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.
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.
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.
Constructive Criticism
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jet pack says This
I say:
The Yellow Book of Brechewold
The Temple of the Wurm
Green Devil Face #7
Galileo 2: Judgement Day
Winnie-The-Shit
A Gift...
Zak's new art book
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So here's Zak's new book, collecting his artworks from 2000's and until
today. Twenty years ago the Orange Revolution halted the totalitarian
usurpation ...
Dragons are Awesome
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So here’s the thing about dragons in a dungeon, it’s a whole thing.
HOWEVER, in the city like in a horror movie, it would be a different thing.
Then I was ...
Goodness Gracious, I've Gone to the Dark Side
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What with the new 2024 revisions due to start being released this coming
September, I am converting my online game to D&D 5th edition.
I still have to en...
Cities of Darkness
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Unlike D&D, I've got a soft spot for the classic World of Darkness lore. I
am too young to have been around while it was relevant but it's always had
the...
I'm Zak, I live in Los Angeles. Most of the people I know here are women I know from being a porn "actor"--so they're porn stars and strippers. So that's who I play Dungeons & Dragons with.
9 comments:
I disagree.
So in your reasoning what would that make invention in the service of escapism? Awesome stupidity?
Can you tell us your arguments for escapism being stupid?
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.
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.
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.
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
Categorical statements are stupid.
& Irony is awesome.
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