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The Sunlit Hearth: Why Do People Love Fantasy Nature?
Sunfire
CONTENTS
The Premise
The fantasy genre is known for many things, all of which draw people to it. From powerful creatures such as dragons to different races like Elves, the possibilities are endless. One thing that is a prime attraction is that of fantasy nature which showcases the beauty of the natural world that is untouched by mankind and industry.
There are all kinds of magnificent landscapes that are jaw-dropping. It could be a series of rolling hills to a mountain range lush in green foliage. These landscapes are warm and inviting, making people want to come and explore them to see what they have to offer. These special places are found all over the world, provided one knows where to look.
Why is fantasy nature so appealing to so many people? One reason is that they show them a glimpse of the world that once existed in the past. Indeed, they are considered to be remnants of a world that no longer exists in the present and they help people remember how things were in the olden days.
What is particularly fascinating about natural landscapes is that it is so easy for people to while away hours, if not days, just sitting and taking it all in. It’s because there is a sereneness associated with them that is difficult to find elsewhere. This is the reason why people go to these areas whenever they have a dilemma or problem that they must work out before they can move forward with their lives.
This is article number eleven in The Sunlit Hearth series. If you’d like to see what else we have to offer, you can find them on our blog page and it won’t take you long before you come across one that catches your eye!
Fantasy Nature and Majestic Landscapes
If you go online and search for fantasy landscapes, you’ll see nothing but incredible pictures of all kinds of landscapes. Each one is more breathtaking than the one before and before you know it, you’ll have spent hours just gazing at them. These depictions of the natural world is one reason why the genre is so beloved by many.
Much like the real world where there are timeless examples of the beauty of the world, fantasy nature does the same thing. It could be as small as a local forest near a town on the crossroads to a roaring river. These special points of interest serve as inspiration for a number of people such as painters and writers, all of whom attempt to capture them in their splendor.
There are a multitude of stellar landscapes that are featured in many worlds across the genre. Mountains are among the top, not just due to their towering height but to what they reveal to the viewer. They are an example of powerful forces at work that shaped the world as it stands today over countless eons and continue even in the present.
Another popular aspect of fantasy nature is the forest. These tree-laden areas are full of all kinds of life forms, from birds to adorable critters and trees filled with vim and vigor. Some enchanted forests have spirits floating in the air and many cultures consider forests as the cradle of life and hold them in high reverence.
The beauty of fantasy nature is that it can be found in just about every environment, even those hostile to civilization. Take the tundra for example. This cold, inhospitable area is not suitable for people to live there but one with a discerning eye can find something of magnificence like a snowy mountain or a large crystal found in the depths of a cave. You can even say the same for the desert, what with its sand dunes that seem to go on forever or how it looks at sunset as a calmness descends upon the sun-scorched land.
Then and Now: How Fantasy Nature Harkens Back to Simpler Times
Why is fantasy nature so popular? Why are so many people willing to spend hours gazing at majestic landscapes that are imaginary? It’s because they remind us of a time long bygone, a time that some attempt to recapture only to see it end in failure.
Nature in fantasy evokes a sense of nostalgia for us all. Some think of their formative years where they spent days exploring the areas around them such as lakes and forests where they let their imagination run free. Then they were able to run around without a care in the world where they were content enough to be kids but they cannot do so in the present.
Another way fantasy nature takes us back to the past is to highlight how the world was then. Before technology began to dominate people’s lives, more people lived out in the country and enjoyed a bucolic lifestyle. They dwelled in small towns that had their own festivals and were full of people who were simply content to live in the world as it was, not what they hoped it would be.
These great landscapes also remind people of the world that once existed of which only remnants still persist in the present. They could think of the town they grew up in that no longer is around nowadays, a forest that towered mightily in their youth only to be reduced to char due to a fire that decimated everything in its path, or something else. These people carry memories of the world they knew then and take solace in them when facing a world unlike the one they grew up in.
Fantasy nature has a strong connection to the elements and the natural world. People have a longing to understand the dynamics of the natural forces at work. They endeavor to learn as much about them as they can so that they can use it to make the world a better and safer place to live in. They don’t attempt to change it, they just want to know more about the world they call home.
The Peaceful Atmosphere of Fantasy Nature
Landscapes of nature in fantasy are very tempting. Their mesmerizing appearance makes it easy for one to spend hours just looking at them, studying every detail about them. While they represent the possibilities that come with creating an imaginary world, there is another side that is equally salient: they are peaceful.
Whether it’s a thunderstorm marching across the golden plains or a jungle full of life, there is a peacefulness to fantasy nature that is difficult to replicate. The numerous depictions of fantasy nature present a world as it is, not what it is attempting to be. A world that is true to itself.
People look at the landscapes of nature in fantasy and at first, they see the incredible creativity of the people who created them but after some time, it gradually dawns on them there is a sereneness to them that they find comforting. It could be a gentle wind blowing ever so slightly on the grass or a pretty field of exotic flowers swaying in the wind. They cannot help but find these images soothing to their heart.
Like in the real world, whenever someone is wrestling with a problem, he goes to a place where he can be at peace. Most of the time, it is in the natural environment like a forest or babbling brook. There he can close his eyes or take in the splendor of the natural world around him as he attempts to find a solution to whatever is troubling him. By connecting with the pristine, untamed environment around him, he is able to bolster his relationship with nature and put aside the world he lives in for a brief period of time.
Stories that explore fantasy nature highlight the importance of it in the grand scheme of things since it is the framework in which fictional worlds operate. It governs how various life forms interact with one another and by showcasing its pristine condition, it spurs a desire in people to learn more about the natural order of the world. Incorporating elements of this in both your world and story is a superb way to get your audience engaged in the world you’re building from the ground up!
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Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
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