Guest Speakers: G. Russell Gaynor, John G. Hartness, Darin Kennedy, Joel Ruiz
Track Director: M. Haynes
Assistant Track Director: William Alexander
Fantasy as we know it wasn’t always considered ‘fantasy.’ It used to be how humanity explained the world around us with legends, folklore, religions, etc. Themes or figures that were once considered facts to our ancestors are now commonplace in fictional media. Take, for example, Thor in the Marvel universe, or the Holy Grail. The story of Persephone and Demeter used to be an explanation for why the seasons changed each year. Many of these ancient deities resemble humanity, whereas “real” gods probably wouldn’t even bother with us. This is often an attempt for people to explain the phenomenon going on around them.
Returning to the origins of these thought processes makes it easier to understand and work with them. Writers didn’t come up with werewolves, and witches with tall pointy hats stirring in cauldrons were actually just women brewing ale.
If our ancestors and writers like The Brothers Grimm used to tell stories to explain the unknown and prevent children (and adults) from doing stupid things, then why do we still get scared of these things in modern day? We know they’re not real, so why is there still a lingering fear? Other humans are often the scariest things we deal with, which is why vampires and werewolves are so frightening. They’re reflections of our own inner natures.
We are creations of the environment that have brought us forth to this point. It’s naïve to assume we know as much as we think we do. We can only go so far unless we are willing to push ourselves further. Many people cope with their experiences through the lens of fiction. Fantasy and horror accommodate this exquisitely well, allowing writers to circle around and “get it out” of their system, often helping readers relate and process their own experiences too.
The scariest words in existence can be “I don’t know,” and how we respond to that reveals a lot about ourselves. Stepping beyond what everyone is telling you to believe and challenging that can be terrifying as hell. The world around you will not be ready for that, and naturally will reject you – at least in the beginning.
Media is a reflection of the culture (and writers) which create it. Characters are of pivotal importance. No one cares if you have thirty books of lore, if you are missing the human element. Plus, it’s fun for the audience to watch the author grow over time with their characters.
There are also times when media pushes a culture forward rather than being a reflection of the culture. An example of this would be Star Trek, which featured one of the first interracial kisses on television.
Fantasy slowly transitions towards science over time. What do we think fantasy is going to look like fifty years from now? It’s barely fathomable, considering that the internet has only been around for about thirty years, and technology is skyrocketing forward at a break-neck pace. There wasn’t even indoor plumbing less than a century ago. The next ‘Star Trek’ is going to be in our face, because each generation is going to want to press further than before.
What are some of your favorite myths, legends, or beliefs from the past that have made their way into modern fantasy? Are there themes from the past you’d like to change or build upon, which you relate to? What beliefs do we currently have that you think might be reflected in fantasy for future generations to come? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the Comments Section below! 💜
Also, if you’d like to see more panels like this and receive the FULL experience in person, check out Multiverse Con! Get your tickets here: https://www.multiversecon.org/ Hope to see you there! 😊
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