Fantasy is a highly creative, imaginative genre that pushes boundaries of books and films similarly. In comparison to some other concepts/genres of entertainment, fantasy constantly surprises us. More and more people are showing us their ability to en-capture an entire selection of film-buffs and book-lovers with their incredible talent for the extraordinary. Authors such as J.K.Rowling and J.R.R.Tolkien, directors and writers like Steven Moffat, Tim Burton and a whole host of others have given us a means of escapism, a highly marketable selection of films and books and a more open-minded view of the world. The question is, is it underestimated? The power and influence of it, that is. A lot of people are aware of the genre, and possibly too many are a little quick to place it in one specific category, or restrict purely to a young generation. It's probably true that the younger generation and my generation (late-teens) appreciate fantasy more, and are more interested in it, but in no ways can it be specifically and solely for us. One of the best things about fantasy, for me, is that it does give a huge sense of escapism. I'm sure Noel Fielding would agree that it's impossible for us to live our lives and only look at things realistically, and that for happiness, for sanity, and for a bit of fun a little fantasy in our lives is healthy and necessary.
A piece of fantasy that has seriously affected my generation, as we've basically grown up around it and with the characters is Harry Potter, the book series took the world by storm, just as the films did. Wizards, witches, creatures, monsters have been around for ages, years, centuries even in myths and literature, and yet there was something strangely relatable about Harry Potter, which is what I think makes it so popular. Fantasy allows people to take ordinary things in life, and exaggerate them, fantasy itself is a more elaborate version of the word we already live in. Peer Pressure, the existence of strange and unfamiliar people, things. ideas and such have been used as stimuli for films and books such as Harry Potter. Even though that particular series was such a wonderful, fantastically and endlessly interesting one, the idea of going to a new school, new surroundings, nicer parent figures are relatable to a wide audience. Within fantasy, you get hints of reality, essentially its the basis...just made a bit more fun. This is why I think its so underestimated, because a lot of us, I don't think realise the possibilities that come from it, within these great fantasy creations are moral questions, statements etc that not only allow us to escape from whatever problems we have... but in someways give us hope, and allows us to confront them in our own way, in a more bearable way. Lets be honest as well, life is so much more incredible when we believe anything can happen. If you're sad and you see the world and just the world, just plants and people, it's not gonna make anything better, but if you imagine beyond the mundane and the ordinary that there is something larger, something so much more fantastical, how could that not lift your spirits?
I'm gonna wrap this up by saying that the entertainment sector, specifically books and films are underestimated in their powers to makes us feel better anyway but fantasy in particular has such a huge affect on people. Even if you don't realise it, after watching a Fantasy film or reading a fantasy book your mind is more likely to be widened, to be expanded to consider other things....and maybe that gives you room to find the solution you're looking for.
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