Brothers, Captains, and Kings: Gender in High Fantasy
Condie, Luke
Condie, Luke
Abstract
For as long as it has existed, the high fantasy genre has been interwoven with our society's idea of gender. The two have constructed one another, with each story reflecting and critiquing contemporary notions of gender, and in turn, influencing its audience's views on the subject. This project aims to analyze this relationship and how it manifests in different works by different creators at different times. It begins with an examination of Tolkien, as the progenitor of the genre, and his works, discussing how they set the tone for the genre with a medievalist and Victorian take on masculinity. From there, it transitions to a discussion of femininity, first as a contrast and foil, and then as an independent concept in more recent works, such as those of contemporary author Marie Brennan, and even the film adaptations of Tolkien's novels. Finally, it examines how gender is seen and portrayed in 21st-century literature in media, and how it incorporates perspectives from outside a Western and heteronormative view.
Description
Date
2024-05-08
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Publisher
University of Wyoming Libraries
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Keywords
high fantasy,gender,literature,media