Today, with Writing and English, we will go over two of my favorite genres, what they are, what they do, and how they should affect you. These are Science Fiction and Fantasy, both massive and expansive in terms of what has been done with both of them. If you don't already know, Science Fiction is the writing that explores either the near or the far future, with just robot parts and cyborgs or inter-galactic empires all of which should seem possible. Fantasy is stories of heroes, of magic and elves or monsters. These tend to be about the use of magic and other sorts of strange and unnatural powers. both of these are very prevalent in modern culture and do profound things.
Science fiction explores our possible future and creates some sort of engaging and entertaining or even thought-provoking story out of it. Yet, that's all righting is it not? To make one think or be entertained. That is true, however, Science Fiction has its own flavor to that ideal like instead of just vanilla, its vanilla with chocolate swirls and a bunch of toppings on it. Science Fiction explores our world, humanity, and what we can become while still being in the laws of science and nature. Everything in these stories, no matter how far-fetched, are things we could see happening. That, in of itself, is interesting. To have a story and think that this is us, our civilization just in the future is sometimes mind-boggling, sometimes eery feeling. An example, Deus Ex Machinima, lets the games. These explore a world where human enhancements and cybernetic adjustments have become very prevalent and seem just like a Transhumanist society. However, these games go beyond than just showing off robot arms. They explore possible problems and obstacles we as a species face and could face if that happens, based on how we are now. People with augmentations face heavy segregation and almost racism. They are beaten, shot, and treated less than human despite still being so. Stories like this, Good Science-Fiction Stories, give you a futuristic and crazy idea, show you the reality of it, and turn you on you're head as you question what could happen and how are as a species or individuals.
Fantasy is different. Fundamentally Different. This genre is based on the unreal, the illogical, and the un-understandable. In other words, its based on magic. Here we have dragons in the sky, fire sprouting from a man's hand, and Zeus raining thunder on his non-believers. This is fantasy, a world where literally anything can happen and there lies the joy in it. It is not just a continuation of our world, its a place that's different, and may be similar. Sure there are humans but they are not what we know ourselves to be. This is a world that can be more of a haven. A world that people can escape from the mundanity of regular life. It is its own being, separate from us. That is what makes Fantasy so wonderful. It is separate and different and oh so wonderful if you build it the right way. That is the important thing. As in all stories, characters are important and so is the world but in Fantasy. It must be your own and it must be unique. It doesn't work right otherwise. If you have a world with just some elves and forest and magic in it, you aren't absorbed into a fantastic world but if you take painstaking care to create geography, new races, and pepper and season this world with a life of its own so that it breathes clearly, then it is truly a wonderful being. An escape and an adventure to something beautiful or scary or dark but ultimately new.
Science fiction explores our possible future and creates some sort of engaging and entertaining or even thought-provoking story out of it. Yet, that's all righting is it not? To make one think or be entertained. That is true, however, Science Fiction has its own flavor to that ideal like instead of just vanilla, its vanilla with chocolate swirls and a bunch of toppings on it. Science Fiction explores our world, humanity, and what we can become while still being in the laws of science and nature. Everything in these stories, no matter how far-fetched, are things we could see happening. That, in of itself, is interesting. To have a story and think that this is us, our civilization just in the future is sometimes mind-boggling, sometimes eery feeling. An example, Deus Ex Machinima, lets the games. These explore a world where human enhancements and cybernetic adjustments have become very prevalent and seem just like a Transhumanist society. However, these games go beyond than just showing off robot arms. They explore possible problems and obstacles we as a species face and could face if that happens, based on how we are now. People with augmentations face heavy segregation and almost racism. They are beaten, shot, and treated less than human despite still being so. Stories like this, Good Science-Fiction Stories, give you a futuristic and crazy idea, show you the reality of it, and turn you on you're head as you question what could happen and how are as a species or individuals.
Fantasy is different. Fundamentally Different. This genre is based on the unreal, the illogical, and the un-understandable. In other words, its based on magic. Here we have dragons in the sky, fire sprouting from a man's hand, and Zeus raining thunder on his non-believers. This is fantasy, a world where literally anything can happen and there lies the joy in it. It is not just a continuation of our world, its a place that's different, and may be similar. Sure there are humans but they are not what we know ourselves to be. This is a world that can be more of a haven. A world that people can escape from the mundanity of regular life. It is its own being, separate from us. That is what makes Fantasy so wonderful. It is separate and different and oh so wonderful if you build it the right way. That is the important thing. As in all stories, characters are important and so is the world but in Fantasy. It must be your own and it must be unique. It doesn't work right otherwise. If you have a world with just some elves and forest and magic in it, you aren't absorbed into a fantastic world but if you take painstaking care to create geography, new races, and pepper and season this world with a life of its own so that it breathes clearly, then it is truly a wonderful being. An escape and an adventure to something beautiful or scary or dark but ultimately new.
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