What Genre is This?

In Chandler’s Introduction to Genre Theory he explains that what defines a specific genre can vary depending on the time period. Genres evolve over time as the values of society change and the focus of the audience shifts. A genre cannot exists till it is recognizable in more than one work, and often a single work meets the standards of more than one genre. So how then does the audience identify and classify the subject of the material they are reading or viewing?

Lee K. Abbot’s "The Purpose of This Creature Man" is a unique look at humanity that has roots in more than on genre. In one sense, it is a western. The tale of bank robbing outlaws who organize a gang and engage in gunfights with the law easily fit’s the mold of most westerns. On the other hand, it’s quirky and unusually loveable criminal characters, each with something different to bring to the table, gives the story somewhat of a comedic feel. Furthermore, the tragic ending, in which all the characters are forced to realize they cannot continue to live a life of crime, regardless of their approach to it, makes it a moral story, designed to teach the audience a lesson.

Perhaps by allowing this story to meet the criteria of several different genres the author is hoping to reach a broader audience. Or maybe the genre in which it is read depends solely on the reader, fit to his or her interpretation and personal values.