Fantasy For Adults: The Shift From Fairy Tales To Moral Complexity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/eijps-05-12-03Keywords:
Adult fantasy, Moral ambiguity, Contemporary literature, Political themesAbstract
This article examines the significant evolution of the fantasy genre in the 21st century, focusing on its shift from traditional fairy-tale narratives to darker, morally complex storytelling intended for adult audiences. It analyzes how contemporary fantasy incorporates themes such as political corruption, social inequality, psychological trauma, and ethical ambiguity, reflecting modern cultural concerns rather than offering simple escapism. The study also highlights the role of multimedia expansion—including streaming platforms, video games, and global fan communities—in broadening the genre’s influence and audience engagement. While acknowledging criticisms related to violence, commercialization, and representation, the article argues that the maturity of modern fantasy has transformed it into a powerful tool for social commentary and emotional exploration. Ultimately, adult-oriented fantasy demonstrates that magical narratives remain relevant because they mirror the complexities of real-world human experience.
Downloads
References
Attebery, B. (2014). Stories about stories: Fantasy and the remaking of myth. Oxford University Press.
Booth, P. (2019). Digital fandom 2.0: New media studies. Peter Lang.
Boulter, J. (2020). Violence, spectacle, and ethics in modern fantasy media. Popular Culture Studies, 27(1), 55–73.
Carroll, S. (2020). Politics and power in Game of Thrones: Real-world reflections. University of Chicago Press.
Cheyne, R. (2021). Diverse worlds: Representation and inclusion in contemporary fantasy. Cultural Media Review, 15(4), 102–118.
Cohen, J. J. (2018). Green fantasies: Ecological narratives in modern fantasy worlds. Environmental Humanities Review, 12(3), 44–62.
Crawford, A. (2022). Anti-heroes in the modern imagination: Ethics in contemporary fantasy. Palgrave Macmillan.
Fowler, J. (2021). Power, politics, and corruption in contemporary fantasy worlds. Journal of Popular Narrative Media, 4(2), 110–127.
Furey, M. (2017). The death of the hero: Subverting fantasy tropes in A Song of Ice and Fire. Studies in Popular Culture, 39(3), 65–83.
Gardner, J. (2022). Graphic imaginations: Fantasy and visual narrative in the 21st century. MIT Press.
Graham, E. (2020). Why adults need fantasy: Culture, anxiety, and moral complexity. Oxford University Press.
Heron, M. J., & Belford, P. H. (2019). Choice, consequence, and morality in fantasy video games. Game Studies, 19(3), 1–20.
Honegger, T., & Varela, C. (2019). Fantasies of the real: Narrative complexity and morality in 21st-century fantasy. Leiden University Press.
Hsu, C. (2020). Dark worlds: Ethics and realism in contemporary fantasy fiction. Critical Approaches to Literature, 18(1), 91–109.
James, E., & Mendlesohn, F. (2012). The Cambridge companion to fantasy literature. Cambridge University Press.
Martin, G. R. R. (2014). On heroes and storytelling. HarperCollins.
Mendlesohn, F. (2015). Rhetorics of fantasy. Wesleyan University Press.
Ryan, M. (2020). Transmedia storytelling and genre evolution. Routledge.
Stone, L. (2021). Trauma, identity, and the post-heroic protagonist. Contemporary Fantasy Studies Journal, 9(1), 78–95.
Tryon, C. (2021). Streaming culture: Media in the digital age. Routledge.
Wisker, G. (2022). The Witcher and social conflict: Fantasy as cultural critique. Bloomsbury Academic.
Young, H. (2018). Power, morality, and the anti-hero in modern fantasy. Journal of Genre Studies, 11(2), 45–62.
Zipes, J. (2012). The irresistible fairy tale: The cultural and social history of a genre. Princeton University Press.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ilyosova Shamsiyabonu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Individual articles are published Open Access under the Creative Commons Licence: CC-BY 4.0.
