Essay Question 2

I got the idea to research escapism from a quote by Neil Gaiman. He disagrees the way escapism has become viewed as negative in modern culture.

“People talk about escapism as if it's a bad thing... Once you've escaped, once you come back, the world is not the same as when you left it. You come back to it with skills, weapons, knowledge you didn't have before. Then you are better equipped to deal with your current reality

as a writer of escapist fiction should you try to tailor your work as a positive influence on your readers lives?

I think it would be interesting to see if any studies have been done to evaluate the effectiveness of escapism as a coping mechanism. Escapism is a broad term that can include a wide range of activities from drug use to reading. Is it the case that there are good and bad kinds of escapism? is any form of escapism a good thing as long as it is used in moderation?

There seems to be a view that there is a risk of becoming lost in the world that you escape into and it becomes more important than your 'normal' life. Some people manage to make careers from there escapist activities, have they managed to create there own world? better than the one they previously inhabited?

Neil Gaiman touches on the idea that escapist fiction can do more than just provide an escape from everyday life but that it can teach you how to deal with your life, giving you knowledge and skills to help you cope with the stresses and strains of the real world.

I think that chosing escapism as a basis form my essay will provide me with interesting research material and could provide an inspiring basis for my practice.