Genre is a thesis that explores dystopian environments through illustrated scenes and digital 3D renderings. Building on my undergraduate research project, Experimental Design: Dystopia, this series shifts focus to recognizable locations in Southeast Texas (SETX), blending rural decay with urban overgrowth. Where the earlier work emphasized rural nature reclaiming structures, Genre inverts this by showing rural areas overtaken by human neglect, while urban spaces are reclaimed by nature. This work draws from concept art and video game aesthetics, inspired by the dystopian games I grew up playing with my brother where worlds felt oddly comforting during uncertain times. By incorporating familiar local imagery, Genre invites viewers into these speculative narratives, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Through immersive perspective and detailed environments, the project challenges viewers to reconsider the relationship between humanity, decay, and the spaces we inhabit.

-Kenzie Marriott