Sword and Sorcery
This subgenre is usually categorised by a sword wielding hero who is on a personal quest. Whilst the storylines are typically dramatic, there is not normally the ‘end of the world’ type storyline seen in high fantasy. An element of romance is present as well as magic and the supernatural. Although there it is disputed exactly what constitutes a sword and sorcery film, the main characteristics suggest a fast-paced, action-rich story, set in exotic landscapes with the danger confined to the moment of action and the main protagonist is usually morally compromised. This subgenre is easier to make into sequels and series as the conflict is not world threatening, it makes series more plausible, instead of the repetitive end of the world story. The type of character also makes this more likely – the protagonists are usually bored by the peace after battle, and so go and seek more excitement.
This subgenre usually draws from mythology, classical epics (Homer’s ‘Odyssey’) and even historical fiction under the influence of folklore and myths. There was a boom of the sword and sorcery genre in the 1980s, but was dropped in favour of the high fantasy genre.
Similarly to high fantasy, the main protagonist tends to be male, with the female characters depicted as a ‘damsel in distress’ or the ‘reward’ for the male hero at the end of the tale. There has only recently been a change in this, although any female character that is equal to the male hero is usually relied upon for sex appeal as opposed to an actual storyline.
No comments:
Post a Comment