The document defines genre as a style or category of art, music, or literature. Genres appear in films and television and can be recognized by common distinguishing features or conventions. Some examples of genres include action, adventure, comedy, crime, fantasy, horror/thriller, mystery, and romance. Genres are useful for audiences as they provide expectations for the type of content, such as being scared for horror or laughing for comedy. They are also useful for media institutions in marketing films by genre to target audience expectations. Genres have recognizable elements like plot, characters, settings, and music that allow industries to predict audience reception.