Abstract
This thesis seeks to understand to extent to which fantasy media is founded upon patriarchal tendencies, the ramifications of which affect the publishing industry today. To define fantasy, I use J.R.R. Tolkien’s definition which includes a secondary world with rules that contradict those of our own world but that are understandable within the context of that world. Particularly, I explore the origins of medievalist fantasy stories, with the understanding that this particular branch of fantasy media (which emphasizes tropes and idealizations of the Middle Ages) creates the basis for the modern cultural schema of fantasy. With medievalist intentions come an inherent tendency toward misogyny embedded within the systems and storylines of fantasy media that then become normalized in the pursuit of “realistically” portraying a medieval-inspired world. I posit that the use of sexual violence and nonconsensual sexual narratives within medievalist fantasy is representative of patriarchal limitations and the male gaze within fantasy today. I then contrast those with narratives, of fantasy literature in particular, which emphasize consent and romance within portrayals of sexual scenarios, which have become immensely popular in the last decade. In contrasting these two narratives, as well as how they are received by readers and discussed within popular discourse, I find that the medievalist fantasy schema privileges the male gaze at the expense of female readers and even female fantasy authors in the publishing world. On the other hand, the current popularity of fantasy novels written by women, often with romantic plotlines, demonstrates the possibility of a fantasy schema that values the female experience as well.
Start Time
16-4-2025 10:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 11:00 AM
Room Number
252
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
UG Orals
Presentation Category
Arts and Humanities
Faculty Mentor
Scott Honeycutt
From Game of Thrones to Romantasy: Representing the Female Experience in Medievalist Fantasy
252
This thesis seeks to understand to extent to which fantasy media is founded upon patriarchal tendencies, the ramifications of which affect the publishing industry today. To define fantasy, I use J.R.R. Tolkien’s definition which includes a secondary world with rules that contradict those of our own world but that are understandable within the context of that world. Particularly, I explore the origins of medievalist fantasy stories, with the understanding that this particular branch of fantasy media (which emphasizes tropes and idealizations of the Middle Ages) creates the basis for the modern cultural schema of fantasy. With medievalist intentions come an inherent tendency toward misogyny embedded within the systems and storylines of fantasy media that then become normalized in the pursuit of “realistically” portraying a medieval-inspired world. I posit that the use of sexual violence and nonconsensual sexual narratives within medievalist fantasy is representative of patriarchal limitations and the male gaze within fantasy today. I then contrast those with narratives, of fantasy literature in particular, which emphasize consent and romance within portrayals of sexual scenarios, which have become immensely popular in the last decade. In contrasting these two narratives, as well as how they are received by readers and discussed within popular discourse, I find that the medievalist fantasy schema privileges the male gaze at the expense of female readers and even female fantasy authors in the publishing world. On the other hand, the current popularity of fantasy novels written by women, often with romantic plotlines, demonstrates the possibility of a fantasy schema that values the female experience as well.