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Question: The science fiction and fantasy genre has little merit; it is purely frivolous and inconsequential escapism!?
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its not for homework, im just curious!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Couldn't you make that case for fiction in general!? Or, you can examine the nature of humanity just as well with sci fi/fantasy as with any other genre!. Just because those genres use devices like flying cars or creatures like orcs and goblins that don't exist doesn't take anything away from the fact that a well written story can examine very deep subject matter!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I agree that some stories are for purely frivolous and inconsequential escapism!. But this is true in all genres, including nonfiction (for example, a biography of Paris Hilton)!.

Telling meaningful stories is all about discovering truth!. What is the fundamental nature of man!? Of society!? How do people deal with challenges!?

Science fiction and fantasy genres take those questions and change the rules!. What if technology were different!? What is still true about people and society!? What if culture and history and the human experience were different!? Now what is still true about human nature!?

When I think about all the different genres--fiction, nonfiction, folklore, poetry, science fiction, and fantasy--I think they are all ways to express and explore universal truths!. Science fiction and fantasy are just as valid as any other genre as a means of examining the human experience!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

What are you, a rabble-rouser!? The speculative fiction genre is one of the oldest and most-respected genres in history!. The Arthur legends, the story of Beowulf, the entire body of classic mythology from all cultures, not to mention a fair number of Shakespearean plays all use fantasy (and yes, even science fiction) to examine the human condition!.

Too ancient-history!? How about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein!? Bram Stoker's Dracula!? The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde!?

Still too far in the past!? What about Ray Bradbury, Philip K!. Dick, Henry Kuttner, and Isaac Asimov!? They're virtually the fathers of modern science fiction!. C!.S!. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, the Brothers Grimm, and J!.R!.R!. Tolkein!?

And then comes modern fantasy and sci-fi!. I can't even tell you the number of incredible authors currently working in the field, or the positive impact they have on the world!. Say what you want about Harry Potter, the series has been credited more than once with reviving children's interest in reading, as opposed to other less-redeeming activities!.

"Little merit"!? No one who has read even one sci-fi/fantasy book, or for that matter seen a sci-fi/fantasy movie, can claim that the genre is either frivolous or inconsequential!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Instead of "normal" fiction that simply studies routine human relationships - whether trashy romance novels or thrilling spy novels, there's a limit to what earthly physics and human capabilities will produce!. When you start dreaming of all the possibilities being written by Science Fiction and fantasy writers, then normal fiction is just!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.boring!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Fantasy is escapism, something that can't become real!.!.!.

Science fiction is 'What if!?" it's a look into the future, and many things have come to pass, that 50 years ago people said they will never be able to do that, it's impossible!.!.!.!.

some things were done so well, there real life counterpart was named for them!.!.!.!.Jules Verne's "Nautilus" and Arthur Clarke's "Discovery" come to mind!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

And yet,
It lets us express our creativity and imagination!.
it helps us to deal with the what ifs !.
our world is based on the true and not true!.
without fantasy and science fiction it leaves a purely black and white plane!. with little movement up or down!.
This is where the discoveries come from!. the advancements in every field!.
people ask what if!.
and new discoveries are made!.
a world without fantasy and science fiction, hey, we might as well be robots!.
but where did that come from!?
lol!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Read Isaac Asimov for some really interesting studies of social and human values, plus lot's of fresh ideas on relationships and society!. Here's an example, on one planet known for long 400 year human life spans, people have 20 year marriage contracts!.!.!.instead of death til they part!.

And don;t forget, Aldous Huxley's negative utopia Brave New WorldWww@QuestionHome@Com

I read to escape and to improve my thinking capabilities!. Who cares if it's frivolous!? I like frivolty, personally!.
Fantasy is my favourite genre BECAUSE of the reasons stated!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hailing as I do from the planet Zorg, I must insist that what you call science fiction is on our planet science fact!. We have all mutated ourselves into grasshoppers with massive protruding brains encased in glass bowls!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Ever read Philip K!. Dick!?

You can't argue that there's no substance to that!.

I can't defend fantasy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

ALL fiction is escapism!.

Www@QuestionHome@Com

whats wrong with thatWww@QuestionHome@Com