For the human mind, fantasy is essential. Children use it to bridge the gap between what they know and what they experience, and as they get older, it becomes an essential tool for dealing with life’s ups and downs. You can never get enough of fantasy. While there are many dystopian and medieval worlds filled with old magic, the fantasy genre also includes numerous fantastical television shows and movie narratives revolving around sorcery and magic. For fantasy writers, it’s a way of life. That is if you ask J.K. Rowling. Stephen King and George R.R. Martin are among the authors that share this belief. The boundaries of fantasy are nebulous.
Building Strong Human Connections
There is a human element to these stories (at least in the great ones that lasted), and that is because they are primarily about the experiences of real people. Even if they take place in a wholly fictional universe, the best fantasies, whether in books, movies, or television, tend to deal with true human tragedies, real human suffering, real human sacrifices, and real human bonds. It’s not difficult for us to identify with what they’re going through. All of us make sacrifices for the people we care about, even if it isn’t necessarily for ourselves. A hazardous balancing act ensues every day while dealing with the tumultuous emotions that come with human relationships. As a fan, I like to see our heroes act like normal people, even though they have abilities. They supply us with the explanations and reasons for human connections we need from time to time in the shape of seductive tales of magic and romance.
Imagination Development
The growth and exercise of a child’s imagination is also aided by the use of fantasy. Imagination, like a muscle, can atrophy and eventually die out if it isn’t utilized. However, if it is taken out and exercised, it will become strong and capable.
A lot of people have the tendency to place their imaginations in a little box that is only utilized for “artistic” purposes, but this is a mistake because the imagination can be used for so much more. It is the creativity of individuals who work in these subjects that has enabled advancements in science, technology, arithmetic, psychology, astrology, mechanics, and business.
Another often-overlooked link is that empathy requires a strong sense of imagination. What good is empathy if you have no idea what the other person is going through? By encouraging them to use their imaginations, we broaden children’s internal, exterior, and emotional worlds.
Excellent Stress Reliever
You can’t operate your brain at maximum capacity all of the time—it’s not even close to being possible. To regain our previous levels of performance, we all require periods of mental relaxation.
Our relationships, according to Tony Schwartz, are one of the most overlooked areas of our existence. It makes no difference how fast a racing car is if it can’t make good pit stops. We can say the same thing about our own lives. If we don’t make regular “pit-stops,” we won’t be able to race at a high level.
Reading a book of fantasy is one of the best ways to relax and unwind. Reading has been shown to generate a trance-like state in our brains, similar to that experienced during meditation, as well as bring deep relaxation and inner stillness. Regular readers sleep better, have less stress, have higher self-esteem, and have lower rates of depression than non-readers. Participants’ pulse rates dropped by 68 percent, and their muscles relaxed in just six minutes.
Vocabulary Building
Everyone wants a vocabulary that allows them to express themselves and interact with other people in a clear and concise manner. You can get there through fantasy novels. In a 2013 Emory University study, the brains of people who read fantasy (particularly Robert Harris’ Pompeii over nine nights) were compared to the brains of people who didn’t read. The left temporal cortex, the portion of the brain involved with language comprehension, was more active in readers’ brains than in non-readers’.
A study of millions of test takers has revealed the somewhat predicted conclusion that reading more leads to a more extensive vocabulary. There was a considerable difference in the vocabulary size of fantasy readers versus non-fantasy readers.
Detach Yourself From the Present Moment
A lot of individuals are familiar with the term “escapism.” Fantasy is the most effective means of escaping from the harsh realities of life. It’s possible to find tales with just a few fanciful components or tales that are set in a fantasy world, depending on the subgenre.
Furthermore, those who are dealing with tragedies, losses, unhappiness, or even mental health issues frequently cite daydreaming as a coping mechanism. As a way of coping with our difficulties, we resort to fantasy. As long as we maintain an air of remoteness and passivity, we are able to confront concerns that we may have suppressed due to past stress or trauma. When we have a valid reason to cry while seeing our favorite hero plunge into a mystical fire pit, we can often begin the healing process.
In my opinion, escape inside a book is not a bad thing. It doesn’t imply that you’re incapable of dealing with reality or that you prefer a different existence to your own. Taking a break from your own difficulties to focus on the problems of someone else might be a welcome escape from the pressures of everyday life.
Conclusion
Fantasies push the boundaries of storytelling and compel readers to seek out a realm outside of their own. The extent of an effect like this cannot be measured; it can only be recognized. Other genres just cannot provide these advantages in the same way that fantasy does.