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This is a new series that doesn’t focus on worldbuilding but fantasy in general. Fret not, there’s still plenty more articles to come that explore the different aspects of constructing a fantasy world from scratch but I thought it would be interesting to dive into a whole set of topics. The first one revolves around classic fantasy so take a seat around the cozy fireplace!
Classic fantasy contains stories we all grew up on, from Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter, ones we all have precious memories of. It harkens back to a time when we let our imagination run free, thinking of all of the possibilities that could exist should the worlds they took place in were real. They take us to our childhood when we used our imagination to play toys and video games.
These stories and worlds captivated us the moment we saw or read them for the first time. Who could forget when we left Kokiri Forest in Ocarina of Time, only to see the world of Hyrule for the first time in 3D, or fighting King Dodongo after making it through Dodongo’s Cavern? Suddenly we could do things and perform feats we never thought possible!
Modern fantasy has attempted to supplant classic fantasy by introducing new themes and ideas to explore but most of these efforts have only led to failure in my opinion. While some of the former have seen enormous success — think of Game of Thrones — they have been met with profound negativity since a good number of their stories fell apart, made no sense, or destroyed the spirit of the work. The dismal effects of the former has only led to a resurgence of the latter, as more people turn back to the worlds and stories they remembered fondly.
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The best stories are those that transport you to a world unlike any you’ve ever seen. You are introduced to a bevy of memorable characters, each one with their own goals and personality quirks. After the protagonist’s triumph over the villain, the plot ends and you wish you had more time with these amazing characters and the world they call home.
There’s a reason why many stories from classic fantasy stick with us and it isn’t because we saw them when we were kids. Rather, they possessed a heart that modern fantasy just can’t replicate. A heart that only inspired you to let your imagination run unfettered in a world starkly different than the real world.
To many people, fantasy serves as escapism, a way where we spend time with our favorite characters, exploring a world we’ve seen over and over. Yes, we know that Sauron will be defeated and Middle-earth will be saved but that isn’t the reason why we re-read the LOTR books or watch the films. It’s the characters we’ve grown to love and the timeless world of Middle-earth that makes us come back to time and time again.
Modern fantasy has attempted to do so but it just can’t compare to that of the older stories. The worlds of this era feel lacking and the characters a bit too one-dimensional. Moreover, it introduces themes that oddly feel out of place, eschewing the one that has dominated the genre ever since its inception: the never-ending war between good and evil.
This particular theme fuels the entire drama of the story since it is something we all identify with. There’s a reason why legendary villains like Emperor Palpatine or Lady Tremaine work and it is because they are wicked to their core and have no qualms about doing whatever it takes to win. They are the perfect antagonists for us to root against and the villains of modern fantasy just don’t hold a candle compared to them.
The first time you stepped foot in what would become your favorite fantasy world, whether it’s a video game, movie, or novel is something you’ll always cherish for the rest of your life. There was something about that world that just pulled you in and made you want to just learn as much as you could about it. That is the power of both great storytelling and worldbuilding.
Years later, you still go back to the stories and worlds you’ve been to over and over time when there are so many others you could go to. Nowadays, most people enjoy returning to their favorite realms in classic fantasy though they know a lot more about them now than they did then.
Classic fantasy continues to thrive when modern fantasy doesn’t seem to be in the same boat so why does the former enthrall people today? It usually isn’t just one thing. It’s a combination of a stellar cast of memorable characters such as Aragorn or Dumbledore, and the places the protagonist visits such as Rivendell or Hogwarts. These places weren’t just created for the purpose of telling a story: they come with their own history and lore that help bring them to life.
The major settings of the story add a fascinating layer in terms of storytelling. They show viewers a part of the world they have yet to see, that helps make the world richer. Many of them are steeped in history from the cracks on the walls from a previous war to statues and paintings of renowned figures who shaped the world throughout history. We see glimpses of the world that once existed and our curiosity about it impels us to learn more.
Central to classic fantasy is a protagonist with flaws that make him relatable to the audience. He has his own fears and struggles to overcome and we watch him experience both glory and fall from grace and when he is down and out, we cannot help but root even more for him. We like stories where the good guy rises from the doldrums of despair to defeat the villain and save the world.
The stories of classic fantasy stick with us long after we’re done with them. Yet, every now and then we find ourselves wandering back to them. You don’t feel the same way with many stories of modern fantasy. There is something that the former has that the latter just doesn’t.
One reason is that modern fantasy is trying to do something different than its predecessor. For example, the villains are expected to be evil but it tries to paint them in a sympathetic light, depicting them as characters who turned to darkness for one reason or another. While it works for some, it harms the majority, essentially turning them into anti-heroes instead of being the big bad.
Some modern tales depict the protagonist as being a bit too perfect. That is, he effortlessly glides through whatever obstacles and challenges he faces alongside the way and experiences little to no character development. This turns off people since it is impossible for something like this to happen in real life, making it difficult for them to root for the hero throughout the plot.
Nowadays many stories explore themes and plot-lines that are too complicated to convey well in the story instead of focusing on simple ones that everyone understands which you see in classic fantasy. Themes such as war and peace are easy to digest since they are ones we readily see in the real world.
Another reason why classic fantasy is more popular than its successor is that the latter has too many contrived plot-lines that make no sense or go nowhere. Many stories in the former wrap up most of, if not all, the major plots in a satisfying fashion that only strengthens the world they take place in but also make sense in terms of the characters affected. In other words, they ‘stick the landing’ much better than modern fantasy does.
Hope you enjoyed this article and don’t worry, there’ll be more to come so stay tuned!
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Sunfire
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