This chapter explores what functions genre terms have and how they developed over the course of history. It looks into the multiple possible origins and functionalities of genres, as well as different usages. Modern genre theory contributes vital questions for this task, such as the question of natural genre occurrence and immanence or the question of genre evolution. Furthermore, the chapter sheds light on genres as societal and ideological constructs. Viewing them as a snapshot helps to sort genres into a generic landscape and makes it easier to understand the past development of a genre. The continuous development of new technologies has an essential impact on genre traditions.