why do people like fantasy?

A deeper look into the beloved genre

WRITTEN BY MAKENZIE ROBERTSON

There’s no doubt that you have read or watched at least one text that comes under the genre of fantasy. Fantasy writing holds an unrivalled,unmistakableappealand elegance. The attraction to fantasy is often put down to viewers enjoying the ability to escape to unexplored and unknown worlds. These captivating new worlds allow people to build the skills needed to fill the gaps between knowledge, realityandexperience.

Fantasy writers have a particularly uniquestyleofwritingandthereare several subgenres to accompany this style. Epic, dark, contemporary, and urban are the most popular subgenres. Different types of fantasy allow for the non-realistic elements of the story to be communicated in a variety of ways. There are also various elements weaved into the writing which make it so special. Magic is a key element which allows authors and writers to influenceandaltertheeventsofthe story in a way other genres cannot. Theelementofadventureispresent within most genres, however, in fantasy, it introduces audiences to settings that appear far from everydaylifebutarefullofamazing discoveries.

The possibilities are endless in the fantasy genre of writing: supernatural powers, mythical creatures, mystical characters, magic, castles. That’s only the beginning! Not only are there endless possibilities for what elements can be added to these pieces of writing, there are endless possibilities when it comes to how these elements are written. Each novel depicts aspects of creatures, characters, and magic differently from one another. This allows for never ending creativity when authors are writing and means readers are constantly entering uniqueworlds.

Fantasy characters are also unique and differ from those of other genres. The characters are always willing to pursue their dreams no matter the circumstances. They’re willing to put themselves in harm’s way if it means they can protect theirfriends,family,andtheworldin which they live. The protagonists of this genre are often flawed. They often fail horribly when trying to achieve their goals and pay the consequences for their actions. However, this doesn’t make the audience adore them any less for these failures - it only makes them more loved as the audience follows themeverystepoftheway.

What is humour? And what makes us laugh?

WRITTEN BY SERAPHINA KATTA

So you're probably asking, "What exactly is this going to be?" Another dull piece written by another student? You're in luck, since that's precisely what it is. No, I'm joking. This article you're reading is more than just an article; it's a… HUMOROUSARTICLE!

Let us begin with the fundamental question,"Whatishumour?"

Humour is ‘the ability to be amused by something seen, heard, or thought about, sometimes causing you to smile or laugh, or the quality in something that causes such amusement,’ according to the Cambridge Dictionary. Now, what can you perceive in this definition? It's wordy and hard to read. The Cambridge Dictionary’s definition is near,butnotquitethereyet.WhenI think of humour, I think of… Mr Minter. That's all! Mr Matthew Minter is the ultimate definition of humour! That's some clever alliteration. Some may disagree with this definition, but that's ok because it's neitherwordynorhardtoread.

Aside from the idea of humour, what is the aim of fantasy and why does it make us laugh or relate?

Events in a fantasy operate outside the laws of the real universe and typically involve supernatural elements,likemagicormagical creatures.Fantasyisareplicationof our world and it satires what the worldholdsandwetendtolaugh. It is a reaction to external or internal stimuli. Laughter can be elicited by actionssuchasbeingtickledandby hilarious stories or thoughts. It is most frequently seen as an audible manifestation of various pleasant emotions, such as pleasure, amusement,happiness,orrelief.

Another reason why we might find things funny is that they are relatable. Having relatable content allows our brains to switch on these neurotransmitters called dopamine which serves as a reward for the brain, creates a sense of euphoria, and plays a pivotal role in our motivation to continue the behaviour. So, when was the last time you saw a great meme or something relevant and humorous? Some memes are funny and may makeyougrin.However,whilethese memes are incredible, it's unclear why they're so humorous. While social media is a communication tool, memes are a technique of communicating a culturally relevant notion. A meme is a picture or video thatsymbolisesacertainaudience's thoughts and feelings. The majority of memes are captioned photographs meant to be humorous. And we love them becauseoftheirrelatability.