When identifying the genre of material viewed, several key factors should be considered to accurately classify it. Here are the main things to look at:

Things to Consider in Identifying Genre

1. Content and Theme

• What is the central subject or topic?
• Does it focus on love, adventure, crime, horror, fantasy, etc.?
• Themes often define genres, e.g., romance centers on relationships, while sci-fi involves futuristic or scientific elements.

2. Tone and Mood

• Is the material serious, humorous, dark, suspenseful, or light-hearted?
• The emotional atmosphere helps distinguish genres like comedy, thriller, or drama.

3. Setting

• Where and when does the story take place?
• Historical settings might indicate historical fiction, futuristic settings point to science fiction, and everyday settings might suggest realistic fiction.

4. Plot Structure

• What kind of storyline does it follow? Is it a mystery with clues and a resolution, an epic quest, or a slice-of-life narrative?
• Certain genres have typical plot patterns (e.g., detective stories have a crime and investigation).

5. Character Types

• Are there heroes, anti-heroes, supernatural beings, or ordinary people?
• Fantasy often includes mythical creatures, while horror might feature monsters or villains.

6. Style and Language

• Is the language formal, poetic, straightforward, or filled with jargon?
• Some genres have distinctive writing styles, like noir’s gritty, terse prose.

7. Purpose and Audience

• Is the material meant to entertain, inform, scare, or provoke thought?
• Knowing the target audience (children, adults, fans of a particular genre) can guide identification.

8. Medium and Format

• Is it a novel, film, play, poem, or video game?
• Some genres are more common in certain media (e.g., musicals in theater).

By analyzing these elements, you can more confidently identify the genre of the material you are viewing. If you want, I can help you apply these criteria to a specific example!