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The beginnings of fantasy
Every culture has always had its myths and fantasies. In the beginnings of time, myths helped man to explain things he could not otherwise understand, such as lightening, rain, fire or death. As time went on, the myths became legends that were passed down from generation to generation. These legends told the origins of the world and of the people, explained the turning of the seasons and what happens to those that die. They also became lessons that taught the people morals through the failings and short comings of the creatures in the stories. Thus, myth was very important to ancient man.
Storytelling
From the time the first myths were woven, there have been storytellers. These were the men and women who had a gift for being able to take a simple explanation or moral value and relate it in such a way as to be entertaining and easily understood. Humans seem to have always had the need to be entertained. It helped them to relax and forget about the ordinary daily routine for awhile.
Storytellers, when telling their stories, would exaggerate one or two elements in the tale. This would help to emphise the point of the story. When the same story was told by another, that person would exaggerate elements in it as well, or add their own, to make the story more entertaining, yet keep the the meaning behind it. This became almost like a contest of sorts, with the greatest storytellers telling the most entertaining and enlightening stories and still keeping the original theme. Most of the major myths we know today were created this way.
Origin of mythical creatures
All things created, even ideas, must have a seed from which to sprout. The appearance of the creation depends upon who forms it and how it is shaped by that individual. All mythical creatures stem from the sightings of normal, natural animals. Nearly all are combinations of other existing creatures (i.e.; 'the horns of an antelope and the tail of a goat' or 'the body of a lion and the head of an eagle'). As civilization began and humans moved further from the world of the wild things, a sense of understanding was lost. Humans began viewing wild animals with fear or awe. Upon sightings of wild creatures, these emotions would provoke one to try and explain what had been seen and to get another to feel the same emotional affect. One way of doing this was by exaggeration and emphesis (i.e.; 'it had sharp, gnashing teeth" or "the glare in its yellow eyes was so intense that it bore a hole through my chest"). Soon, the need for things more horrible, more frightening or more beautiful gave birth to many of the mythical beasts. Others arose from the need for more emphesis in moral stories and to help keep the people in line. Some of these creatures became very important in different cultures. Some became trademarks of certain countries. Many are still very popular today.
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Modern Fantasy
Why do modern humans still have a need for fantasy? Modern science now explains the origin of the world, the turning of the seasons and other things. Science gives us a greater understanding of the wild creatures and places. So why do so many humans still want to believe, or at least enjoy such 'childhood rubish'? Well, for one, humans still have the need to be entertained. Most people love a good story. It helps them kick back after a day at the office or factory. We each have a 'creative' side to our brain that needs to be fulfilled just the same as our practical side. Second, fantasy allows us, for a moment, to view a world more colorful than our own tends to be. It brings out a sense of wonder within us. It also allows us to imagine a world where the good are good and the bad are bad, where there are few shades of gray. Where, in the end, justice is done as it should be. Also, it's a bit fun to occassionally imagine your boss being swallowed up by a big mean dragon. And third, fantasy connects us to our own mystical, magical selves. It reminds us to never stop dreaming. For if we do, we die inside. The worlds of fantasy would not exist without our hopes, fears and dreams. |
