek* by Patrick Carman and *Level 26* by Anthony Zuiker.

What is a graphic novel, and how is it different from a traditional comic?

A graphic novel is a book-length comic or manga. Unlike traditional comics that are often serialized, graphic novels are typically standalone works, presenting a complete narrative with illustrations. Examples include *Archie Comics* by John Goldwater and *Iron Man* by Marvel.

What are the different types of manga, and how do they vary?

Manga is Japanese comics with specific categories such as shonen (targeted at young boys), shoujo (targeted at young girls), seinen (targeted at adult men), josei (targeted at adult women), and children's manga. Examples include *Naruto* (shonen), *Sailor Moon* (shoujo), and *Akira* (seinen).

What is doodle fiction, and how does it enhance the story?

Doodle fiction incorporates doodles or hand-drawn illustrations that enhance or add humor to the story. These visuals complement the text and often contribute to a lighthearted or humorous tone. Examples include *Diary of a Wimpy Kid* by Jeff Kinney.

How do text talk novels communicate the story?

Text talk novels use informal communication formats like text messages, chat conversations, emails, or blogs to tell the story. This format reflects modern ways people communicate and often features relatable, casual dialogue.

What is chiclet literature, and what themes does it focus on?

Chiclet, or chic literature, focuses on modern womanhood and is often light-hearted and humorous. It typically features a female protagonist dealing with issues of femininity in a way that adds charm to the story. Examples include *The Night Before Christmas* by Scarlett Bailey.

What is flash fiction, and how short can it be?

Flash fiction is a genre of extremely short stories, typically less than 1,000 words. It focuses on brevity and often delivers a full narrative in a condensed form. An example of flash fiction is *For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn* by Ernest Hemingway, which is only six words long.

What is creative non-fiction, and how does it differ from traditional non-fiction?

Creative non-fiction blends factual storytelling with literary techniques, making it more narrative-driven and engaging. It focuses on telling real-life stories creatively while maintaining accuracy. An example is *One Thousand Gifts* by Ann Voskamp.

What is the main focus of the science fiction genre as mentioned in the video?

Science fiction focuses on speculative fiction, often exploring futuristic themes such as advanced technology, space travel, time travel, and extraterrestrial life. It imagines possibilities beyond current scientific understanding, with examples like *The Hunger Games* by Suzanne Collins.

What is a blog, and how does it contribute to modern storytelling?

A blog is an online platform where an individual shares posts about their experiences, opinions, or specific topics. It can serve as a modern storytelling medium, providing insights into personal narratives or commentary on various subjects.

What is hyper poetry, and how is it different from traditional poetry?

Hyper poetry is an interactive form of poetry that often includes clickable phrases or words and does not follow traditional poetry formats. It began in the 1980s and is typically found online, engaging readers in a dynamic and digital way.