Sometimes people try to tell me that the things of fantasy and magic - the things on the screens and in the books - are not real and they don't matter. "It's not real!" my mother tells me. It doesn't matter because it's not real life.
Don't matter? Are you kidding me? I could write an essay on why they matter!
So here I am. Blogging about it. Not that anyone will read this or pay attention, but it makes me feel better.
WHY do Fantasy, Sci-Fi and the unrealistic matter?
Let me tell you. Fantastic things are what keep creativity and imagination alive, for one. They inspire hope - hope in magic, in love, in the impossible and the beautiful. They are the creation, the very essence of human nature; they speak to the greater part of the soul. Symbolically, hypothetically, and emotionally.
A fantastic struggle for love, in which the lovers are separated by unrealistic circumstances (Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Doctor Who) embodies the idea that love conquers all, that everyone can find love. Everyone thinks at one point or another that they'll never find someone who loves them back. The impossibility of finding someone so compatible and perfect for them is simply 'unrealistic,' 'impossible.' When you watch or read a love story, witnessing the impossible circumstances by which the lovers are separated, but you just know they're going to end up together (because that's the POINT. THEY HAVE TO!), it gives you hope that your standards aren't too high - you'll find someone perfect for you.
Magic? Why magic? Magic, symbolically, represents different aspects of human nature and gifts that others possess. Hypothetically, of course. I'll use my own series as an example, and I'll try not to be confusing. I have five Classes of the supernaturally Gifted. One of those classes is Enchanters. Enchanters can manipulate human nature: emotionally and physically. I have one character who is the most emotional character (probably of ever) in the entire series. He's damaged, understandably so, and bottles up his emotions, which is why he's such a potent Enchanter. You see, Enchanters tap into a person's individual traits and emotions to persuade, Charm or Influence their behavior. This character uses his bottled up emotions to further Influence his victims; his emotions are so potent that he can literally control anyone he wants, exuding his Influence in an Aura-like way - wrapping the emotion around them, like physical ribbons. Enchanting someone is sort of like hypnotizing them (sometimes) except they are completely aware of what they're doing and find it completely rational (if the Enchanter does it right).
That was a bit of a rant, but you get what I'm trying to say, right? Enchanters embody the emotion of human nature - we are, as a rule, very emotional creatures. Emotion drives everything we do. Basically, symbolically, magic can represent humanity. It conveys the meaning, the importance of aspects of humanity in such a way as could never be explained in words. It's more of a feeling that comes with the symbolism, like and aura.
Sci-Fi often embodies the social issues of the human world (trust me, I took a class on Sci-Fi - terrific class. I learned more in there than I ever did in English). Most Science Fiction story plots are molded around a current social issue. Take... oh, The Day the Earth Stood Still or Invasion of the Body Snatchers (both of which I've seen several times). They're basically statements about McCarthyism, back in the '50s (if you know your history, you'll understand). Science Fiction is a way of 'sugar coating' a social issue, making it more terrifying (if definitely hits home) but symbolically correct. A more modern example would be Surrogates - fantastic film, watch it - in which everyone has a robot ('Surrogate') they control as 'them,' going around the world in that and experiencing life as a robot rather than in their physical form. I mean, we already do that today, in a way: Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, etc. 'Social' media, and all that.
So that's my explanation as to why the fantastic and the impossible are important.
Sometimes, they seem more realistic than real life, don't they? The human aspect - the characters. They're relatable! We understand them. They're just like us, making dummy mistakes, just like us. They're human. So are we. We can't help it. The fantastic is more believable than the realistic, ay? Beautiful. Humans. I love 'em.
So that, mother, is why the fantastic is important. They're real to me, okay?!
So that, mother, is why the fantastic is important. They're real to me, okay?!
-Anevay
