We are surrounded by fantasy every day, whether on social media, on TV, or in books. Do you prefer the fantasy to reality?
It is shocking just how much fantasy there is in everyday life. Of course, the classic fantasies are popular, with TV shows about dragons on everybody’s watch list. Not to mention Oscar-winning movies about hobbits and elves.
Role playing games, filled with magic and populated by heroes and monsters, have never been as popular as they are now. There is even a book series, Dungeon Crawler Carl, that is topping the bestseller list.
But we also see fantasies of a different sort, as well. One of them plays out on social media, as we see a carefully-curated cross section of peoples lives, sharing all the good, while hiding the bad.
And then there is advertising, perhaps the most common bit of unreality in our lives. What else but fantasy would you call a commercial that tells you drinking a specific brand of beer will make you appealing, or that you can reverse the effects of aging by using a certain balm?
But here’s the thing: fantasy is everywhere because it is popular. People want to escape the real world and live somewhere else for awhile. To some, imagining facing down an smelly orc that wants to cleave you with a sword is preferable to actually facing down an insurance company that wants to deny your claim.
What about you? Do you want to escape from the real world by scrolling on social media or by reading a fantasy novel? Or do you prefer living in reality, even if it can be messy at times?
Related questions: What are the benefits of fiction? How can we maintain wonder? What do you get out of social media?