When you think of fiction, what comes to mind? Do you think of the castles
and dragons, of Fantasy? The space ships and aliens of Science fiction? The movie monsters and Elder Gods of Horror? Whatever comes to mind, I'm willing to bet that the word important probably isn't it. Sure, fiction can be a fun way to fill an empty hour or two. But can it change the world? Has it changed the world? Or is it simply popcorn entertainment that can be dangerous in large doses? Is the consumption of fiction responsible for the ignorance of the real world that is so common nowadays? Is fiction a threat to effectively living in the real world? I don't think that many outright state these questions; however, these questions still exist, and affect the support fiction receives. The new cores for high-schools neglect fiction, instead emphasizing the more obviously practical maths, sciences, and histories. In Ball State, the University I attend, English 104 has been changed from a fiction analysis class to a paper research course. No one needs to badmouth fiction in order for it to slowly slip into the background. Someone needs to stand up for it to keep it bright and alive. But in order to do that, it'll probably help to be able to tell people why fiction is important, and why it should remain a large part of childhood, education, and adult life. Why is fiction important? |