When looking at the structure of fantasy that also translates to film i feel that this formula may be over used. In recent months i have noticed that in general, the western world has stopped making "Original", innovative and creative ways to make art and literature. We seem to be stuck in a time where the good guys always win and there is some struggle and revelation that the archetypical "superhero" has. In popular music, film and television there has been little development in the way we create. However this could reflect societies lack of interest. The people making these books and films and music are playing it to safe and are not asking themselves the hard questions anymore that make really good art. In simpler terms, i haven't seen any popular writer take a good risk in a long time.
Fantasy to me is just as much about the relationships and growth a character makes as it is the magic. Harry Potter was a good example of this. It also brought in what a good fantasy should: propaganda hidden behind an exciting plot line. This followed (roughly) the same formula, but gave the reader more to go with during the journey- not just three basic acts with one climax, but a series of "beats" (smaller changes within character and relationship that ultimately make tension and mood rise within a text and more important to a reader).
This is just an overview of my thoughts since being introduced to fantasy- more to come on Earthsea when i have finished the novel.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWatching Earthsea was like watching Mirror Mirror, the secondhand version of Snow White and the Huntsman. Then again, that explains how unoriginal much of today's art is. I think with a lot of adaptations/samples/covers released today, it is like nothing else is considered. Perhaps society's lack of interest could be one reason. I thought the industry's lack of consideration for fresh, new talent may be another reason. There are a lot of budding, aspiring and independent artists out there who are actually more creative and challenging; and many (or most) insiders (particularly those established in the mainstream) seem to be money-driven since they know that audiences generally prefer things with some familiarity but taken from a different angle, knowing that this will bring people into the cinema, tuning into a show on TV or download music, hence the dollars come rolling in.
ReplyDeleteI think fantasy is one of those genres that are difficult to cultivate anything fresh and exciting (and not the cliched type that are seen today). For instance, The Lord of the Rings is among the few literary works that are loved by the old and young, where they essentially pertain to human qualities that define one's journey and character. The humanistic element does drive the plot, with supernatural, abnormal, mythical-like phenomena, giving off that notion of desire, of wanting to be more than human (as mentioned in Week 4's lecture) which is what attracts people to the genre.
Fantasy, I think, suggests propaganda in a way that it responds to ill-treatment and violence, as it gives rise to character and situational turning points. This seems to ascertain how people generally come to explain or justify the state of humanity... or the world we live in.
Hi Holly, those are well-considered ideas. I would be interested to find out what propaganda you think could be hidden behind Earthsea, certainly there is a lot there you could take into account - similarities to the political situation at the time, idealogy etc. The readings should help, so please do take time to think about your next reply - which I'm looking forward to!
ReplyDeleteI feel after the viewing of a few Miyazaki films, my perspective on Hollywood and the mass production of film and novels may have changed. I now think that the problem with Western texts is that it is in fact, Western. I have felt that i may actually be culturally bored with the western perspective. After watching another french anime and the works of Miyazaki i feel i have discovered something fresh in the way they work. I am enticed by the oriental and euroccentric feel to each of these films. The formula may be the same as it has been in American film, and this could be me having a case of "the emperors new clothes", but I feel if western countries added a more diverse range of literature to the curriculum, westerners would have far more of an interest in the arts.
ReplyDeleteMaybe euoroccentric may be not the right word as Europe is considered "Western". I am meaning that the work had an exclusive European feel to it in the way men, women and society were presented through cartoon and the use of music as well as the drawn scenery
ReplyDelete