Introduction
In Advanced Fiction, we introduce Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, and Post-Modernism as they apply to magical realism, science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, and young adult literature. This resource was created in collaboration with former students at Emporia State University when enrolled in EG583: Advanced Fiction Writing. Over the last few years, the course has branched away from an assigned textbook and instead has assigned students to research the different literary genres as they relate to different periods in time. Each section includes book recommendations, media recommendations, and some student work. All recommendations come directly from the student’s research and discoveries.
Each chapter of this resource introduces a specific period with key characteristics as it relates to literature. Within each of those periods, the class generated a list of resources that highlight magical realism, science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and comics, and young adult literature.
According to Dean Baldwin’s (1998) text, The Riverside Anthology of Short Fiction: Convention and Innovation, magical realism is fiction in which the apparently real and the magic are treated as equally normal.
Science fiction is a sub-genre of the very broad Fiction genre. Science Fiction often revolves around major scientific advances or takes place well into the future from the reader's time. Common themes of Science Fiction include time travel, major social change, major environmental change, outer space and the exploration of, alien life, or any scientific theory taken to an extreme or coming true.
In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, science fiction is defined as "fiction dealing primarily with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component."
Recommended Sources
Trekspertise. 2018. What is Science Fiction? Thoughts from Author David Brin. YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=JI9lVkJdif4
Nichole Carter. 2012. What is Science Fiction? YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=UIJtUH5tBpU
Josephine Campbell (2014) defines fantasy in Salem Press Encyclopedia of Literature as including imaginative elements set against a backdrop of otherwise ordinary events. It may also include magic, monsters, science, romance, and elements of other genres.
Comic books and graphic novels can be difficult to define as they refer to both the object, analogous to a book or painting, as well as the mode that conveys the narrative. One of the resources the class utilized for defining comics was Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics. A comic could be the juxtaposition of image and text (an example would be Far Side comics) or they might exist at the intersection of image and text; they are not merely the two forms used side-by-side. A single image is just that whereas placing two images in a sequence creates a narrative. Thus, Scott McCloud defines comics as “juxtaposed pictorial and other images in a deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.” The more images that are strung together in a sequence, the more narrative.
Recommended Sources:
History of Stuff. 2018. History of Comic Books. YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=qipZ6h4S–c
The Art Department. 2013. George Pratt: Definition of a Comic Book. YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v-65dqtovjxlg
Young Adult Literature is literature written and marketed for children ages 12-18 and is written from a Young Adult perspective. While there are many different genres, Young Adult Literature is characterized by a fast-paced plot, a diverse perspective, and an inherently optimistic outlook on life. Young Adult Literature often contains the following themes:
Search for Identity
Family Relationships and Friendships
Need for Independence
Interpersonal Relationships
Timeline of Young Adult Literature History
1967: S.E. Hinton: "The Outsiders" was considered widely to be the first real Young Adult novel.
1970's: "The Golden Age of YA"- Writers began to approach controversial subjects such as underage drinking and homelessness.
1980's to 1990's"- Genre exploration for YA authors. This is also when series writing became popular for YA novels.
2000's: Book awards were created specifically for YA during this time. Paranormal/dystopian literature became popular (e.g. The Hunger Games).
Today: YA books are being published across all genres and in all styles, and remain an incredibly popular source of literature.
Why Young Adult Literature Matters
Young Adult literature offers a safe space for young readers to explore issues of identity, relationships, and other pressing issues. While Young Adult literature is often looked down upon, it is clear that it has literary merit as it allows young adults to understand themselves and the world around them through literature, and is often used as a "gateway" to becoming a life-long reader.
Several honors and awards are given out to YA books each year, including the Printz Award, The Newberry Honor, and the National Book Award. These books are often quick to be recommended to young readers and are highly regarded.
Recommended Sources:
Epic Reads. 2012. Epic Reads Explains | A Brief History of YA. YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=SkdnKQmHsWA
We Need Diverse Books. 2015. John Green: Why We Need Diverse Books. YouTUbe. youtube.com/watch?v=oBMYa-dJWm8