Are There Any Valid Criticisms? (aka Kalessin's Rant) - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kalessin · 04-04-2002, 01:28 PM

Aiwendil

"To come back to your question: what is the flaw in fantasy? Simple: imitation. In no other genre is almost every work so imitative of a single author. I'm certainly not suggesting anything so modern as that there should be progress in art. It is, however, undoubtedly true that those who merely imitate a great artist will fail to create great art. The fantasy genre is a genre of imitation"

You've done it again, another compelling argument! Thanks also for chiding me, but remember I was acting as devil's advocate [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] If I really knew the answer I probably wouldn't ask the question. And that doesn't stop me trying to argue positions with as much conviction as possible ... it's all part of the learning process.

Now, your imitation theory is probably the most effective argument I've heard yet. And I think that, as an answer to my original question, it's unarguable. But by the same token it's not therefore an "inherent" or "inevitable" flaw. It's just a reflection of how things have turned out. So maybe there are other, deeper, answers. Leaving aside the 'scared' bit, maybe the de facto UNreality argument does have some merit. Back to you ...

04-04-2002, 01:28 PM	#11
Kalessin Wight Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Earthsea, or London Posts: 175	Aiwendil "To come back to your question: what is the flaw in fantasy? Simple: imitation. In no other genre is almost every work so imitative of a single author. I'm certainly not suggesting anything so modern as that there should be progress in art. It is, however, undoubtedly true that those who merely imitate a great artist will fail to create great art. The fantasy genre is a genre of imitation" You've done it again, another compelling argument! Thanks also for chiding me, but remember I was acting as devil's advocate [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] If I really knew the answer I probably wouldn't ask the question. And that doesn't stop me trying to argue positions with as much conviction as possible ... it's all part of the learning process. Now, your imitation theory is probably the most effective argument I've heard yet. And I think that, as an answer to my original question, it's unarguable. But by the same token it's not therefore an "inherent" or "inevitable" flaw. It's just a reflection of how things have turned out. So maybe there are other, deeper, answers. Leaving aside the 'scared' bit, maybe the de facto UNreality argument does have some merit. Back to you ...