Genres

epos

a body of poetry that conveys the traditions of a society by treating some epic theme

 

psychedelic rock

a musical style that emerged in the 1960s; rock music inspired by or related to drug-induced experience

 

skiffle

a style of popular music in the 1950s; based on American folk music and played on guitars and improvised percussion instruments

 

swing music

a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz

 

think piece

an article in a newspaper or magazine or journal that represents opinions and ideas and discussion rather than bare facts

 

op art

a style of abstractionism popular in the 1960s; produces dramatic visual effects with colors and contrasts that are difficult for the eye to resolve

 

rough cut

the first print of a movie after preliminary editing

 

antiphonal

bound collection of antiphons

 

bluegrass

a type of country music played at a rapid tempo on banjos and guitars

 

cinema verite

a movie that shows ordinary people in actual activities without being controlled by a director

 

canticle

a hymn derived from the Bible

 

cool jazz

jazz that is restrained and fluid and marked by intricate harmonic structures often lagging slightly behind the beat

 

art rock

a style of rock music that emerged in the 1970s; associated with attempts to combine rock with jazz and other forms; intended for listening and not dancing

 

cantata

a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text

 

short story

a prose narrative shorter than a novel

 

documentary

a film or TV program presenting the facts about a person or event

 

travesty

a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations

 

drama

the literary genre of works intended for the theater

 

film noir

a movie that is marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, menace, and cynical characters

 

polyphonic prose

a rhythmical prose employing the poetic devices of alliteration and assonance