Mythic fiction: Difference between revisions
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Mythic fiction overlaps with [[urban fantasy]] and [[contemporary fantasy]], and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but mythic fiction also includes contemporary works in non-urban settings. Mythic fiction also differs from [[magic realism]], as magic realist texts may use surreal or random symbolism in preference to symbolism drawing on myth and legend.<ref name = "CEYAL"/> |
Mythic fiction overlaps with [[urban fantasy]] and [[contemporary fantasy]], and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but mythic fiction also includes contemporary works in non-urban settings. Mythic fiction also differs from [[magic realism]], as magic realist texts may use surreal or random symbolism in preference to symbolism drawing on myth and legend.<ref name = "CEYAL"/> |
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== Mythpunk == |
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The technological change that separates mythpunk from our reality is a difference in a philosophy or a social science from our own. |
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{{anchor|Mythpunk}}[[Catherynne M. Valente]] uses the term mythpunk to describe a subgenre of [[mythic fiction]] that starts in [[folklore]] and [[Mythology|myth]] and adds elements of [[Postmodernism|postmodernist]] literary techniques.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Vanderhooft|first=JoSelle|date=2011-01-24|title=Mythpunk: An Interview with Catherynne M. Valente|url=http://www.strangehorizons.com/2011/20110124/mythpunk1-a.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219224634/http://www.strangehorizons.com/2011/20110124/mythpunk1-a.shtml|archive-date=2015-02-19|access-date=2015-02-19}}</ref> Valente coined the term in a 2006 blog post as a joke for describing her own and other works of challenging folklore-based fantasy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-28 |title=A Rose in Twelve Names |url=http://catvalente.livejournal.com/263738.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506080931/http://catvalente.livejournal.com/263738.html |archive-date=May 6, 2015 |access-date=2015-10-20 |website=Rules for Anchorites |df=mdy-all}}</ref> |
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As the ''-[[punk subculture|punk]]'' suffix implies, mythpunk is [[Subversion|subversive]]. In particular, it uses aspects of folklore to subvert or question dominant [[Norm (social)|societal norms]], often bringing in a [[Feminism|feminist]] and/or multicultural approach. It confronts, instead of conforms to, societal norms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Vanderhooft|first=JoSelle|date=January 31, 2011|title=Mythpunk Roundtable|url=http://www.strangehorizons.com/2011/20110131/mythpunk2-a.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910022803/http://www.strangehorizons.com/2011/20110131/mythpunk2-a.shtml|archive-date=September 10, 2015|access-date=October 21, 2015|website=Strange Horizons|publisher=}}</ref> Valente describes mythpunk as breaking "mythologies that defined a universe where women, [[queer]] folk, [[Person of color|people of color]], people who deviate from the norm were invisible or never existed" and then "piecing it back together to make something strange and different and wild."<ref name=":0" /> |
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Typically, mythpunk narratives focus on transforming folkloric source material rather than retelling it, often through postmodern [[literary techniques]] such as [[Nonlinear narrative|non-linear storytelling]], [[worldbuilding]], [[confessional poetry]], as well as modern [[Linguistics|linguistic]] and [[List of narrative techniques|literary devices]]. The use of folklore is especially important because folklore is "often a battleground between subversive and conservative forces", according to speculative fiction writer [[Amal El-Mohtar]], and a medium for constructing new societal norms. Through postmodern literary techniques, mythpunk authors change the structures and traditions of folklore, "negotiating—and validating—different norms."<ref name=":1" /> |
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Most works of mythpunk have been published by [[small press]]es, such as ''[[Strange Horizons]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.strangehorizons.com/blog/2011/01/amimythpunkornotcom.shtml|title=amimythpunkornot.com|last=Harrison|first=Niall|date=January 31, 2011|website=Strange Horizons|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915194325/http://www.strangehorizons.com/blog/2011/01/amimythpunkornotcom.shtml|archive-date=September 15, 2015|access-date=October 21, 2015}}</ref> because "anything playing out on the edge is going to have truck with the small presses at some point, because small presses take big risks."<ref name=":0" /> Writers whose works would fall under the mythpunk label include [[Ekaterina Sedia]], [[Theodora Goss]], [[Neil Gaiman]], [[Sonya Taaffe]], and [[Adam Christopher]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Walter | first=Damien G | title=New women's worlds in fantasy | work=The Guardian | url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/02/new_womens_worlds_in_fantasy.html | date=2008-02-14 |access-date=2011-03-07 | location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220031123/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/02/new_womens_worlds_in_fantasy.html |archive-date=2008-02-20}}</ref> Valente's novel ''[[Deathless (novel)|Deathless]]'' is an example of mythpunk, drawing from classic [[Folklore of Russia|Russian folklore]] to tell the tale of [[Koshchei|Koschei the Deathless]] from a female perspective.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McAra|first=Catriona|date=January 2012|title=Valente's Mythpunk|url=http://www.scotlandrussiaforum.org/resources/201201_SRF_Review.pdf|journal=Scotland Russia Forum Review|access-date=November 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208233520/http://www.scotlandrussiaforum.org/resources/201201_SRF_Review.pdf|archive-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref> |
