Dark fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, artistic, and cinematic literature that combines darker and frightening fantasy themes. It also often combines fantasy with horror elements or has a dark, dark (or grimdark) atmosphere, or a sense of horror and fear.
The strict definition for dark fantasies is hard to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who created the dark fantasies". Both Charles L. Grant and Karl Edward Wagner are credited with inventing the term "dark fantasies" - although both authors describe different fiction styles. Brian Stableford argues "dark fantasy" can be used as a subgenre of a story that seeks to "incorporate the elements of horror fiction" into the standard formula of fantasy stories. Stableford also points out that the supernatural horror that is organized primarily in the real world is a form of "contemporary fantasy", whereas supernatural horror that is partially or entirely present in the "secondary world" should be described as a "dark fantasy".
In addition, other writers, critics, and publishers have adopted a dark fantasy to describe various other works. However, these stories rarely share a universal similarity beyond supernatural events and dark tones, often reflective. As a result, dark fantasies can not be firmly connected with a decisive set of figures. The term itself can refer collectively to stories based on horror or fantasy based.
Some authors also use "dark fantasy" (or "Gothic fantasy") as an alternative description for "horror", because they feel the latter term is too lurid or alive.
Video Dark fantasy
Drafts and history
Charles L. Grant is often quoted as having coined the term "dark fantasies". Grant defines his dark fantasies as "a kind of horror story in which humanity is threatened by forces beyond human comprehension". He often uses dark fantasies as an alternative to horror, as horror is increasingly associated with more profound work.
Dark fantasies are sometimes also used to describe stories told from the point of view of monsters, or that present a more sympathetic view of supernatural beings that are usually associated with horror. Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's Saint-Germain , and Neil Gaiman The Sandman are early examples of this dark fantasy style. This is different from the traditional horror model, which focuses more on victims and survivors.
In a more general sense, dark fantasies are sometimes used as a synonym for supernatural horror, to distinguish horror stories containing supernatural elements from those that do not. For example, stories about werewolves or vampires can be described as dark fantasies, while the story of a serial killer will only be a horror.
Stableford points out that the types of horrors conveyed by fantasy stories such as William Beckford Vathek and Edgar Allan Poe The Masque of the Red Death are more aesthetic than visceral or existential, such stories should be regarded as "dark fantasies" rather than "supernatural thrillers" of conventional horror fiction.
Karl Edward Wagner is often credited for inventing the term "dark fantasies" when used in a more fantasy-based context. Wagner uses it to describe his fiction about Gothic warrior Kane. Since then, "dark fantasy" has sometimes been applied to swords and magic and high fantasy fiction featuring anti-heroic or ambiguous moral protagonists. Another good example under the definition of this dark fantasy is the story of Michael Moorcock from Elric's albino swordsman.
H. P. Lovecraft's fantastical work, Clark Ashton Smith and his imitators have been defined as "dark fantasies," because the imaginary world they paint contains a large number of horror elements.
Dark fantasies are sometimes used to describe fantasy works by writers that the public is primarily associated with the horror genre. Examples are Stephen King's The Dark Tower , Peter Straub Shadowland and Clive Barker Weaveworld . Or, dark fantasies are sometimes used for "dark" fiction written by authors famous for other fantasy styles; Novel Raymond Feist Faerie Tale and Charles de Lint written as Samuel M. Key will fit here.
Maps Dark fantasy
In other media
Berserk , the manga and anime franchises by Kentaro Miura who debuted in 1989, are often noted for genre examples due to extreme violent depictions and sex, moral ambiguity, apocalyptic storyline and anti-hero protagonist.
Ridley Scott Legend is a dark fantasy movie, along with Guillermo del Toro Pan's Labyrinth .
Attack on Titan , the manga and anime franchise that debuted in 2009, is a dark fantasy for intense violence and a sad world that goes on inside.
Video game
Fantasy video games featuring gore graphics and "dark" or "adult" themes related to sexuality, suicide, depression, fear, anger, greed, lust and other adult topics are often billed as dark fantasies. This example can be found with the game series The Witcher, based on the world of novels and short stories Andrzej Sapkowski of the same name.
The role-playing video game series Drakengard has been described as a dark fantasy, because the storyline of this series features many adult themes.
The Diablo franchise is billed as a dark fantasy, as it contains graphic gore scenes and violence; and a clear description of Hell.
The Thief (series) , the previous entry in the franchise, is considered a dark fantasy because of the dark depictions of certain beliefs like
The Dragon Age series is often advertised as a dark fantasy, although it is usually classified as a high fantasy with an adult theme; it is possible for players to win "happy ending" in Dragon Age whereas such suffixes are usually impossible or prevented from occurring in dark fantasy works.
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and the sequel is further arranged in a dark fantasy setting, where the "protagonist" is a vampire cursed by fatalistic and inevitable fate, initiating a search soaked in blood for revenge. many antagonists for different reasons, but interesting.
The Demon Souls and Dark Souls series are a well-known example of action-playing dark fantasy action game featuring protagonist characters of the dead bodies; giant and evil enemies; themes covering suicide, murder and war; moral ambiguous actions performed by NPCs and players; and pressing the storyline set in the post-apocalyptic kingdom.
The massive online role-playing game (MMORPG), The Secret World , has also been described as a dark fantasy setting by game director.
DarkMaus is an RPG in a world very inspired by Dark Souls games. It features the mouse protagonist. It is set in the world of Hazath, whose inhabitants have gone mad.
Blood borne, the spiritual sequel to Demons' Souls, is an example of the dark fantasy that borrows the plotline, characterization and theme of Cthulhu Mythos so that it successfully mixes dark fantasies with Lovecraftian horror. and Gothic horror.
Darkest Dungeon, a rogue-lite by indie developer Red Hook Studios, is a dark fantasy game that pits a group of treasure hunt adventurers who settled in an ancient village against a variety of Lovecraft creatures, fanatical fans and supernatural beings. Darkest Dungeon explores and capitalizes on psychological effects against horrors and monsters; player characters experience stress and fatigue, develop bad habits, and should always be watched and cared for so players can win.
See also
References
External links
- On Dark Fantasy - essay writer Lucy Snyder about the difference between "pure" horror and dark fantasies.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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