Through these stories and films emanating mysterious qualities and awe that is fantasy, the door to escapism is opened. Escapism in this sense refers to a negative connotation where humans escape from the unpleasant human world into the world of fantasy. Due to many people criticizing these stories and films just being of a fantastic nature, they often reject them as merely “escapist”- a term generally associated with works of art that one is not supposed to take seriously. However, personally, I do not feel that they only serve as a means of escapism.
Fantasy stories and fantasy films are popularly sought after for other purposes too. P: Most of the times, fantasy stories and films are considered escapist as they transport readers and viewers to impossible worlds and provide unrealistic but comforting (in terms of relief) solutions to problems. E: They become sources of immediate escape from reality as in the fantasy world, the evil is defeated by the good by impractical means and solutions. For the audience, this brings in a sense of temporary comfort and relief as their inner wish of overcoming obstacles in reality is fulfilled at the fantastic level.
Eg: With its magic, fantastical beings and clear-cut delineations of good and evil, The Lord of the Rings presents a compelling fantasy mirrored to some extent in the Harry Potter films. Both rely on a mystical destiny and grace and feature a reluctant and somewhat unlikely young hero, offering the audience an escape into a different world where difficult problems are solved through magic as well as old-fashioned courage and integrity. CS: Therefore, in this particular way, fantasy stories and films have the capacity to provide escapism for readers and viewers alike.
The Term Paper on Fantasy Film Genre World Characters Alice
Fantasy Films Film genres are categories, classifications or groups of films that have similar, familiar or instantly-recognizable patterns, techniques or conventions that include one or more of the following: setting, content, themes, plot, motifs, styles, structures, situations, characters (or characterizations), and stars. The genre that I chose to review was that of the fantasy genre in films. ...
However, these stories and films are not only here to provide escapism. There are other means that fantasy stories and films serve. Some of which would be to provide broader perspectives and reasons for humans to delve in into its fantasies. P: One of the means that fantasy stories and films could serve as is that they can provide a sense of hope in people’s lives, both in a child’s and adult’s. E/eg: Fantasy films and stories such as Cinderella and Aladdin are presented in a simple, homely way; no demands are made on the listener.
This prevents even the smallest child from feeling compelled to act in specific ways, and he is never made to feel inferior. Far from making demands, these fairy tales reassure, give hope for the future, and hold out the promise of happy endings. That is why Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland) called it a “love-gift”. Even for adults, although they know about the harsh realities that life brings, these fantasy stories still provide them that little bit of hope and longing for something wonderful to happen to them too. This is because essentially, humans live out of hope as they anticipate the future.
CS: Therefore, fantasy stories and films do serve other purposes too such as the one described above. Truly, some fantasy stories and films that talk about true love or receiving love do evoke some feeling of hope of receiving the same in reality. P: Since fantasy stories and films are largely targeted towards the young, there are other particular means that they serve specifically for them. Fantasies, unlike any other form of literature, direct the child to discover his identity and calling, and they also suggest what experiences are needed to develop his character further.
The Essay on Fantasy Story
Thinking that it maybe was about time for something not so spectacular, I grabbed this book by Iain Not-M Banks while I was at the bookstore (getting The Naked God). Good thing. Even with it's high finance setting and international business milieu, The Business is the most quiet and laid back book I've ever read by Banks. This is mostly because of the main character Kate Telman, who's just so ...
E: Fantasy stories and films intimate that a rewarding, good life is within one’s reach despite adversity – but only if one does not shy away from the hazardous struggles without which one can never achieve true identity. These stories promise that if a child dares to engage in this fearsome and taxing search, benevolent powers will come to his aid, and he will succeed. The stories also warn that those who are too timorous and narrow minded to risk themselves in finding themselves must settle down to a humdrum existence-if an even worse fate does not befall them.
Eg: For example, the Wizard of Ox tells the tale of a girl named Dorothy who gets lost in the Land of Oz and goes searching for the wizard and the witch bravely with her friends in order to get back home. This example illustrates the need for a person to be brave and meet challenges that life brings with a positive attitude despite the circumstances. Or we could even take example from Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in which 4 siblings daringly go on a search to find Aslan and the White Witch to kill her and get rid of her curse on Narnia.
CS: Therefore, it encourages children who read these kinds of fantasy stories to subconsciously develop their own character and be mindful. It is definite that fantasy stories and films contain nuanced and discreet positive messages that would intuitively reach the young kids’ minds. P: Not only that, fantasy films and stories provide the means of filling up the huge gaps in a child’s understanding which are due to the immaturity of his thinking and his lack of pertinent information through cultivating imagination.
E: Imagination is where the information offered by reality is processed and fantasy films and stories allow that imagination to be cultivated. As children, this is where many interpretations of their world are formed. Over time the two will begin to merge as real life experiences will confirm or deny the assumptions or agreements that the children have made with their understanding of fantasies, but soon their perceptions of the world will be formed.
Eg: For example, from watching or reading Cinderella, young children will gain perceptions on true love and as well as on the harsh treatment resulting from the step mother. The children then would compare these perceptions to real life happenings and figure out then if the fairy tale fantasies are true or not on their own. CS: Therefore, fantasy films and stories allow children to slowly discern the truth from the false by sieving out the information they have gained. This in turn helps them to improve their understanding about life in general as they grow up.
The Essay on Explain the importance of safeguarding children and young people
We must safeguard children and young people as they are unable to protect themselves alone and are far more vulnerable to things such as abuse and neglect than adults are. It is our duty of care to protect children and young people from physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse and neglect. We must be able to identify early on the signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect before the ...
P: Lastly fantasy books and films are a means to teach the young that the impossible is attainable. E/Eg: In fantasies, the narrator can always kill the giants, wake up the sleeping, and transform the frogs into princes through storylines. Fantasy books and movies are necessary for the emotional well being of the young, and the liberation of their possibilities. Even fantasy author Gene Roddenbery, creator of Star Trek, so eloquently and aptly said, “… to boldly go where no man has gone before! CS: Therefore, at this impressionable age, fantasy films and stories play a huge part in developing the mindsets of the young. It is crucial to develop their mindsets and allow them to be more open-minded and creative by introducing these kinds of fantasies into their childhood life so that they can become successful at handling life’s problems when they are older. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it is no doubt that fantasy films and stories are a means to escapism but I disagree that they only serve that individual purpose.
Other purposes as described above are equally important too for fantasy films and stories to be widely read or seen in many societies in the world. They must hold some form of greater value and are not just simple tools to escape from reality as the fantasy genre is still gaining immense popularity. Therefore, it is a misconception that fantasy stories and films merely serve as a means of escapism. Underneath all that layers, fantasies serve greater purposes that attribute to its popularity.