Why do you like or Dislike Certain Genres?

[charliesackett]

I look for a good narrative voice over genre, but I definitely gravitate toward certain genres more than others.

I think it's because each genre has its own built in tropes and cliche narratives that constitute most of the 'bad' or not terribly remarkable content of the genre. I'm thinking specifically of fantasy. I was right into fantasy as a kid, but after a few hundred books I noticed that most of them followed the monomyth and all had the same types of creatures (dragons, satyrs, wizards, whatever) so it felt kind of like the authors just bought a kit and built something that someone else designed and laid out for them.

I've noticed other genres have their own sort of framework that they follow if done lazily too, I read so much 'classic literature' from the 1800s that if I hear one more thing about a dashing well to do fop with sights on a lovely lady of humble means I'm going to scream.

So I think genre preference comes down to what tropes you're willing to tolerate versus how much you enjoy elements of the genre done right. Like, if you kind of like a well thought out magic system but you haaaaaaaate the monomyth, you probably won't bother with fantasy because it's a higher risk than yield for your investment of time.

[kimketli]

Ahm...
I mostly don't like scifi. I don't like robot, space topics. And I don't know why... In real life I love technology and inventions. I also plan short comics where I tell interesting facts about our world and new inventions. So it is really weird I don't like scifi genre... I can not say I don't like it because most of it uses bullshit science because fantasy also use bullshit all the time and I love it. :DD
I also not interested in western, maybe because its environments what are usually dry lands.
In movies I also hate horror but in comics or books I don't have problem with it. I think the sound what can really scares me and I hate when I'm scared. I do't understand how people can enjoy it. In Black Mirror they said people are happy they survived a dangerous situations but imho it is not enough for me

[MariMontoya]

I dislike watching horror because i don't like scary and it's off putting. But I have read really good webcomics in the horror/thriller genre. I just don't watch anything in that genre.
Realistic Fiction. Especially YA Realistic Fiction or Romance. Realistic Fiction isn't actually realistic at all and kind of boring. And YA consists of the same things (first crush, parties, and rebellion) nothing wrong with that. I just don't relate because it's so overblown and I end up getting upset with the MC, so it never interested me.
I don't usually read purely romance books. If it's drama or has some of the elements below then I would give it a try.
I enjoy stories that are fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, historical, because I guess it's called escapism, and I really like to see how the author creates the world, characters, scenarios. Also, autobiographies or biographies like In Cold Blood or Glass Castle I like reading.

[ratscout]

Man I was worried about you for a second there until you clarified that you didn't actually hate any of the genres. I thought I was gonna have to call a doctor and tell them that your enjoyment meter was broken. XD This certainly does help clarify for me why certain people are put off by genres, though haha.

[ratscout]

Romance is a really difficult genre to write, so I understand why people fail at it so often. XD Like, writing romantic dialogue without sounding stupid or cheesy is one of the hardest things ever. That being said, when a romance plot is well done, it can often end up being my favorite part of a story.

[ratscout]

It actually depends on the horror for me. I used to hate watching horror a lot, but since I've only been watching it with my siblings lately, I get to tell them, 'you're not allowed to laugh if I jump', which makes it more fun for me and easy to get through. I also really like Gerald's Game and the Haunting of Hill House since they had more clever scares in them. I dunno if The Thing counts as horror but it does happen to be one of my favorite movies

I agree so much on YA. I think if there's a genre harder for me to get into than romance, it might actually be YA. The characters are. So. Dull. In those books. Especially the poor female characters--I feel like the author often forgets to give them human flaws! XD

[ratscout]

Haha, it's cool. Sometimes it's hard to put a finger on why you don't like something XD

[SleepingPoppy]

I don't think there's any genre I outright dislike, so much as I am uninterested. However the medium can also pay a big part in that for me. Like watching an action movie is fun, but I have no interest in the action genre otherwise (though action as a part of another genre is just fine~). Likewise I'll read a slice of life romance if it's a one shot comic or a short story, but I wouldn't normally read something longer or watch a movie unless a particular story caught my attention. I read way more romance when it comes to comics than in other mediums. I generally don't like straight out romance much otherwise, but I do like romance + other genre across the board.

I definitely prefer fantasy, and genres that are a mix of fantasy and other things, but I'm not closed off to other stuff if individual stories look interesting enough.

