F. Elizabeth Hart analyzes genre by first explaining how we have come to "taxonomize" literature into genres. She links the categorization of literature to the work of natural scientists in the late 1700s and 1800s, when Western civilization was avid to categorize nature and society and develop a taxonomy across all elements of culture. However, Hart dismantles this drive in literature by using poststructuralism, which seeks to devalue genre and focus on communication, intent, and varied discourse. Hart states that literature is a dialectical exchange. Dialectical, in this sense, means seeing a piece of writing from many different perspectives. For instance, if you were to analyze the book A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, you would not just classify it as fantasy fiction. Martin claims he was inspired by the War of the Roses, an actual historical event, in England. Thus, A Game of Thrones is not merely fantasy but a fictional reflection of actual, vivid history. According to Hart and her poststructuralist interpretation, you could also view A Game of Thrones through many other genres. Hart sees most literature as belonging to multiple genres.
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