Project Builder 1B

These websites that are able to create random pieces of works that fit into specific genres allow for a different look at what genres are and how they can be made up with random information, yet still hold true to their conventions and make sense. Being able to see how these generators are able to fit inside of a genre allows for a different perspective into genres and their conventions. These websites show that by understanding the conventions (and the various subparts that makeup the conventions), a writer is more likely to be successful in writing for a genre, even if their information makes no sense.
The first website is titled SCIgen, which allows a user to input the ‘authors’ and have a paper created on a random topic with random information. This particular website is able to fool some readers into thinking it’s an actual paper based on specific research, because it is able to follow the conventions of a research paper and exploit them so that it may look and read like a research paper, but would actually contain no research or information. To begin, one convention of research papers that the generator follows, are the citations used throughout.  Citations are found all over research papers and are a way that the paper can show credibility and establish its argument. This website knows that citations are a vital part to this genre, and because of that, it must be included in every paper that is generated. Another convention of a research paper, is the set up that they all seem to follow. The genre of research papers isn’t very open-ended when it comes to the writer’s ability to differ from previous examples and conventions set. This being the case, the generator is able to follow a precise set-up for each of the papers it creates, which is usually based on introduction first, then the “research and other related works”, and finally ending in a conclusion. All of this, can be found in an actual research papers and are an important convention to this genre.
The Comic Strip generator operates within the genre of comic strips. This website uses the same three-paneled set up for each comic it creates, yet randomly selects three panels that truly have no connection with one another, unless by chance. One major convention of comics lies in the fact that there are almost always pictures. This generator is able to follow this convention, as every time you generate a new comic, new images are brought onto the screen that allow for a new comic strip to be made. Also, many comics try to keep the dialogue and words to a minimum, so as not to take away from the drawings that accompany it. This generator is able to follow this convention as well, as the dialogue, although random (and hilarious), is short and does not overwhelm the reader, or take away from the images that are drawn. 

The final generator is one that enables you to create your own memes. The conventions for this particular genre depend on the image you select to create your meme out of. For example, if choosing the Boromir (Lord of the Rings) meme, many people know that it is for sarcastically making fun of events or situations that are a little but more complicated than people think. This particular meme’s main convention is that it must begin with ‘One does not simply’ and then the creator is able to choose what follows. Another example of a convention for these memes lies in the ‘Bad Luck Brian’ Meme, which is the photo of the young man with braces. These memes usually focus on events that happen due to ‘bad luck’ and are usually supposed to be funny. The main convention for this meme, is the fact that the event has to be bad and has to showcase the bad luck that someone can endure. For both of these memes, if the conventions aren’t followed, the meme makes no sense at all, and people disregard it as dumb and pointless.

In the end, you can see that these generators are able to randomly create pieces that fit into the genre they are attempting to, by using the standard conventions of that genre. Thinking about these websites may help when understanding genre. If a website is able to randomly create a piece of work that makes little to no sense, yet it still can fit inside a genre, you realize that genres are easier to fit into once you are able to grasps the conventions that make it up. These websites showcase that being able to understand a genre’s conventions allows for successful understanding of the genre. So when writing, focus on conventions, as they help you to uncover genre.