Koba Junior
15th May 2012, 21:58
For the sake of simplicity, I've posted this subject under "Literature & Film," but the subject may in fact be broader in scope.
I am concerned with the value of fantasy as compared to realism in the arts and entertainment. On the one hand, realism with socialist overtones has often been regarded as kitschy, although there do exist works, particularly Gorky's Mother and the film Battleship Potemkin, that demonstrate the potential power and beauty of socialist realism. (Here, realism and socialist realism refer to the depiction of the world as it is, without commentary but still empowered by an understanding of society's revolutionary development.) As a tool of propaganda, realism can be extremely useful in encouraging an honest view of the world and acceptance for that which is not ideal. While not the same as socialist realism, social realism, particularly Steinbeck's works, are quite powerful. An honest way of looking at the world, armed with an understanding of society's revolutionary development, is healthy.
This brings me to my concern with fantasy. I wonder if fantasy is really all that useful or healthy. When I say "fantasy," I also mean works that do not strictly fall under this category, like The Hunger Games or Brave New World. To be perfectly honest, I happen to like dystopian stories, and the two works I mentioned in the previous sentence are right up my alley, so to speak. But I wonder about whether fantasy has the potential to encourage a healthy, honest way of looking at the world. Is fantasy merely escapism? Or can fantasy present an honest look at the world through symbolism?
I ask this because I am interested in beginning a work that reflects my values as a Marxist-Leninist, one that will hopefully open up a dialogue among the left about Leninism. I'm not sure how to go about doing that, as, on the one hand, I am interested in realism, but, on the other, I am quite fond of science-fiction, fantasy, and superheroes. (This will be a visual narrative; that is, it may take the form of a comic book.)
I am concerned with the value of fantasy as compared to realism in the arts and entertainment. On the one hand, realism with socialist overtones has often been regarded as kitschy, although there do exist works, particularly Gorky's Mother and the film Battleship Potemkin, that demonstrate the potential power and beauty of socialist realism. (Here, realism and socialist realism refer to the depiction of the world as it is, without commentary but still empowered by an understanding of society's revolutionary development.) As a tool of propaganda, realism can be extremely useful in encouraging an honest view of the world and acceptance for that which is not ideal. While not the same as socialist realism, social realism, particularly Steinbeck's works, are quite powerful. An honest way of looking at the world, armed with an understanding of society's revolutionary development, is healthy.
This brings me to my concern with fantasy. I wonder if fantasy is really all that useful or healthy. When I say "fantasy," I also mean works that do not strictly fall under this category, like The Hunger Games or Brave New World. To be perfectly honest, I happen to like dystopian stories, and the two works I mentioned in the previous sentence are right up my alley, so to speak. But I wonder about whether fantasy has the potential to encourage a healthy, honest way of looking at the world. Is fantasy merely escapism? Or can fantasy present an honest look at the world through symbolism?
I ask this because I am interested in beginning a work that reflects my values as a Marxist-Leninist, one that will hopefully open up a dialogue among the left about Leninism. I'm not sure how to go about doing that, as, on the one hand, I am interested in realism, but, on the other, I am quite fond of science-fiction, fantasy, and superheroes. (This will be a visual narrative; that is, it may take the form of a comic book.)