Fantasy is stuck in the Dark Ages - Why?

Liene's Library

8 Mar 202417:24

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis script explores why fantasy settings often default to a medieval, pre-industrial backdrop, despite the genre's potential for variety. It discusses the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien and the prevalence of certain tropes like magic, magical creatures, and royalty. The speaker also examines subgenres like steampunk and urban fantasy, which deviate from the norm, and calls for more innovation in world-building, suggesting that fantasy should evolve beyond its historical confines.

Takeaways

📚 The script discusses why fantasy settings often default to a historical, pre-modern era, reminiscent of the Dark Ages, with common imagery including wizards, swords, and royalty.
🌟 The fantasy genre as we know it today owes much to J.R.R. Tolkien, whose works set the standard and inspired many imitators, shaping the genre with his preference for mythic traditions.
🔮 Core fantasy tropes include magic as an accepted part of the story world, magical creatures, magical objects or artifacts, and magic users, which are considered necessary for a story to be categorized as fantasy.
👑 Adjacent but non-essential tropes often found in fantasy include the Chosen One, royalty, quests, and hand-to-hand combat training, which may not fit well in a modern setting.
🏰 The prevalence of certain tropes may be due to the constraints and challenges presented by the technology level in fantasy worlds, suggesting that world-building heavily influences narrative and tropes.
🤔 The script questions why fantasy is often stuck in a pre-modern setting and argues for more variety and progression in the genre, similar to how science fiction evolves with technology.
🔧 Sub-genres like steampunk, flintlock, and urban fantasy are deviations from the norm, defined by their technology level rather than their narrative or magical elements.
🌐 The script highlights that the level of technology in a fantasy world can tell us a lot about the types of stories, narratives, and tropes that will be present, indicating a strong link between world setting and story.
🚀 Examples given of fantasy series that show technological progression include 'The Green Bone Saga' by Fonda Lee and 'Mistborn' by Brandon Sanderson, which evolve their worlds over time.
🌍 The author expresses a desire for more fantasy authors to explore how magic might influence the development of modern governments, institutions, and technology, pushing the boundaries of the genre.
💭 The script invites readers to consider whether they prefer the genre to remain in its traditional pre-industrial state or to evolve into more modern settings, asking for thoughts and possible reasons for the stagnation.

Q & A

Why is the fantasy genre often associated with historical settings like the Dark Ages?
-The fantasy genre is often associated with historical settings like the Dark Ages due to its roots in fairy tales, legends, and myths that were conceived long ago and passed down without specific reference to time or place, often beginning with 'Once Upon a Time'.
What impact did J.R.R. Tolkien have on the development of the fantasy genre?
-J.R.R. Tolkien had a significant impact on the development of the fantasy genre. His works were unexpectedly popular and inspired many imitators for decades, setting a standard for the genre. Tolkien's preference for legends and myths shaped the genre, making it largely follow a mythic tradition.
What are some of the essential tropes that define the fantasy genre?
-Essential tropes that define the fantasy genre include the presence of magic, magical creatures, magical objects or artifacts, and magic users. These elements are considered necessary for a story to be regarded as fantasy.
What are 'adjacent tropes' in the context of the fantasy genre?
-Adjacent tropes are non-essential but prevalent elements in the fantasy genre. These include concepts like 'The Chosen One,' royalty, quests, and training in hand-to-hand combat, which are not required for a story to be classified as fantasy but are commonly found in such narratives.
Why do some fantasy stories take place in less technologically advanced worlds?
-Some fantasy stories take place in less technologically advanced worlds because the genre has a preoccupation with a particular form or style, often influenced by the mythic tradition that originated with Tolkien. This has led to a stagnation in the portrayal of technological progress in many fantasy settings.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Historical Roots of Fantasy Genre

This paragraph delves into the historical origins of the fantasy genre, traditionally set in the Dark Ages and characterized by elements like magic, royalty, and medieval weaponry. It discusses the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien, whose works set the standard for the genre, emphasizing the mythic tradition and inspiring many to write in a similar vein. The paragraph also introduces the concept of essential fantasy tropes, such as magic, magical creatures, objects, and users, which are necessary for a work to be classified as fantasy.

05:01

🤴 The Perpetuation of Traditional Tropes in Fantasy

The second paragraph explores the prevalence of certain tropes in fantasy storytelling, such as 'The Chosen One,' royalty, quests, and hand-to-hand combat training. It contrasts these tropes with the realities of a modern setting, questioning their relevance and plausibility in contemporary times. The paragraph also touches on sub-genres like steampunk, flintlock, and urban fantasy, which are defined by their technological levels rather than narrative or magical elements, suggesting a preoccupation with technology in the genre.

10:02

🛠 The Impact of Technology on Fantasy Worldbuilding

This paragraph examines the role of technology in shaping the narratives and tropes within fantasy sub-genres. It argues that the level of technology in a fantasy world significantly influences the types of stories and characters that can be presented. The paragraph also points out that the success of certain works can lead to the replication of their tropes and styles, creating a feedback loop that perpetuates certain conventions. It highlights the need for a separate discussion on worldbuilding and how technology can be integrated into fantasy narratives to create more diverse and believable worlds.

