8. How do media practices on the periphery of mainstream production, such as low-budget filmmaking and user-generated content on the web, alter our understanding of how genres are produced, sustained, modified, or revived?
Shary: Technological advancements have changed genres relatively little. Sure, there are more slick special effects in sci-fi films now than in the ‘50s, but in terms of the genre, we are still fascinated with exploration and its possible perils. Same with comedy—so many YouTube videos are people getting hit, falling down, and doing stupid shit, just like old-time slapstick. Not much has changed there, or in general terms of wit, irony, action, mystery, etc.