Welcome to Modern Fantasy! Whether you've spent years reading fantasy novels, playing role-playing games, watching fantasy films, or you're simply curious about the genre, you're in the right place.
This course explores modern fantasy as more than entertainment. Together we'll examine how fantasy reflects culture, mythology, history, and the human experience while discovering why these stories continue to captivate us.
One of the things I enjoy most about teaching this course is watching students discover that fantasy isn't just about dragons and magic. It's about imagination, culture, history, hope, fear, and what it means to be human. I hope you'll leave the course seeing fantasy—and perhaps the world around you—a little differently than when you began. ~ Deanna
Over the semester we'll investigate topics such as:
Myth, folklore, and fairy tales
Heroes and villains
Monsters and dragons
Magic systems
Tolkien's influence on modern fantasy
Horror and dark fantasy
Dungeons & Dragons and collaborative storytelling
Fantasy in film, television, comics, and video games
Worldbuilding
Throughout the semester you'll:
Read and reflect on course materials
Explore a folklore tradition from around the world
Read and present on a modern fantasy novel
Create your own original fantasy world
Each week follows the same structure in D2L:
What to Read
What to Watch (when applicable)
Activities to Complete
Keeping a consistent structure allows you to focus on learning rather than searching for materials.
You do not need to be a fantasy expert.
You do not need to have read The Lord of the Rings.
If your experience comes from movies, games, comics, anime, or television, that's perfectly fine.
Curiosity is much more important than prior knowledge.
Bring your curiosity.
Think about the question: Why do humans need fantasy?
Relax—we'll take it one week at a time.
I'm looking forward to meeting each of you and beginning our journey through the world of modern fantasy. Until then, enjoy the last few days of summer, and I'll see you soon!