I'd argue (and I don't have a degree in this field, but maybe that's a good thing now?) there's sort of a particular type of fiction that's defined both in terms of its internal attributes (complexity of characterization, strong focus on language frequently at the expense of plot) and its sociological attributes (audience among graduates…
I'd argue (and I don't have a degree in this field, but maybe that's a good thing now?) there's sort of a particular type of fiction that's defined both in terms of its internal attributes (complexity of characterization, strong focus on language frequently at the expense of plot) and its sociological attributes (audience among graduates of elite schools with humanities degrees, in the past cultural influence) that you could call 'literary'. It's whatever Sally Rooney and Henry James had in common. This is separate from genre fiction that's usually defined by its setting (science fiction, fantasy), overall plot (romance, crime fiction) or the emotion it seeks to evoke (horror). Of course you can be in more than one genre--there's a huge romance-fantasy ('romantasy') boom now, writers like Lovecraft mixed horror and science fiction, and some genre fiction has attained literary approval.
You're the expert here, so I'll wait for the essay. ;)
I'd argue (and I don't have a degree in this field, but maybe that's a good thing now?) there's sort of a particular type of fiction that's defined both in terms of its internal attributes (complexity of characterization, strong focus on language frequently at the expense of plot) and its sociological attributes (audience among graduates of elite schools with humanities degrees, in the past cultural influence) that you could call 'literary'. It's whatever Sally Rooney and Henry James had in common. This is separate from genre fiction that's usually defined by its setting (science fiction, fantasy), overall plot (romance, crime fiction) or the emotion it seeks to evoke (horror). Of course you can be in more than one genre--there's a huge romance-fantasy ('romantasy') boom now, writers like Lovecraft mixed horror and science fiction, and some genre fiction has attained literary approval.
You're the expert here, so I'll wait for the essay. ;)