Pastiche

Takeaways

• It may be homage, collage, exercise, or critique.
• Unlike parody, it need not ridicule its source.
• The borrowed style should do work beyond display.

Overview

Pastiche imitates or combines prior styles, genres, or voices. Its effect can be affectionate, decorative, postmodern, critical, or archival depending on how the borrowing is framed.

Examples

• A novel chapter adopts the style of a Victorian newspaper report.
• A story assembles noir, fairy tale, and academic prose into one surface.