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Imaginary Geographies: the Symbiosis of Space and Identity in Contemporary Fantasy Fiction

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Resumo:The present thesis is a study of the relationship between space and identity in imaginary worlds of contemporary fantasy fiction. The process of world-building, or subcreation, consists of layering diverse elements, called infrastructures, to create a setting and story that are complete and consistent in order to achieve a deeper immersion into the invented world. By examining how fantasy authors intertwine the infrastructures of nature and culture, it can be understood how the spatial environment of an individual or community significantly influences the formation of their identity—an environment that, in turn, is shaped by the presence and experiences of those individuals and communities. To explore how this process is achieved in world-building, a selection of fantasy works that showcase the genre's diversity was chosen; it comprises The Wheel of Time series (1990-2013), an American epic fantasy written by Robert Jordan and completed by Brandon Sanderson, Perdido Street Station (2000) and The Scar (2002) by English author China Miéville, and the Broken Earth trilogy (2015-2017), written by American writer N. K. Jemisin. These examples represent a sample of the many types of fantasy novels that appeared in the Anglophone world at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century. The main framework for the analysis of these novels is world-building theory, particularly the structuring of imaginary worlds proposed by theorist Mark J. P. Wolf. Secondary to this framework are several studies of space and identity, focusing on the relationship between space and place and the formation of communities. By looking at various collective identities within the imaginary worlds, it is possible to glean the importance of geographic space in the way these communities frame their cultural values and traditions. Another important point in the analysis is how certain individuals try to detach themselves from their societies for not conforming to the ideals that they represent. Throughout this work, the complexity of the formation of identity in the world-building is addressed, emphasizing that space is one of the most fundamental aspects that contribute to this process. Ultimately, this work demonstrates that a debate on the symbiosis of space and identity as part of creating imaginary worlds is an essential aspect of contemporary fantasy and has assumed a vital role in fantastic storytelling.
Autores principais:Mateus, Rui Miguel Martins
Assunto:Fantasy Fantasia World-Building Construção de Mundos Space Espaço Identity Identidade Imaginary Worlds Mundos Imaginários
Ano:2025
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:tese de doutoramento
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório Institucional da UNL

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