Robert Stam critiques traditional genre theory from a poststructuralist perspective. He argues that genres are inherently fuzzy, overlapping, and constantly evolving categories.
Instead of viewing genres as fixed or hierarchical, Stam sees them as cultural formations shaped by history, ideology, industry, and criticism.
He emphasizes that films often participate in multiple genres simultaneously, resisting rigid classification.
His influential book, Film Theory: An Introduction, reframes genre as a dynamic and dialogic process rather than a fixed label.