THE PHENOMENON OF FANTASY: HOW THE GENRE BECAME ONE OF THE PILLARS OF MODERN CULTURE

Abstract

In the 20th century, a new artistic genre, fantasy, separated from science fiction and gained independence. Many cultural figures began to turn to the aesthetic ideals of antiquity, the Middle Ages and the European Renaissance, which, in turn, became a synthetic ideological basis for the formation of a new genre. This article analyzes the specifics of the fantasy genre and its place in modern mass culture. The main paths of development of the fantasy genre from the early 20th century to the early 21st century are defined and analyzed, which combines the syncretism of traditional trends of the aristocratic epic, historical novel and folklore. Scenarios for the transformation of modern fantasy industries into a tool for proclaiming, visualizing and studying complex themes of morality and identity are also explored. The genre fully reflects the palette of modern socio-cultural problems, and its global popularity largely contributes to intercultural exchange. Of particular interest are works that have a literary source and subsequent adaptation (film, video game), using which their artistic dynamics can be traced. The results of the study offer new views on modern intercultural interaction. A comprehensive cultural approach to the study of fantasy allows us to go beyond the narrow framework of such an art form as literature and trace its active and successful expansion into various spheres of culture: cinema, anime and computer games.

For citation:
Lenkov, P. D., & Shemonaev, E. A. (2024). The phenomenon of fantasy: how the genre became one of the pillars of modern culture. Experience industries. Socio-Cultural Research Technologies (EISCRT), 4 (9), 248-283. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.34680/EISCRT-2024-4(9)-248-283