In the hands of great filmmakers (like Mr. Eastwood and Mr. Godard, to stick with relevant examples) genre can be a bridge between familiar narrative structures and new insights about how people interact and behave.

A.O. Scott, “Fasten Your Seat Belts, the Chevy Is Taking Off,” The New York Times, September 15, 2011

This applies to creative pursuits beyond film. There should, for instance, be an analogue for music.