15:03

🌟 The Evolution of Fantasy Worlds and the Call for Progression

The final paragraph advocates for the evolution of fantasy worlds to reflect technological and societal progress, similar to how our own world has developed. It criticizes the genre's tendency to remain stagnant in a pre-industrial state, which can limit variety and strain credibility, especially in long series or expansive worldbuilding. The paragraph calls for authors to explore how magic might interact with modern governments, economies, and technological advancements, suggesting that this approach could enrich the genre and provide fresh perspectives.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Fantasy Genre

The fantasy genre is a literary category that features magical and supernatural elements, often set in imaginary worlds. In the video, it is discussed as being historically associated with medieval or pre-modern settings, which is a key point in understanding the video's theme of the genre's stagnation in the Dark Ages.

💡Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien is a seminal figure in the fantasy genre, known for his works such as 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'. The script mentions him as the 'granddaddy of them all', indicating his foundational role in shaping the modern fantasy genre and its tropes, including a preference for mythic traditions and settings.

💡Mythic Tradition

A mythic tradition refers to a collection of stories, beliefs, or legends that are part of a culture's identity. The script explains that Tolkien was inspired by myths and aimed to create a mythic tradition for England, which influenced the genre's focus on historical and legendary settings.

💡Tropes

In literature, tropes are recurring themes or motifs. The script discusses 'necessary fantasy tropes' like magic, magical creatures, and magical artifacts, which are essential for a story to be categorized as fantasy. It also mentions 'adjacent tropes' that, while not essential, are prevalent in the genre.

💡Chosen One

The 'Chosen One' is a common trope in fantasy where a character, often of mysterious origins, is destined to save the world. The script points out this trope's difficulty in fitting into a modern setting due to its lack of realism and contrast with contemporary values.

💡Royalty

The script notes the prevalence of monarchical systems or hereditary power structures in fantasy settings. This is often used to justify the status quo and aligns with the genre's historical and mythic leanings, where royal lineage is often associated with magical or divine right.

💡Quests

Quests are narrative journeys undertaken by characters in fantasy stories, often involving overcoming challenges. The script suggests that such long, arduous journeys are less plausible in a modern, technologically advanced world, highlighting another aspect of the genre's traditionalism.

💡Hand-to-Hand Combat

The script mentions the frequent focus on hand-to-hand combat skills in fantasy protagonists, which contrasts with the reality of modern warfare involving guns and other advanced weaponry. This underscores the genre's historical setting and the disconnect with modernity.

💡Subgenres

Subgenres like steampunk, flintlock, and urban fantasy are mentioned in the script as deviations from the traditional fantasy setting. These subgenres are defined by their technological level or the type of technology present, suggesting a preoccupation with technology rather than narrative or magical elements.

💡Technological Progress

The script argues for the importance of allowing fantasy worlds to progress technologically, citing examples like 'The Green Bone Saga' and 'Mistborn' series that show advancement. This is presented as a way to diversify the genre and make it more believable and interesting.

💡World Building

World building refers to the creation of an imaginary world's setting and context in a narrative. The script suggests that the type of technology in a fantasy world significantly influences its cultures, beliefs, and narratives, and criticizes the genre's resistance to modern world building.

Highlights

Fantasy is often associated with historical settings such as swords, shields, and royalty, but this is a default image shaped by the genre's history.

Before Tolkien, fantasy was not a distinct genre, with magical stories existing as fairy tales and legends without specific historical references.

Tolkien's work became the gold standard for modern fantasy, influencing the genre's development and its focus on a mythic tradition.

Essential fantasy tropes include magic, magical creatures, magical objects, and magic users, which are necessary for a story to be categorized as fantasy.

Adjacent tropes like 'The Chosen One', royalty, quests, and hand-to-hand combat training are prevalent but not essential for fantasy.

The stagnation of fantasy in a pre-industrial setting may be due to a preoccupation with a particular style rather than the substance of fantasy.

Sub-genres like steampunk, flintlock, and urban fantasy are deviations from the norm, defined by the level of technology in their worlds.

The naming of sub-genres suggests that default fantasy takes place in a less technologically advanced world, which may limit the genre's scope.

Fantasy worlds should define the types of cultures, beliefs, and peoples, with technology playing a significant role in shaping these aspects.

The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee is an example of a fantasy series that demonstrates technological progress, challenging the pre-industrial default.

The Green Bone Saga takes place in a secondary world with technology similar to the 1980s-1990s, advancing as the story progresses.

The genre's resistance to modern settings may be due to the challenges of integrating magic with more advanced technology and societal structures.

Examples like the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson show that fantasy can progress technologically within the same world.

The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie also shows technological advancement, moving from the discovery of gunpowder to an industrial revolution-like era.

The lack of technological and societal progression in fantasy can limit variety and hurt the believability of world-building in long series.

The author advocates for more fantasy authors to allow their worlds to progress technologically and explore the impact of magic on modern societies.

The discussion invites readers to consider whether fantasy should remain in a pre-industrial state or evolve into more modern settings.

Transcripts

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