Punzalan, Vicki Mei V.

21st Century Literature

STEM 4

21st Century Literary Genres

Poetry
Poetry is a type of literature based on the interplay of words and rhythm. It
often employs rhyme and meter (a set of rules governing the number and
arrangement of syllables in each line).

Examples:
Ang Bantayog (The Monument)
Ang "Valentine" Ko
Watawat ng Pilipinas

Fiction
Fiction, literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact,
though it may be based on a true story or situation.

Examples:
Noli Me Tángere by Dr. José Rizal
Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas
El Filibusterismo by Dr. José Rizal

Drama
Drama is a type of narrative, usually fictional, that is performed. Drama
usually involves actors on stage in front of a live audience. Thus, as a
narrative mode, there is the assumption that drama requires participation
and collaboration between the actors and the audience.

Examples:
Walang Sugat
Paglipas ng Dilim
Bungangang Pating

Creative Nonfiction
Creative nonfiction is a branch of writing that employs the literary
techniques usually associated with fiction or poetry to report on actual
persons, places, or events. The genre of creative nonfiction (also known as
literary nonfiction) is broad enough to include travel writing, nature writing,
science writing, sports writing, biography, autobiography, memoir, the
interview, and both the familiar and personal essay.

Examples:
“The Cardinal’s Sins, the General’s Cross, the Martyr’s Testimony, and
Other Affirmations” by Gregorio C. Brillantes
“Manananggal Terrorizes Manila and Other Stories” by Jessica Zafra
“Sapay Koma” by Jhoanna Lynn Cruz

Hyper poetry
Hyperpoetry refers to works of verse (although not necessarily in lines and
stanzas) which could not be presented without the computer. Hyperpoetry
includes verse with links to sub-poems or footnotes, poetry “generators,”
poetry with movement or images.

Examples:
Thom Swiss poems http://bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/swiss/directory.htm
Peter Howard Low Probability of Racoons
http://peterhoward.org/poetry/petehype.htm
Y.H. Chang, “All Fall Down”
http://www.yhchang.com/ALL_FALL_DOWN.html

Blogs
A blog (shortening of “weblog”) is an online journal or informational website
displaying information in the reverse chronological order, with latest posts
appearing first. It is a platform where a writer or even a group of writers
share their views on an individual subject.

Examples:
YugaTech
When in Manila

Mobile Phone Textula

Textula is a poetry genre mastered by Frank Rivera. Entire poems are
written and read on mobile phones.

Examples:
Sonnet Textula
Dalit Textula

Chick Lit
This is genre fiction, which “consists of heroin-centered narratives that
focus on the trials and tribulations of their individual protagonists”. The
genre often addresses issues of modern womanhood – from romantic
relationships to female friendships to matters in the workplace – in
humorous and lighthearted ways.

Examples:
“Spotlight New Adult” by Mina V. Esguerra
“Tall Story” by Candy Gourlay
“All’s Fair in Blog and War” by Chrissie Peria

Speculative Fiction
Speculative Fiction covers all stories from fantasy to science fiction to
slipstream to magic realism to urban fantasy — so on and so forth. In other
words (or in other worlds), it encompasses all the stories that are removed
from the reality that we are currently living in.

Examples:
“Smaller and Smaller Circles” by FH Batacan
“Sink” by Isabel Yap
“The Secret Origin of Spin-Man” by Andrew Drilon

Flash Fiction
Flash fiction goes by many names, including microfiction, microstories,
short-shorts, short short stories, very short stories, sudden fiction, postcard
fiction, and nanofiction. While it can be difficult to pinpoint an exact
definition of flash fiction based on word count, consideration of several of
its features (brevity, length, background and purpose) can help provide
clarity about this compressed form of short story.
Examples:
“100 Kislap” by Abdon M. Balde Jr.
“Karapote: Antolohia Dagiti 13 a Nasuerte A Sarita” by Ariel S. Tabag

Sources:
Poetry, viewed 28 July 2020, https://literaryterms.net/poetry/
Fiction, viewed 28 July 2020, https://www.britannica.com/art/fiction-
literature
Drama, viewed 28 July 2020, http://www.literarydevices.com/drama/
Introduction to Philippine Literature, viewed 28 July 2020,
https://21stcenturylitph.wordpress.com/introduction-to-philippine-literature/
Creative Nonfiction, viewed 28 July 2020, https://www.thoughtco.com/what-
is-creative-nonfiction-1689941
Hyperpoetry, viewed 28 July 2020,
http://www.kirkwood.edu/site/index.php?p=27725#:~:text=True
%20hyperpoetry%20refers%20to%20works,poetry%20with%20movement
%20or%20images
Mobile Textula and Hyperpoetry Blog, viewed 28 July 2020,
http://lewisborja.blogspot.com/