Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genre of science fiction by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific themes, though there is a great deal of overlap between the two, both of which are subgenres of speculative fiction.
In popular culture, the genre of fantasy is dominated by its medievalist form, especially since the worldwide success of The Lord of the Rings and related books by J. R. R. Tolkien. Fantasy has also included wizards, sorcerers, witchcraft, etc., in events which avoid horror. In its broadest sense, however, fantasy comprises works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians, from ancient myths and legends to many recent works embraced by a wide audience today.
Fantasy is a vibrant area of academic study in a number of disciplines (English, cultural studies, comparative literature, history, medieval studies). Work in this area ranges widely, from the structuralist theory of Tzvetan Todorov, which emphasizes the fantastic as a liminal space, to work on the connections (political, historical, literary) between medievalism and popular culture.
Read more about Fantasy: Traits of Fantasy, History, Media, Subgenres, Subculture
Other articles related to "fantasy":
... Ltd.'s role-playing game Final Fantasy IV features a large number of characters designed by Yoshitaka Amano ... The game's 2008 sequel, Final Fantasy IV The After Years is set seventeen years after Final Fantasy IV and introduces a slew of new characters that accompany ... An intersequel between Final Fantasy IV and The After Years, Final Fantasy IV Interlude, was also released for the PlayStation Portable in 2011 featuring some of the ...
... published, there had been attempts to use the fantasy rules for purely historical armies ... they had significant drawbacks – cavalry under the fantasy rules were too powerful, skirmishers too weak and some historical troop types were not catered for at all ... Ancients follows the same basic procedure as Warmaster Fantasy, but differs in the following way Magic, dragons and other such are naturally not present in this rule set ...
... Fantasy literature is fantasy in written form ... Historically speaking, literature has composed the majority of fantasy works ... Since the 1960s however, a growing segment of the fantasy genre has taken the form of films, television programs, graphic novels, video games, music, painting, and other ...
... The World Fantasy Awards are presented at the convention ... such as Florida's FX Show and MegaCon, cater to fantasy and horror fans ... Anime conventions, such as Ohayocon or Anime Expo frequently feature showings of fantasy, science fantasy, and dark fantasy series and films, such as Majutsushi Orphen (fantasy ...
... Many creatures seen in fantasy fiction are drawn from the folklore of Europe and the romances of medieval Europe ... Writers from the beginnings of the fantasy genre, such as William Morris in The Well at the World's End and Lord Dunsany in The King of Elfland's ... Tolkien set the type even more clearly for high fantasy which is normally based in such a "pseudo-medieval" setting ...
Famous quotes containing the word fantasy:
“The traditional American husband and father had the responsibilities—and the privileges—of playing the role of primary provider. Sharing that role is not easy. To yield exclusive access to the role is to surrender some of the potential for fulfilling the hero fantasy—a fantasy that appeals to us all. The loss is far from trivial.”
—Faye J. Crosby (20th century)
“People accept a representation in which the elements of wish and fantasy are purposely included but which nevertheless proclaims to represent “the past” and to serve as a guide-rule for life, thereby hopelessly confusing the spheres of knowledge and will.”
—Johan Huizinga (1872–1945)
“Fantasy is a product of thought, Imagination of sensibility. If the thinking, discursive mind turns to speculation, the result is Fantasy; if, however, the sensitive, intuitive mind turns to speculation, the result is Imagination. Fantasy may be visionary, but it is cold and logical. Imagination is sensuous and instinctive. Both have form, but the form of Fantasy is analogous to Exposition, that of Imagination to Narrative.”
—Sir Herbert Read (1893–1968)