Escapism - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Evisse the Blue · 08-29-2002, 06:09 AM

QUOTE]In most works of fantasy, none, or very few of the characters has to concern themselves with the drudgery of existance as we know it today. This would be a fantasy in itself for most of us! They're not sitting at a job somewhere, not worrying about how they will pay for the things they need. Not fretting about whether they'll get fired from the quest. Their struggles are much more elemental. [/QUOTE]
Well- I think I realized something.PLease bear with me patiently...
What we are all striving towards, why we are reading fantasy books, what we hope to change in our lives, the right turn we know we should take but are afraid of doing so: it is simply living, just plain 'unadulterated' existence, not concerned with pettiness or minor worries, or selfish ambitions.
Simply living and enjoying your God-given moment. We do this so seldom these days that we fail to recognize the feeling when it comes to us while reading Tolkien and we call it with wonderful names like 'escapism'. But it is exactly the opposite. Escapism is actually the unconscious dwelling - i cannot call it living, in the manufacured reality that we all take for granted.
Squatter expressed my last idea better:[QUOTE] My view is that it's possible to get addicted to 'reality', meaning of course one's own perspective on the world we actually inhabit. By only concentrating on what happens in the narrow compass of their own lives, such realism addicts allow their imaginations to wither away, which gradually erodes any ability they might have to appreciate someone else's version of what is real. So begins intolerance. Only by escaping from our own lives may we begin to understand those of others. [QUOTE]
Um - I just realized now that my take on the subject is very Zen...<retreats timidly waiting for the sound of one hand clapping>
[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

08-29-2002, 06:09 AM	#27
Evisse the Blue Brightness of a Blade Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: wherever I may roam Posts: 2,685	QUOTE]In most works of fantasy, none, or very few of the characters has to concern themselves with the drudgery of existance as we know it today. This would be a fantasy in itself for most of us! They're not sitting at a job somewhere, not worrying about how they will pay for the things they need. Not fretting about whether they'll get fired from the quest. Their struggles are much more elemental. [/QUOTE] Well- I think I realized something.PLease bear with me patiently... What we are all striving towards, why we are reading fantasy books, what we hope to change in our lives, the right turn we know we should take but are afraid of doing so: it is simply living, just plain 'unadulterated' existence, not concerned with pettiness or minor worries, or selfish ambitions. Simply living and enjoying your God-given moment. We do this so seldom these days that we fail to recognize the feeling when it comes to us while reading Tolkien and we call it with wonderful names like 'escapism'. But it is exactly the opposite. Escapism is actually the unconscious dwelling - i cannot call it living, in the manufacured reality that we all take for granted. Squatter expressed my last idea better:[QUOTE] My view is that it's possible to get addicted to 'reality', meaning of course one's own perspective on the world we actually inhabit. By only concentrating on what happens in the narrow compass of their own lives, such realism addicts allow their imaginations to wither away, which gradually erodes any ability they might have to appreciate someone else's version of what is real. So begins intolerance. Only by escaping from our own lives may we begin to understand those of others. [QUOTE] Um - I just realized now that my take on the subject is very Zen...<retreats timidly waiting for the sound of one hand clapping> [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ And no one was ill, and everyone was pleased, except those who had to mow the grass.