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| Yes | 46% | 372 votes | Total: 813 votes | |
| No | 54% | 441 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesFantasy has Reality TV writers to thank for it's stagnation. It seems the commercial nations have become obsessed with real life. If shows like Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone can't make it in television, than movies will not be that far off, since both can influence the other. The days of dragons, wizards and unicorns begin to fade away when people no longer believe in imagination. When people are affected by any economic or personal issues, many movie and television viewers chose to watch someone worst off then they are. It's human nature.
The nation is losing it's belief in the impossible. Many will attest that there is no such thing as fairies and centaurs. Children may be the last frontier for fantasy since they bug their parents to take them to see films like Harry Potter and Twilight. Without growing teens who live in their bubbles, fantasy would have no chance. When reality sets in for many young adults of today, they will lose their interest in warlocks and genies and begin to follow the trend of legal television and mindless movies.
Maybe this is just a slow period. Maybe this is all due to lack luster writing. Whatever it is, fantasy seems to have lost it's novelty. How can producers get mainstream viewers to be into fantasy again? One remedy may be to hire talented writers; mediocre writing reflects in poor ticket sales and direct to DVD projects. Too many productions fall short and disappoint in the screen interpretation of great fantasy novels. When the film does not match the characters in the book, fantasy enthusiasts can become uninterested and irritated. J.K. Rowling was one author able to have the success she accomplished because she and screen writer Steve Klove demanded the films to be true to the characters.
So, is that the true cure for fantasy's sickness. Should the authors have creative control over screen writing for film or television adaptations to make sure the films accurately match the book? Mediocre screen writers are killing the fantasy genre slowly. With so much hiring of friends and buddies, the right writers for the job are not writing. Fantasy is being replaced by an endless amount of remakes and sequels. With book stores jam packed with new fantasy novels, one would think movies would be more fun and adventurous.
Reality TV and news media conditioned writers will continue to rot the integrity of fantasy film and television productions. Viewers are being sold recycled and latent creativity. Until creative writes return, there will be plenty more slapstick humor, awkward suspense and a bunch more almost entertaining romantic comedy films coming soon. Hopefully, J.K. Rowling's creative control will influence a change in fantasy novel adaptations and reintroduce the original movie experience. So, until fantasy meets talented screen writers again, all the elves, princesses, fairies, centaurs, dragons, goons and goblins will be spending time in the unemployment line.
Learn more about this author, Canaan W.E.J. Robinson.
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No
Let's define fantasy a little bit, shall we? Most people think of the classic JRR Tolkien model of fantasy when they think of a fantasy novel. They think of powerful objects of power, dangerous quests, a great encroaching evil, and heroism in the face of darkness. Most of these novels have the same theme, concept, and at least core influences. JRR Tolkien, David Eddings, Terry Brooks and many others wrote excellent novels using the veins of family, heroism, and identity. These novels are still popular. Simply look at Christopher Paolini sometime. His themes will no doubt strike familiar images to the reader.
This is called High Fantasy, and from the point of a novel, I'm bored with it as a whole. I'm bored of the familiar trappings, the same story replaying out again and again.
Or am I?
Imagine a desert world where a spice controls the destiny of a universe. There a man named Maud'dib becomes a savior to the native people and takes control of the planet. Welcome to Dune, one of the all time great works of science fiction. And one (in my view at least) of the best fantasies.
How about a story about a genius of child going to school, learning about love, magic, heroism and his own worth, all the while losing the very gifts that had defined him as a youth. Pat Rothfuss has created an intriguing world in The Name of the Wind. I can't wait for the sequel.
Or finally, how about a city where art, music and magic go hand in hand. There you can see some of the darkest aspects of humanity, or some of small heroics people do day in and out. Welcome to any book by Charles De Lint.
I could go on and on. I could mention a man in black chasing a wizard, or a boy discovering he's the greatest hero of wizards, but the point I'm getting to is that fantasy can be many forms and take the shape of many different kind of stories. While some things are no doubt similiar in every tale, there are many discernible differences in each story. As well as a unique take on concepts long thought explored.
I find a novel that is well written, has a unique style all its own is a story worth reading. Good fantasy, no matter the trappings does that well. It's the mediocre clones, the paint by the numbers books that seem to follow the great writers that tend to drive away the readers in droves. Much like hollywood, there seems to be a comfort zone in fantasy that needs to challenged. Good writers do that with each page. I'm never bored reading Charles De Lint, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, JK Rowling, Christopher Stasheff, Frank Herbert, George RR Martin or Patrick Rothfuss. I don't think you would be either. Nor should this list be considered all inclusive. There are many great fantasy writers out there. I think much like the writing, readers need to seek out something different. If they do, they'll find that fantasy is as fantastic as it's always been.
Learn more about this author, Joshua Pantalleresco.
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