Three Key Characteristics of Genre Fiction and Its Relationship with World Literature——A Study of Fantasy, Crime, and Science Fiction

The global rise and development of genre fiction are not only products of the globalized cultural market but also direct manifestations of its diversity, adaptability, and dynamic evolution. This study examines three major genres- fantasy, crime, and science fiction-to explore the key characteristics of genre fiction and its contributions to world literature. The findings indicate that genre fiction exhibits three notable features:decentering Anglophone cultural dominance, prioritizing reader engagement, and achieving global circulation through translation. These characteristics not only highlight the flexibility and self-renewing capacity of genre fiction across different cultural contexts but also help challenge the rigid perceptions of "genre. " Fantasy fiction, by incorporating diverse cultural elements, transcends early definitions centered on Anglophone traditions and emerges as a crucial medium for cross-cultural exchange. Crime fiction, with its reader-oriented narrative strategies, addresses social issues while fostering deep intellectual and emotional engagement, thus establishing itself as a significant genre reflecting the relationship between world literature and society. Science fiction, through translation, attains global circulation, facilitating reciprocal influences between Chinese and Western science fiction traditions. Through processes of cross-cultural dissemination and reception, genre fiction fosters literary dialogues between the global and the local, challenging the binary oppositions between center and periphery, as well as between world literature and popular fiction.