Fantasy Fiction and the Ultimate Victory
While attending the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference this weekend, one of my teachers, Jeff Gerke of Marcher Lord Press, ( http://www.marcherlordpress.com/ ) said something that really struck me as a topic that begs for deeper reflection. Well, to be honest, he said about 453,000 things that beg for deeper reflection, but I'll just take a stab at one for now.
This one statement that struck me went something like this: Fantasy, as a genre, may have the greatest potential to convey a Christian message of any fiction that is being published today. Why is that? Mostly, it has to do with the fact that fantasy tends to deal with very black-and-white delineation between ultimate good and absolute evil. Where else can a writer paint a story with those "brushes", so to speak? In an age where society wants to homogonize all thoughts and theories into a cask of gray neither-here-nor-there philosophy, we, the fantasy writers and readers, still hold the ground of calling good "good" and evil "evil". Sure, our good characters will make mistakes, have flaws, and sometimes even choose to do what's wrong, for what story would be interesting if no one ever wrestled in this contest for the soul?
The fact still remains, however, that at the core of most fantasy plot threads, there is a sense of right and wrong that exists outside of what the characters tell themselves is true. In a time when relativism is the supposed wisdom of the enlightened world, I believe it is of dire importance that we fantasy enthusiasts continue to dig our trenches and state that we will not allow the tide of ambivalence overtake us. Fantasy has the power to capture the imagination, and into the hearts and minds of the reader, plant the seed that we do not ultimately decide what is good. That label has existed from the foundation of the world, and we did not ascribe it.
May we continue to offer glimpses of the divine reality that Good will ultimately overcome evil. Whatever struggles come along that way, we have that promise to lean on. And may what we read and write also depict that struggle and echo the hope of that final destiny.
I invite your comments and reflection on this as well! Post your thoughts and invite your friends to do the same.
This one statement that struck me went something like this: Fantasy, as a genre, may have the greatest potential to convey a Christian message of any fiction that is being published today. Why is that? Mostly, it has to do with the fact that fantasy tends to deal with very black-and-white delineation between ultimate good and absolute evil. Where else can a writer paint a story with those "brushes", so to speak? In an age where society wants to homogonize all thoughts and theories into a cask of gray neither-here-nor-there philosophy, we, the fantasy writers and readers, still hold the ground of calling good "good" and evil "evil". Sure, our good characters will make mistakes, have flaws, and sometimes even choose to do what's wrong, for what story would be interesting if no one ever wrestled in this contest for the soul?
The fact still remains, however, that at the core of most fantasy plot threads, there is a sense of right and wrong that exists outside of what the characters tell themselves is true. In a time when relativism is the supposed wisdom of the enlightened world, I believe it is of dire importance that we fantasy enthusiasts continue to dig our trenches and state that we will not allow the tide of ambivalence overtake us. Fantasy has the power to capture the imagination, and into the hearts and minds of the reader, plant the seed that we do not ultimately decide what is good. That label has existed from the foundation of the world, and we did not ascribe it.
May we continue to offer glimpses of the divine reality that Good will ultimately overcome evil. Whatever struggles come along that way, we have that promise to lean on. And may what we read and write also depict that struggle and echo the hope of that final destiny.
I invite your comments and reflection on this as well! Post your thoughts and invite your friends to do the same.
Just wanted to say hello to another writer in digitaldragon. Liked your story. Best wishes
ReplyDeleteGeorge Duncan
beachgolfer869@msn.com
:) Hello, George! I'm glad you dropped in, and I thank you for your kind words about my DDM story. I feel honored to be there among excellent company.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the CW forum!
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading "The Way into Narnia" by Peter Schakel. He says, like you, that fantasy or fairy tale is the best way to deal with issues of right/wrong, good/evil, and that high fantasy like Narnia or Middle-Earth might be a better way of dealing with than, say, the fantasy in Harry Potter.
I'm working on my own story and I'm trying to deal with Narnia and LOTR themes in the real world. However, it's very hard trying to create those absolutes in a manner that will ring true. I think I've created "good guys" who work, but the villains are much harder.
Hi, Becky,
ReplyDeleteI have a Google alert for the term "Christian fantasy" and found your blog. It's nice to meet another Christian who writes in this genre. There is quite a growing group, which I find encouraging.
(Another) Becky
Thanks for joining us, Becky! I, too, find a lot of encouragement in seeing the growing numbers of Christian fantasy enthusiasts...gives me hope that there might actually be someone to read my novels when I finish them. ;)
ReplyDelete