Books Quote by John Clute
““More interestingly, it could be argued that, if fantasy (and debatably the literature of the fantastic as a whole) has a purpose other than to entertain, it is to show readers how to perceive ; an extension of the argument is that fantasy may try to alter readers' perception of reality. Of course, quack religions (etc.) make similar attempts, but a major difference is that, while the latter attempt to convert people to their codified way of thinking, the best fantasy introduces its readers into a playground of rethought perception, where there are no restrictions other than those of the human imagination. In some modes of the fantastic – e.g., magic realism and surrealism – the attempt to alter the reader's perception is overt, but most full-fantasy texts have at their core the urge to change the reader; that is, full fantasy is by definition a subversive literary form.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Fantasy as Subversive Literature, John Clute, 1990
Fantasy serves to expand and challenge readers' perception of reality, acting as a subversive force rather than mere entertainment.
In simple terms: Fantasy changes how we see reality.
Key Takeaway
Embrace imaginative works that question assumptions.
Themes
imagination
perception
subversion
literature
reality
playfulness
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
inspirational
Type
philosophical
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- literature classes
- book clubs
- personal reflection
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
subversive literature
magical realism
surrealism
fantasy theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fantasy reshape your view of the real world?
- What boundaries does it break in your thinking?
A Different Perspective
May be dismissed as escapism, limiting its perceived seriousness.
![“The core of the film [Hunt for the Wilderpeople] is that relationship. Whether they're getting on or whether they're not. If that relationship works, then everything else works as well. And you kind of almost, sort of, gives into a realm of something like New Zealand magic realism... There is no…” quote by Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/115/sam-neill-10608_core_the-core-of-the-film-hunt-for-the-wilder_157827.jpg)
