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Genre vs Archetype - What's the difference?

genre | archetype |

As nouns the difference between genre and archetype

is that genre is a kind; a stylistic category or sort, especially of literature or other artworks while archetype is an original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated; a prototype.

As a verb archetype is

to depict as, model using or otherwise associate a subject or object with an archetype.

genre

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A kind; a stylistic category or sort, especially of literature or other artworks.
    • The still-life has been a popular genre in painting since the 17th century.
    The computer game Half-Life redefined the first-person shooter genre .

    Synonyms

    * kind * type * class * See also

    Derived terms

    * subgenre * literary genre * film genre * dramatic genre * theatrical genre

    Related terms

    * genre fiction * gender * general * generate * genus

    Anagrams

    * * * ----

    archetype

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated; a prototype
  • (literature) A character, story, or object that is based on a known character, story, or object.
  • An ideal example of something; a quintessence.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012
    • , date=May 27 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992) , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=“New Kid On The Block” doubles as a terrific showcase for the Sea Captain who, in the grand tradition of Simpsons supporting characters, quickly goes from being a stereotype to an archetype , from being a crusty sea-captain character to the crusty sea-captain character.}}
  • (psychology) According to the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, a universal pattern of thought, present in an individual's unconscious, inherited from the past collective experience of humanity.

    • Usage notes

    Traditionally archetype'' refers to the model upon which something is based, but it has also come to mean an example of a personality archetype, particularly a fictional character in a story based on a well-established personality model. In this fashion, a character ''based'' on the Jesus archetype might be referred to as a "Jesus archetype". See ''eponym for a similar usage conflict.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

  • To depict as, model using or otherwise associate a subject or object with an archetype.
  • * '>citation
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