Playing D&D With Porn Stars: I Don't Care What C.S. Lewis Said, Here's The Truth

Sunday, January 31, 2010

I Don't Care What C.S. Lewis Said, Here's The Truth

"Fantasy", as a concept, encompasses and confuses two distinct ideas: escapism--which is stupid--and invention--which is awesome.

9 comments:

Conrad Kinch said...: I disagree.; January 31, 2010 at 2:47 PM
Trey said...: So in your reasoning what would that make invention in the service of escapism? Awesome stupidity?; January 31, 2010 at 3:39 PM
squidman said...: Can you tell us your arguments for escapism being stupid?; January 31, 2010 at 3:50 PM
Harlo said...: While I believe that escapism has value (Kavalier & Klay?) it is an avoidance, or denial of real-world problems. It tends to be reactionary- just the opposite of whatever you're escaping from. Which is about as original and worthwhile as a teenager's goth phase.
Invention is the creation and solving of new problems. It has the capacity to surprise, while escapism tends to be reassuring and comforting by design. The moment where you have to blink and take in a new idea is something that shoud be cherished and sought after.
But I can't speak for Zak, and I really don't know what I'm taking about.; January 31, 2010 at 9:19 PM
noisms said...: I agree that fantasy encompasses those two things, but disagree escapism is stupid. In fact I think it's one of the best things, maybe the best thing, that art in general and fiction in particular can do. But this is one of those eternal and unwinnable argument things I think.; January 31, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Escapism is actually as complex as many other things that are considered stupid. Like comic books or D&D. There are the stupid parts and there are the awesome parts.
*shrugs* Figures.; February 1, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Adam Thornton said...: Are you aware of Jeff Rients' Threefold Model?

I think much of my gaming life--hell, much of my life--has been spent trying to find that sweet spot in the middle of Retro, Stupid, and Pretentious.

Adam; February 1, 2010 at 6:53 PM
Alzrius said...: Categorical statements are stupid.; February 1, 2010 at 7:53 PM
☩ °°{▲bjps▲}°° ☩ said...: & Irony is awesome.; February 4, 2010 at 12:09 AM

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