Speculative fiction has long been the perfect place to debate - via written word or screen - the dynamics of power and the appropriation of the same. One of the most commonly used metaphors is magic. And one of the most commonly used situations, especially in YA pec fic, is a radical overhaul of the status quo in which a group of 'others' are oppressed and then rise to challenge the system. The dragons love a good revolution as much as the next fantasy fans but there are times when you have to ask yourself what exactly is the story saying? Because magic equals power, and if the oppressed group have power then why are they oppressed? Could it be that unconsciously the love of a good resistance style plot occasionally means that authors punch down instead of up? SFF authors Jules and Madeleine take a look at where this works and where it clearly doesn't. Under the microscope this week - The Black Magician Series - Trudi Canavan, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Red Queen Series - Victoria Aveyard, Gilded Cage - Vic James and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 14: Main Mission - Gaming Narrative, the Future of Storytelling
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 13 - Man-Eating Monster to Flower-Toting Belle - the transition of Fairies in the Victorian Era
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 12: The Gender Bend - Does the Gender make the Story?
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 11: Teams, Trios and Fellowships - the importance of Friendship in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 10: Fight like a Girl - 'Strong' Female Characters in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 9: From West to East - translating Speculative Fiction into Anime and Manga
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 8: Bugbears of Battle - Inciting Violence in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 7: Tatooine to Tudor England - the trappings of Historical and Speculative World Building
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 6: Merlin, Mordred and Morgana - Magic in Arthurian Legend
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 5: Sci-Fi Westerns, Fantasy and Opera - Humankind's Conquest of Space
Dissecting Dragons - Episode 4 - Witches, Brooms and Spells: Enchanting and Entrapping Children in Fiction.
Dissecting Dragons Episode 3: Deus Ex Machina - it was all a Dream - When Writers let you down.
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 2: Tainted Love - of triangles, love potions and the Happily Ever After.
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 1 - Rags to Rebel Leaders - the re-emergence of the fairytale
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