The Effects of Fantasy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nar · 04-27-2002, 10:13 AM

I would very much like to hear some elaborations on the uses of fantasy. I recall reading somewhere of research suggesting that mental activities such as planning and problem solving reduce emotional distress in and of themselves-- perhaps the mental activity of planning and building a world for a fantasy story, or analyzing an existing story like LotR, has an effect similar to that of contemplative acts such as meditation or prayer.

I am also very interested in the aspect of fantasy as the (sub-)creation of a comprehensive world, as opposed to realistic literature, which is set in this world, the terms of existence exactly our own and therefore assumed rather than worked out from scratch or refined from a genre model. I am wondering if the process of inventing a world and limning the terms of its existence could induce the archetypes and myths that appear in fantasy.

[ April 27, 2002: Message edited by: Nar ]

04-27-2002, 10:13 AM	#33
Nar Wight Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 228	I would very much like to hear some elaborations on the uses of fantasy. I recall reading somewhere of research suggesting that mental activities such as planning and problem solving reduce emotional distress in and of themselves-- perhaps the mental activity of planning and building a world for a fantasy story, or analyzing an existing story like LotR, has an effect similar to that of contemplative acts such as meditation or prayer. I am also very interested in the aspect of fantasy as the (sub-)creation of a comprehensive world, as opposed to realistic literature, which is set in this world, the terms of existence exactly our own and therefore assumed rather than worked out from scratch or refined from a genre model. I am wondering if the process of inventing a world and limning the terms of its existence could induce the archetypes and myths that appear in fantasy. [ April 27, 2002: Message edited by: Nar ]