A. Kims Theoretical Methods to Fantastic Literature

Recent genre theory has changed its attitude towards the notion of genre. While traditionally it has been considered as a label implying a fixed set of criteria, genre is now viewed as a system for the production of meaning. It tends to be considered as a tool for reading and interpretation. I address the issue of theory. Accepting, for the sake of convenience, a simple tripartite division of Author/Work/Reader， I focus attention on the relationship between the work and the reader (as a part of the literary scheme), rather than on the relationship between the author and his work. I select, therefore, genre' as a basic term for my theoretical discussion, rather than such received notions as 'mode' or 'impulse'. Genre, as I see it, serves as a foundation for reader - oriented criticism, and is related primarily to understanding and interpretation; Whereas mode and impulse - both new concepts - usually refer to trans-generic notions of authorial vision and creativity