The Enduring Fantastic: Essays on Imagination and Western Culture

Fantastic fiction is a Western genre literature that has been used since the Middle Ages to organize and materialize abstractions to make sense of the present social order. This includes literature studies, gender studies, biology, ethnology, archeology, history, religion, game studies, cultural sociology, and film studies. Individual essays cover topics such as medieval chronicle creatures, mummy medicine, vampire fears, goddess worship, ecocentrism, and videogames' remediation of heritage.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 191 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2021
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

Fantastic fiction, a genre rooted in Western culture, encompasses a wide range of imaginative narratives, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror. These captivating tales have played a significant role in Western societies since the Middle Ages, serving as a powerful tool for organizing and materializing abstract concepts to make sense of the prevailing social order. This rich tapestry of essays delves into the multifaceted ways in which the fantastic has been employed throughout history, spanning various disciplines such as literature studies, gender studies, biology, ethnology, archeology, history, religion, game studies, cultural sociology, and film studies. Each essay offers a unique perspective on the subject matter, exploring topics such as the mythical creatures of medieval chronicles, the medicinal practices of mummies in eighteenth-century Sweden, the pervasive influence of disease fears on the iconic vampire, the gender dynamics of goddess worship in the secular West, the ecological themes in fantasy fiction, the remediation of heritage in videogames, and much more. By examining these diverse aspects, the essays shed light on the enduring appeal and significance of the fantastic in shaping our understanding of the world and our place within it.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476680125