We know fiction is fake, yet we enjoy it if we find it amusing or can take it seriously. We can love or hate people we know are imaginary. We can be deeply moved by events we know did not happen.
Non-fiction is not always true. It can be mistaken or deliberately false, in part or as a whole. We learn from it, but if it is untrue, we can be misled if not outright deceived. We can be deeply moved by the events it claims, assuming they are true… only to become cynical when we realize they are not.
A book or documentary about history or science is only valid if credible. If discredited, it is useless. It is a thing to be discarded.
A book or movie about fantasies cannot be invalidated. It may be touted as historically or scientifically accurate but even if the supposed facts are discredited, the work itself is not… so long as it entertains.
I am a writer of weird fiction. I am often asked why I prefer weirdness to realism. I am often advised that I should write non-fiction, on the real world topics I discuss.
Reality is languages, disease and weapons of mass-destruction; none of which I find interesting. It is a world hopelessly corrupt. Its heroes fall short of superhuman, despite the propaganda and legends claiming otherwise. Its wars are seldom good against evil. No, I shall not be writing non-fiction. Well, I do so in snippets to make a point.
What is the point of imaginary realism? Why bother with fiction at all if reality is preferable anyway?
Non-fiction is about the outside, reality itself. Fiction
is about the inside, our psyche. It is important that we understand the
outside, so that we may deal with things as they truly are. It is especially
important that we understand the inside, so we know our true selves.
https://www.deviantart.com/yellowplasma
Fiction is the way the imagination soars. To be tied up with realism and reality puts unnecessary bonds on us. All that we dream can be so, we just have to put our own thoughts and feelings into our work and forget about the trappings of the world.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Think outside of the box... or that box shall be the coffin of the mind.
DeleteWriting about the strange and wonderful actually inspires the strange and wonderful in reality. But when you write about reality itself, it sort of just keeps the status quo, which is boring. Humans need things to challenge their minds. Fiction, especially science fiction and fantasy, is very important to a healthy society.
ReplyDeleteYes. Echoing things as they are is a rather limited imagination... or a lack of imagination, actually. Creativity doesn't come from such a lack.
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