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Worlds of Design: Fantasy vs. Sci-Fi Part 2
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<blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 7764733" data-attributes="member: 22779"><p>But, there are very good critical reasons for genre specification. If a genre is so broad that it just becomes Spec Fiction, then, well, it encompasses just about anything. I mean, the latest Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey Jr had steam punk elements in it that were obviously anachronistic. Does that make it spec fiction? Not really. It's still a mystery movie with a bit more action than perhaps the books had. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p>Without genre categorization, every conversation we start having about any book has to start with a lengthy conversation just nailing down the language that we would use to critique the work. Having genre categories allows us to have a common framework to start from. It allows us to have the right questions to ask.</p><p></p><p>IOW, we don't go down a totally pointless road of trying to analyze how magic functions in Tolkien because it's fantasy - we're not really supposed to worry about how magic functions in fantasy, that's not the point. Also, because Tolkien is fantasy, we generally don't worry about certain aspects - we probably shouldn't critique the work from the point of view of what does it mean to be a human or an elf in the work. That's not the point of Lord of the Rings. We should approach it from a more moral discussion of good and evil.</p><p></p><p>Sorry to beat that dead horse again. But, it still holds true. In a fantasy story, we generally aren't concerned with certain questions. The fact that orcs are made from mutated elves isn't really a commentary on 20th century capitalism (despite the fact that there probably are numerous papers written on this), or, if it is, it's still not really a central theme of the story. The central theme is about why someone would choose to be evil - Saruman's betrayal for example. So on and so forth.</p><p></p><p>Without first nailing down at least a working definition of a given genre, it's very, very difficult to have any conversation about works within that genre because you wind up rehashing the same discussion over and over and over again.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hussar, post: 7764733, member: 22779"] But, there are very good critical reasons for genre specification. If a genre is so broad that it just becomes Spec Fiction, then, well, it encompasses just about anything. I mean, the latest Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey Jr had steam punk elements in it that were obviously anachronistic. Does that make it spec fiction? Not really. It's still a mystery movie with a bit more action than perhaps the books had. :D Without genre categorization, every conversation we start having about any book has to start with a lengthy conversation just nailing down the language that we would use to critique the work. Having genre categories allows us to have a common framework to start from. It allows us to have the right questions to ask. IOW, we don't go down a totally pointless road of trying to analyze how magic functions in Tolkien because it's fantasy - we're not really supposed to worry about how magic functions in fantasy, that's not the point. Also, because Tolkien is fantasy, we generally don't worry about certain aspects - we probably shouldn't critique the work from the point of view of what does it mean to be a human or an elf in the work. That's not the point of Lord of the Rings. We should approach it from a more moral discussion of good and evil. Sorry to beat that dead horse again. But, it still holds true. In a fantasy story, we generally aren't concerned with certain questions. The fact that orcs are made from mutated elves isn't really a commentary on 20th century capitalism (despite the fact that there probably are numerous papers written on this), or, if it is, it's still not really a central theme of the story. The central theme is about why someone would choose to be evil - Saruman's betrayal for example. So on and so forth. Without first nailing down at least a working definition of a given genre, it's very, very difficult to have any conversation about works within that genre because you wind up rehashing the same discussion over and over and over again. [/QUOTE]
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