Fantasy: The Grandfather of All Storytelling Genres
The earliest man to recite his dream to another should have been the father of fantasy storytelling. Fantasy, as a genre, is the most honest form of storytelling and there is a loveable dash of innocence to it. For if your intent is to conjure up events that never happened then why not go all out and create whatever you can? instead of worrying about the rules and limitations of the reality of your existence.
I have always been sceptical of people who disrespect fantasy. I have been sceptical of their capacity to enjoy life to its fullest (this might sound too harsh or dramatic but I’m still sticking to it). These are often the kind of people who are least bothered about their skill for creativity and imagination. They seldom use it and let it waste away like someone who loses muscle mass in their legs after being in a coma for years. And of course there are others who overuse it their way to extreme overthinking and anxiety but I’m not in the mood for self-critical analysis yet.
Are We Overhyping Realistic stories?
When you look at the film industry and its history of recognizing film excellence you often see independent reviewers and award committees leaning towards reality as a strong criteria for measuring quality or “high art”. From the Oscars to a snobby YouTube reviewer, you see this culture of favouring movies with realistic portrayal. This is not a bad thing on its own but this snobbery comes at the price of relegating fantasy to a mindless entertainer or something only kids would enjoy. Disregarding fantasy in this manner feels like an act of disrespect against the very foundations of storytelling itself, as I repeat again, what could embody the spirit of storytelling more than the heightened realism of fantasy? A genre which fully embraces the fundamental block of storytelling, which at its distilled form is just heightened reality.
Fantasy and Original Thinkers
I have no way to back this claim with numbers but I strongly believe that people who appreciate and enjoy fantasy stories have a proclivity for original thinking. These are the kind of people who alter the way we think with their seismic effect on science, popular culture, technology and much more. Nothing illustrates this point more than science fiction which is basically a fantasy writer’s way of selling fantasy to the realism obsessed mainstream. You can see a lot of scientists (Neil degrasse tyson and Michio Kaku come to mind) who quote major science fiction (or science fantasy) works of art as their first major inspiration for getting into science. The same could be said for billionaire tech entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Fantasy Speaks to The Kid Inside of Us
How could I write about this genre and not talk about one of my favourite works of fantasy: The Lord of the Rings. The movies, the books and even the hilariously outdated looking 2002 game have all collectively had such a strong impact on my life. The story creates such an inviting alternate reality which I could dive into in times of sickness and health, happiness and sorrow. A cozy place filled with warm nostalgia for memories and moments I never made but are still deeply personal somehow. It rejuvenated my appreciation for emotions and human connectivity. It spoke directly to the most fundamental part of my identity, the inner child. Fantasy always brings about that specific brand of awe and enthusiasm you experience the most in your childhood. Maybe that makes some people uncomfortable. Maybe being in touch with your inner child is needed for appreciating fantasy or maybe, hopefully, the converse is true as many distraught adults, who had lost touch with their inner child, could gain a lot more by learning to appreciate this wonderful genre.
