Why are people so attracted by fantasy?

Question

You just have to look at the success of Lord of the rings, the chronicles of narnia, the dark tower, harry potter (just to name a few).
To realise that fantasy is amazingly popular, what causes this?

Answer 1

When reading a book or watching a movie based on magic, there are basically no limitations, other than limits the author sets. People love to see what fantastic thing is going to happen next, to disappear in a world where anything can happen. With J.K. Rowling, she bases her stories on things like the cry of the mandrake and Sphinxes, which were already in connection with magic, but she adds a twist to create a unique story. The only limits are what words you know, and if you're strong enough to cast the spell. In Eragon, the series is based on magic, but completely different. Things like distance and energy matter. Working a spell far away will dissolve rapidly, leaving the caster weak. There are more dire limits; if you cast a spell such as an absolute (Release me!), there are only two outcomes: get free or use so much energy trying that you die. In that world, once magic is released, you can't stop it, even if you realized you were going to die. Every tale of magic is different, even when based on the same thing. And writing about magic gives you an opportunity to create something that would never happen in our world, such as a shining pink crocodile with amber eyes, larger than a horse.

Answer 2

It is more interesting than reality. It makes our imaginations go where they had not gone before!

A well-written fantasy, like the books that you named, immerse us in a world where anything can happen. Yet, they still reflect important truths, such as courage, loyalty, faith, hope, etc.

When a fantasy doesn't have these grains of truth in them, they are actually quite boring. I have come accross a few fantasy books that I could barely even read, they were so poorly written. I can't even name these, because they didn't stick in my memory. Someone just thought they could throw together some dragons and a magic spell, and everybody would love it...it has to be more than that! The line between good and evil in the books must be clearly drawn, the heros must be ordinary people who discover extraordinary strength in the face of evil, and evil must be vanquished! These stories give us hope, and compel us to think that we too, faced with difficult choices in life, can choose to do the right things and conquer the evils in our society.

Answer 3

In my personal opinion, it is a way for people to escape reality for a while. Granted, any book can help do this, but reading a fantasy novel, or seeing a fantasy movie is something else entirely. While most probably don't believe in most of the things they see in movies, or read (i.e. magic, dragons, etc.), it's nice to believe for just that little while.

Answer 4

I believe people like fantasy because it makes them think without realizing, and that their brain keeps going over the book even after they've quit reading. It excites them, gives them something to imagine, and also, like in my case, offers an escape route from normal, everyday life.

Answer 5

Fantasy is fun, just like playing a video game is fun. Sleeping and dreaming helps you be more creative. Your spirit and brain together causes this phenomenon.

Answer 6

make sure your league is published first. Then go on the yahoo fantasy football message boards and post the league info. I dont think you will fill up tonight but u should by tommorow night

Answer 7

Because we want to escape the reality and its painfull moments for sometime, so naturally we are attracted at the idea of impossible :)

Answer 8

becuse reality suks people need an escape once in awhile reading a good fantasy book beats suicide

Answer 9

A need for escape from the real world & it's mundaneness

Answer 10

Ummm, good Q...how about the fascination of the unknown and unusual...it's a real break from what's real and your everyday life