He conceded that mixed media may initially baffle theatergoers used to classifying works neatly as either drama or dance.

He classified his diverse publications under regional and non-regional (South East Asia), popular scientific and pure scientific works.

It is also important to note that many literary critics attempt to classify novels and literary works in only one genre, such as "romantic" or "naturalist," not always taking into account that many works fall into multiple categories.

Genre works to promote organization, but there is no absolute way to classify works, and thus genre is still problematic and its theory still evolving.

Scacchi believed that each genre of music should have its own unique style, and he devised his own system of classifying works which proved influential on later generations; Angelo Berardi quoted him at length in his 1687 treatise Documenti armonici.

Under this scheme, the Australian Classification Board (a federal body) classifies works.

In German copyright law, the "Schöpfungshöhe" (height of creation) can classify copyrightable works into two classes, a design, or anything else (such as a literary work).

The MacKenzie Art Gallery classifies works first according to cultural and geographic provenance, then by medium, and finally by date of execution and artist's name, letting visitors observe the evolution of art.

While genres have been used to classify speeches and works of literature since the time of Aristotle, genre did not emerge as a critical tool to describe and analyze texts until the 20th century.