3 ms·

Truly, these are strange times. We need to go back to the times where adults scoffed at the robots of Asimov. I mean the time machines and vampires of Wells and

Truly, these are strange times. We need to go back to the times where adults scoffed at the robots of Asimov. I mean the time machines and vampires of Wells and Stoker. I mean the electrically reanimated corpses of Shelley. I mean the ghosts and fairies and witchcraft of Shakespeare. I mean the demigod superheroes of Homer. I mean…

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
mcpackieh 3y ago
Jules Verne's books basically 'young adult' fiction in his day. I think the 19th century nature of his works, which may challenge modern readers, likely obscures this fact from people today. I've been reading some of his books recently and enjoy them, he's a legend for a reason. But once you get accustomed to the style and archaic words, you start to realize the stories and characters are pretty basic. Where he really shines are the creative premises.
OO000oo 3y ago
Narrative works can make use of otherworldly features without being remotely escapist. Shakespeare and mythology are fine examples of this. Science fiction is historically not escapist at all, but that has somewhat changed. These days we have adults everywhere who will openly exclaim their plain adoration of dragons and robots and hobbits devoid of any particular meaning or social value. They just merely love dragons and robots and hobbits. This is escapism and it's historically unprecedented.
- watwut 3y ago
  Shakespeare was escapist. So was Asimov. So was mythology.
  - OO000oo 3y ago
    Not technically wrong, but it is one thing to decorate the complexities and contradictions of the human experience, and quite another to distract from the complexities and contradictions of the human experience. I think we both know which one is happening today.
    - watwut 3y ago
      > decorate the complexities and contradictions of the human experience That is not something American cinema ever done tho.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

mcpackieh 3y ago

Jules Verne's books basically 'young adult' fiction in his day. I think the 19th century nature of his works, which may challenge modern readers, likely obscures this fact from people today. I've been reading some of his books recently and enjoy them, he's a legend for a reason. But once you get accustomed to the style and archaic words, you start to realize the stories and characters are pretty basic. Where he really shines are the creative premises.

OO000oo 3y ago

Narrative works can make use of otherworldly features without being remotely escapist. Shakespeare and mythology are fine examples of this. Science fiction is historically not escapist at all, but that has somewhat changed. These days we have adults everywhere who will openly exclaim their plain adoration of dragons and robots and hobbits devoid of any particular meaning or social value. They just merely love dragons and robots and hobbits. This is escapism and it's historically unprecedented.

watwut 3y ago
Shakespeare was escapist. So was Asimov. So was mythology.
- OO000oo 3y ago
  Not technically wrong, but it is one thing to decorate the complexities and contradictions of the human experience, and quite another to distract from the complexities and contradictions of the human experience. I think we both know which one is happening today.
  - watwut 3y ago
    > decorate the complexities and contradictions of the human experience That is not something American cinema ever done tho.