Every child who's grown up on fairytales or Disney has heard the refrain, 'and they lived happily ever after.' It's a theme of every fairytale -- not counting the Grimms', naturally. Why? Why were stories finished with this line or something like it? Because it was convenient? Perhaps. But why are stories that don't end... Continue Reading →
This summer, my youth pastor preached a series on worldview. His lecture on animism was particularly interesting, as he pointed out just how deeply it's infiltrated the entertainment of today. In what ways? Let's start by defining animism. It was certainly a term I had never heard before. My pastor defined animism as the over-emphasis... Continue Reading →
Ok -- you're allowed to read fantasy, no matter your political standing. It isn't really an 'issue' that conservative leaders like LotR. The left is just making it one. And you know what, if LotR is now something only crazy right-wingers can like, whatever. Cool by me. The left is missing out. But, humor aside,... Continue Reading →
Today I have a classic for you. A good classic. Now, when I recommend this to people, usually the first objection I hear was that the show traumatized them. But this is nothing like the show. Perfect for fans of The Wind in the Willows, Redwall, the Mistmantle Chronicles, or The Green Ember, Watership Down... Continue Reading →
Arthurian myths. What fun. Easily-offended knights, loose ladies, and bizarre situations. Lovely. *ahem* No, mocking them is not all I am going to do. But there will certainly be a fair share of that, because, why not? As I've already quite clearly demonstrated, I enjoy being sarcastic. So then. 😜 Before we begin, I'd like... Continue Reading →
In July of 2000, The Onion magazine released a fake satirical article about the Harry Potter series leading to a rise in Satanism among children. Unfortunately, some people thought it was real, leading to a small wildfire of panic and condemnation toward J.K. Rowling. It was a simple mistake -- but people believed it. There... Continue Reading →
There's just something about the hero-against-the-world -- and I'm not the only one who feels that way. I heard it discussed on SASF -- Stories are Soul Food -- to whom I owe the credit for this term, 'hero-against-the-world.' Immeadiately the 'ooh, that could be an article' light lit up inside my head. Our culture... Continue Reading →
What is The Wingfeather Saga about? Redemption? Family? Responsibility? Good vs Evil? Loss? Hope? What is The Cloak of the Light about? Spiritual warfare? Love? Sacrifice? The existence of God? Persistence? What is The Lord of the Rings about? Friendship? Courage? Deception? Mercy? Justice? Allegory? I am basically asking, what are the themes of each... Continue Reading →
Well, last summer, I decided to get a head start on my British literature homework and hey, why pass up an excuse to read more, am I right? So, without further ado, I plunged into everything I could find written by British authors or about Britain. From Lawhead’s Song of Albion to Dark Rising... Continue Reading →
I'm going to be honest with you -- this post originally began as a rant on the material I'd been forced to read for school. But then I got a book for Christmas, called The Christian Imagination, a collection of essays on literature. The one by Leland Ryken -- mind you, not the Christian Science... Continue Reading →
