Her aunt has no concept of fiction. By which I mean, she refuses to accept anything that, by her standards, is physically impossible within this realm of reality. That includes, by her definition, all science fiction, fantasy, or anything remotely approaching the supernatural (including, but not limited to, DC’s role-playing and Harry Potter books). She is also, as I am given to understand, somewhat religious, which DC uses as a reason for her distrust of the fantasy genre. Be that as it may, it is still not an excuse. There are many, MANY devoted Christians within the fantasy genre (including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien), as well as adherents to other faiths. Religion is no reason for it, so I refuse to accept it as such.
For example, DC was trying to explain to her aunt (whom I’ll call Joan for the time being) the plot of Harry Potter. “It’s about a boy who is told that he’s a wizard.” Her aunt’s response? “Oh, there’s no such thing as wizards.” From refusing to accept this basic suspension of disbelief, as we would for any piece of fiction, Joan could not follow DC’s explanation of the rest of the film (“They play a game on broomsticks? But broomsticks can’t fly!”). This wasn’t simply her teasing DC about her interest in fantasy; she literally could not comprehend anything outside the realm of what is considered absolute reality (which, as any good Malkavian knows, is highly subjective).
Interestingly, this aunt claims her favourite film to be Pretty Woman, which is about the most illogical, fantasy-based film you could imagine. Though it lacks wizards, zombies or aliens, it is nevertheless fantasy of the highest sort. A prostitute is magically “discovered” by a wealthy, attractive man who falls in love with her after a one-night-stand? Sure, like THIS happens in real life.
As an aside, I can’t help but wonder if, as a child, she ever enjoyed watching any Disney films, which are always loaded to the brim with singing mice and flying elephants (to this day, one of my favourite movies of all time is still Lady and the Tramp). Was she never exposed to anything fantastical? She never had any fairy tales read to her as a child, no Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson? No science fiction like H.G. Wells? Hasn’t she ever even enjoyed a single Bugs Bunny cartoon? Hers must have been a barren childhood, indeed.
It is not the fantasy-based fictions we should guard against; it is the reality-based ones we should really fear. They are of the highest form of wish-fulfillment; to quote C.S. Lewis: “The dangerous fantasy is always superficially realistic. The real victim of wishful reverie...prefers stories about millionaires, irresistable beauties, posh hotels, palm beaches, and bedroom scenes--things that really might happen, that ought to happen, that would have happened if the reader had had a fair chance.” Stories about yachts at tropical islands, lottery winnings, and beautiful, perfect soulmates waiting just two doors down. Impossible dreams that seem all too real. Harlequin romances and Sweet Valley High books have poisoned many a young girl’s mind, racheting up her expectations and leading her to wait for perfection, just a little longer and Mr. Right will drive up in his brand-new Corvette.
As I have previously mentioned, I took a Children’s Literature course (and thus consider myself qualified on all things literary, heh...joking, joking), and it actually speaks in both course books of the necessity of fantasy fiction in one’s childhood, and that is highly preferable to reality-based fiction. Allow me to quote from one of the course books; specifically, the second edition of Children’s Literature, Briefly by Michael O. Tunnell and James S. Jacobs:
“Some adults fear that fantasy stories will lead children to be somehow out of touch with reality, to suffer from fantasy in the clinical, psychological sense...In fact, children who read stories that contain “unrealistic” elements--animals who talk, magical events, time travel--are actually less at risk with losing touch with the realities of daily life....children deprived of a rich fantasy life (which traditional tales provide) are more likely to seek a psychological escape through avenues like black magic, drugs, or astrology. ...The work of psychologist Ephraim Biblow...showed that children with rich fantasy lives responded to aggressive films with a significant decrease in aggressive behaviour, while low-fantasy children showed a tendecy toward increased aggression. Much of the violence in fairy tales involves the punishment of truly evil villains. ...The evil person in fairy tales who meets a well-deserved fate satisfies a child’s deep need for justice to prevail. ...Because dangerous story elements, such as wicked witches or dragons, are far removed in both time and place from the lives of children, they prove much less frightening than realistic stories of danger that focus on real-life fears. [C.S.] Lewis felt that insulating a child from fear does them a disservice. ‘Since it is so likely they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not bright but darker.’ Fairy tales provide children with a message of hope. No matter how bleak the outlook or how dark the path, these stories promise children that it is possible to make it through and come out on top. ...Perhaps the most insidious complaint is that...fantasy is a waste of time....however, no genre of literature better fosters creativity than fantasy (both modern and traditional). ...Teachers bemoan the lack of creative and critical thinking in today’s students. How can we then not promote the very books and stories that cultivate imaginative thought?”