What independent film can learn from Tolkien and fairy stories

As I've gotten older and taken my work more seriously, I've noticed a trend among fans and creatives. At first, I thought it was nothing. But it's evolved into a problem I can't ignore. The issue is the degradation of fairy stories, or what one might call aspirational tales.



In the modern day, there's been an onslaught against fairy stories. I call it the overuse of realism, trying desperately to make the fictional setting nothing but a clone of reality. With it's proponents stating such tales are childish and outdated.



There are many suspects someone can point to as the pioneers of this practice(Eg. Game of Thrones, Nolan Batman movies, etc). But I want to highlight what's lost in the relentless pursuit of realism.



My spine shivers, thinking of a world without tales of hope and healing. And the characters that best provided it, like Superman and Luke Skywalker.



But you might ask, what good could come from escaping reality? Tolkien said, "If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?" And "If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!"



He also explained the purpose of these stories in his essay on fairy stories. He said they're"to clean our windows, so that the things seen clearly may be freed from the drab blur of triteness or familiarity—from possessiveness."



In short, fantasy helps us recover and see the truth. So we can face the challenges of the world again.



So I urge you, fellow artists and filmmakers, not to forget the importance of fairy stories! Use the gift that others willfully discard!