Gift ideas

Gifts for genre fans

Know someone who loves genre? Pick their favourite topic for gift ideas, with a fact to share when they open it.

  • Action

    The word "action" comes from the Latin word "actio," meaning "doing."

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Action-Adventure

    The action-adventure genre's popularity surged in the 1980s, partly fueled by the rise of home video game consoles like the Atari and Nintendo, which allowed players to experience these thrilling narratives firsthand.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Bedroom Pop

    Bedroom-pop's DIY ethos often results in artists using unconventional recording techniques and readily available instruments, leading to a uniquely lo-fi sound that's part of its charm.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Classical

    Classical composers often didn't write their own parts for instruments like the timpani (kettledrums) or bassoon; those were usually left to the discretion of the performers or their assistants.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Classics

    The Roman poet Ovid was exiled by Emperor Augustus, possibly for the scandalous content of his poems.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Comedy

    The word "comedy" comes from the Greek word "komoidia," meaning "revel song" or "village revel."

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Contemporary Fiction

    Contemporary fiction often explores the impact of technology and social media on relationships and identity, reflecting the anxieties and opportunities of the digital age.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Country

    The country of Nauru is the only nation in the world that does not have an official capital city.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Documentary

    The word "documentary" was coined by John Grierson, a British filmmaker, in 1926, to describe Robert Flaherty's film *Moana*.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Drama

    The word "drama" comes from the Greek word "dran," meaning "to do" or "to act."

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • EDM

    The term "EDM" (Electronic Dance Music) is a broad genre encompassing many subgenres, making it technically impossible to pinpoint a single "origin" – instead, its evolution spans decades and multiple countries with various influential artists and scenes contributing to its development.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Electronic Dance Music (EDM)

    The term "EDM" itself is relatively recent, gaining widespread use in the early 2000s, despite the genres it encompasses having existed for decades beforehand.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Fantasy

    The word "fantasy" comes from the Greek word "phantasia," meaning imagination or apparition.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Fighting Games

    The fighting game *Street Fighter II* popularized the six-button layout (light/medium/hard punches and kicks) which is still a standard today.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • First-Person Shooters (FPS)

    The very first FPS, *Spasim*, was a text-based game played over a network in 1974, decades before the genre's graphical explosion.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Game Adaptations

    The 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie was the first feature length film ever based on a video game, paving the way for the multi-billion dollar genre we see today.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Hip-hop/Rap

    The first hip-hop record to reach number one on the Billboard charts was "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang in 1979.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Historical Fiction

    Many historical fiction novels utilize anachronisms—details that don't belong to the time period—intentionally or unintentionally, sparking debate among readers and historians.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Horror

    The first-ever horror film, "Le Manoir du Diable" (The House of the Devil), was released in 1896, a mere year after the invention of cinema.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Hyperpop

    Hyperpop often utilizes vocal manipulation techniques like chipmunk voice and heavy autotune, pushing the boundaries of traditional vocal performance.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Indie Film

    Many indie films rely on "guerrilla filmmaking," meaning they often shoot without permits or in unconventional locations to save money.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Indie games

    Many indie games utilize free or very affordable game engines like Unity and GameMaker Studio, drastically lowering the barrier to entry for development compared to AAA titles.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Indie/Alternative

    The Pixies, a hugely influential indie band, were initially rejected by 4 record labels before finally getting signed.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

  • Latin music

    The term "Latin music" itself is a broad and somewhat contested categorization, encompassing a vast array of styles and genres with diverse origins and influences, not all of which originate from Latin America.

    Gift ideas Books More facts

Other interests

The gift and book links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Braintasia earns from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.