| Description |
Certain types of literature have been heavily studied for their relevancy to the environment, but fantasy literature has been left out of this critical discussion. Ecocriticism of fantasy literature has been dismal, despite the popularity of the genre. I argue that fantasy resonates so strongly with our current era because of what it offers that the Anthropocene lacks. Urban fantasy literature epitomizes this. In urban fantasy, readers can become re-enchanted with their everyday lives, and open their perspectives to include the more-than-human world that surrounds them. In urban fantasy, readers can experience the more-than-human community in a salient way, with more-than-human beings and forces interacting, communicating, and serving as agents. And, in urban fantasy, readers can witness how characters react and adapt to changing places and spaces while still maintaining a positive, holistic sense of place that extends beyond the human. Urban fantasy offers healthy, environmentally progressive ways to encounter the more-than-human. |
