Why Fantasy?

There's a question I've faced fairly frequently, as a literature/creative writer who's focus is primarily on fantasy and sci fi: that is, why did you choose fantasy above all the other genres of lit?

Now, personally, I have never been able to understand why people ask me this question. People do not ask others why they enjoy reading realistic/slice of life fiction, or nonfiction, or historical fiction. Fantasy, like all other genres of literature, is a means by which a certain idea or philosophy is represented. The same goes for science fiction. I understand in saying this that I am more than a little biased on the matter. That said, I have encountered on numerous occasions a disparaging opinion of fantasy and of science fiction. It used to be that I would grow angry at those who believe that fantasy is pointless, and an escape for people who do not know how to live in the real world. However nowadays I despair. I think that those who are unwilling to give fantasy a chance miss out on an opportunity to really broaden their horizons, and for that matter to learn more. For instance, Lord of the Rings is a representation of what Europe was like at the times surrounding the World Wars. Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials Trilogy, drew heavily from texts such as Paradise Lost, especially in the third book, The Amber Spyglass.

All of this said, I don't mean to sound like I'm saying "EVERYONE SHOULD LIKE FANTASY." That would be a ludicrous demand, and I would never say anything like that. My despair comes from those who dismiss fantasy offhand without giving it a chance. I, for instance, gave the genre of the biography a try numerous times, but after these many tries I could not get on board so I realized that biography may not be for me. Similarly, fantasy is not for every single reader out there. I use my Dad as an example in this case. No one genre is built for everyone, and I would not force anyone to read or do what they do not enjoy.

As for me, I enjoy fantasy for a plethora of reasons. For one, I get immense entertainment value out of it. The visual effects that my brain tends to conjure up are stunning. Beyond that, when I am reading the really good fantasy texts, I take pleasure at analyzing the words within the words, and I find that there's so much in the subtext. I also think fantasy, by separating us a little from the real world, shows us so much about being human, and about human values. I learned a lot about the values of love, loyalty and friendship from Harry Potter, and of course at the end those were the very things that helped save the world from Voldemort (the embodiment of the antithesis of love, loyalty and friendship).

And sometimes, yes, there is a bit of escapism involved in my love of fantasy and sci fi. On occasion, this world becomes a bit to harsh and a bit too difficult to live in 100%. So, I will delve into these stories in order to find myself in an alternate reality where someone can unlock a door by waving of a wand and uttering "alohomora." That does not mean that I don't know how to live in the "real world." It just means that it's my way of finding it more enjoyable. Moreover, all entertainment, reading, television, music, is a means of escaping the reality we live in. The book doesn't need to be a fantasy. When we are reading a book of any kind, we are putting ourselves in the lives of the people in that particular story and we play the role of observer. Fantasy is no exception.

On the same front (going personal here, oh no!), I have had an incredibly difficult past six months. I have been tried and tested in ways I cannot begin to describe. There have been times when all I wanted was to escape - to not exist in this reality. It has been at those times where I retreat into a mindset of either writing, or thinking about my project, so that before long I have crafted an environment that is wholly mine and just a little less painful. Now, I don't want the men in white coats coming for me. I don't believe that the realities I'm fabricating are real. Not even in the slightest. There is a HUGE difference between wishing the worlds were real, and believing that they are. It would just make life a tad more exciting, interesting and from where I am currently standing, meaningful.