Four ways to investigate assemblages of texts: genre sets, systems, repertoires, and ecologies

  • Authors:
  • Clay Spinuzzi

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 22nd annual international conference on Design of communication: The engineering of quality documentation
  • Year:
  • 2004

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Genre theorists agree that genres work together in assemblages. But what is the nature of these assemblages? In this paper I describe four frameworks that have been used to describe assemblages of genres: genre sets, genre systems, genre repertoires, and genre ecologies. At first glance, they seem to be interchangeable, but there are definite and sometimes quite deep differences among them. I compare and contrast these frameworks and suggest when each might be most useful.