I think the only genre I am strict about is horror. I do like aspects of the horror genre, but I'm really picky about actually watching or reading anything because I'm sensitive to the images that can be put in my head. I don't enjoy the way certain things can make me feel in that genre, body horror especially, but I also have a bad gag reflex. My bestie can attest that while I love Hannibal, I will outright start choking during certain episodes. =/

[Maps]

I really enjoy romantic aspects to stories (mainly BL). Sometimes I get bummed out if all the relationships are completely platonic (don't get me wrong, I've ready plenty of manga/webtoons/stories that don't have romantic relationships between characters). But I'm just a sucker for romance so I generally find myself hovering toward those. I do enjoy a good story that doesn't only focus on the relationship but has outside aspects.
I'm not huge on science-fiction/superhero stuff, but I also haven't given them a huge chance. I'm sure if I started reading one that peaked my interest I'd get invested. There are genres I'm not hugely into, but sometimes you can find that one that grips ya.

[vfinnigan]

I don't outright hate any entire genre. However, there are some subgenres I tend to avoid.

Romantic comedy. It seems that most of the conflict in rom-coms comes from the main characters being idiots, and idiots annoy me.

Smutty romance. Smut doesn't make up for poor character development and lack of story.

I like slice of life, but only on condition that the characters are likable. If I don't like any of the characters, I might want to see them in the next hated genre...

Torture porn. Actually, never mind. I don't even want to see unlikable characters in that. Skip the torture and just nuke them. I experience far too much pain in real life for me to enjoy seeing even the most unlikable fictional characters gratuitously suffer.

[NDmangaka]

i guess no one likes or dislikes genres just many bad experices with certain genres .... i guess

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I avoid horror usually, but there are exceptions if it is mixed with action and sci fi, Biomeat:Nectar is a good example.
I don't care for romance, I find it boring. That's pretty much it. An exception would be Rurouni Kenshin (because of the kick-ass sword fighting)
A trope I dislike is "high-schooler protagonist" there are a few exceptions.

Everything else is pretty cool. I don't hate anything except for pretentious experimental stuff.

[vfinnigan]

This isn't about BDSM, but stuff like the Saw movies and all the various ripoffs.

[DiegoPalacios]

this reminded me, some genres i avoid are gore and erotic stories mostly because they make me unconfortable.

Many stories use these elements just for shock value or edgyness, so i generally don`t think i am missing too much, most of the time. If the gore and eroticism is the focus, i will probably avoid it.

Of course there are some exceptions that use these elements to help the storytelling, or that the story is so good i am willing to tolerate this.

[indagold]

I like pretty much all genres if the plot is good. I think one genre i'm less dislike more disappointed in is the lgbt genre. Like I haven't seen a single story that isn't a romance or political commentary. All the ones i've seen are good don't really advertise themselves as queer literature. Maybe thats the niche you gotta sell yourself nowadays or no one will read your work.

[ratscout]

One point someone else on here made is that lgbt stories often tend to be almost entirely erotic and about sex, too. XD Like, at that point, why not just straight up make porn or go watch porn? LOL. I've always been a fan of the softer, more genuine kind of romance. That sort of companionate, married kind of love, but nobody else seems to be teehee.

[Luminosophy]

I like genres like fantasy and sci-fi because they're the most relatable and entertaining in one go. You tend to get a very nice well-rounded dose of everything in them. Character development, exploration of new worlds and cultures, romance, action, comedy, horror etc. Other genres become so narrow in what they have to offer, and sometimes too unrealistic. Romance is the one I err away from the most because the characters in those stories tend to be very unnatural and far too obsessed with the idea of love to the point where it comes off of as something they could just see a psych for and the story could finish right there. :t

[LT1986]

I like the superhero genre more than any other genre for one reason. I like the fact that most of the time, the protagonist(s) overcome(s) obstacles by powering up either physically, mentally, or both. It inspires me to continue to push forward not only in making my web comic, but to overcome obstacles in life.

[NDmangaka]

I dont really like western hero comics because they are all pretty much the same with larger than life heroes with extreme powers who fight one dimensional villains to save the world. They all tend to be in the same universe making diversity in goals and mindsets or even setting and overall feel almost impossible. Also many of the characters just keeping being remade over and over instead of adding new characters, new series and or new universes completely different from one another making them all feel the same to me.

[NDmangaka]

I enjoy manga however even though i wouldn't consider it a single genre because even among the mainstream ones all the series occurring indifferent univeres with different divergent characters and setting with differing motives and even powerscaling differently. Take 2 super popular series like death note and dragon ball they could not be more different from one another. Even the art is completely different fitting the feeling the setting Hope's to portray. The art and line works is also flawless most times.