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Some worlds imagined in children's and young adult programming, such as ''[[She-Ra and the Princesses of Power]]'' and ''[[The Owl House]]'', seemingly portray worlds without [[misogyny]] or [[homophobia]], with the former portraying several [[queer]] characters and the latter featuring a [[bisexuality|bisexual]] female protagonist, [[Luz Noceda]], who escapes from the real world into the inclusive mythpunk world of the Boiling Isles. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 03:27, 14 April 2024
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (February 2024) |
Mythic fiction is literature that draws from the tropes, themes, and symbolism of myth, legend, folklore, and fairy tales. It is usually set in the real world and deals with realistic issues, but a mythic atmosphere prevails; however, not all mythic fiction is fantasy, and the fantastic component is not always blatant. Mythic fiction ranges from retellings of fairy tales to stories based on myths to those loosely inspired by myth and legend, using their motifs to create new stories.[1][2]
The term was invented by Charles de Lint and Terri Windling to describe their own work;[1] de Lint has said that it fit because of its resonances and because it could reach a wider audience.[3] Windling promoted mythic fiction as the co-editor (with Ellen Datlow) of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror volumes for sixteen years, and as the editor of the Endicott Studio's Journal of Mythic Arts.
Mythic fiction overlaps with urban fantasy and contemporary fantasy, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but mythic fiction also includes contemporary works in non-urban settings. Mythic fiction also differs from magic realism, as magic realist texts may use surreal or random symbolism in preference to symbolism drawing on myth and legend.[1]
Mythpunk
The technological change that separates mythpunk from our reality is a difference in a philosophy or a social science from our own. Catherynne M. Valente uses the term mythpunk to describe a subgenre of mythic fiction that starts in folklore and myth and adds elements of postmodernist literary techniques.[4] Valente coined the term in a 2006 blog post as a joke for describing her own and other works of challenging folklore-based fantasy.[5]
As the -punk suffix implies, mythpunk is subversive. In particular, it uses aspects of folklore to subvert or question dominant societal norms, often bringing in a feminist and/or multicultural approach. It confronts, instead of conforms to, societal norms.[6] Valente describes mythpunk as breaking "mythologies that defined a universe where women, queer folk, people of color, people who deviate from the norm were invisible or never existed" and then "piecing it back together to make something strange and different and wild."[4]
Typically, mythpunk narratives focus on transforming folkloric source material rather than retelling it, often through postmodern literary techniques such as non-linear storytelling, worldbuilding, confessional poetry, as well as modern linguistic and literary devices. The use of folklore is especially important because folklore is "often a battleground between subversive and conservative forces", according to speculative fiction writer Amal El-Mohtar, and a medium for constructing new societal norms. Through postmodern literary techniques, mythpunk authors change the structures and traditions of folklore, "negotiating—and validating—different norms."[6]
Most works of mythpunk have been published by small presses, such as Strange Horizons,[7] because "anything playing out on the edge is going to have truck with the small presses at some point, because small presses take big risks."[4] Writers whose works would fall under the mythpunk label include Ekaterina Sedia, Theodora Goss, Neil Gaiman, Sonya Taaffe, and Adam Christopher.[8] Valente's novel Deathless is an example of mythpunk, drawing from classic Russian folklore to tell the tale of Koschei the Deathless from a female perspective.[9]
Some worlds imagined in children's and young adult programming, such as She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and The Owl House, seemingly portray worlds without misogyny or homophobia, with the former portraying several queer characters and the latter featuring a bisexual female protagonist, Luz Noceda, who escapes from the real world into the inclusive mythpunk world of the Boiling Isles.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Bartel, Julie (2005). "Mythic Fiction". In Cullinan, Bernice E.; Kunzel, Bonnie; Wooten, Deborah (eds.). The Continuum Encyclopedia of Young Adult Literature. Bloomsbury.
- ^ "A Mythic Fiction Reading List". Endicott Studio. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ Brignall, Richard B. "Charles de Lint: Mythic Fiction". Locus Online. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Vanderhooft, JoSelle (2011-01-24). "Mythpunk: An Interview with Catherynne M. Valente". Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
- ^ "A Rose in Twelve Names". Rules for Anchorites. March 28, 2006. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ a b Vanderhooft, JoSelle (January 31, 2011). "Mythpunk Roundtable". Strange Horizons. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ Harrison, Niall (January 31, 2011). "amimythpunkornot.com". Strange Horizons. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ Walter, Damien G (2008-02-14). "New women's worlds in fantasy". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
- ^ McAra, Catriona (January 2012). "Valente's Mythpunk" (PDF). Scotland Russia Forum Review. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
