Is There a Culture of Genre

Yesterday I was attending one of my critique groups where I presented a science fiction (sci-fi) piece and another member read her romance and still another read from her historical saga. What is interesting to me is that each genre has specific requirements. It is understandable that the historical piece must be grounded in a particular time-frame. The year is likely mentioned or the plot revolves around a known event. For romance time period is not so important and the setting is not dependent upon when. It seems that the what and with whom are more necessary. For science fiction it is most likely assumed that the plot takes place in the future, and unless earth is mentioned, the expectation is that it takes place on a different world.

The reason I bring this up is that the historical writer is not as familiar with science fiction and was concerned that my piece did not delineate a specific year. At first I thought I had left out a vital piece, but after careful consideration and research I realized that it was not necessary. In sci-fi, it is the world-building that helps the reader with time.

For the members of the group that are more familiar with sci-fi it wasn't a problem. Which brings me to the place of norms and dictates. Each genre has requisite themes, settings, or action for a piece to be listed under that heading. And, each genre has its own language that is most easily understood by those who frequent it. Does that qualify as a culture? I wonder.