Über den Einfluss der Fantastik auf Politik und Gesellschaft – Chancen, Risiken, Desiderata

Drawing on Ursula K. Le Guin's idea that fantasy can and should influence politics and society, the Forum 2025 of the ZfF, asked five experts and practitioners — including researchers, publishers and authors — to share their views on the potential of the fantastic (foremost fantasy, science fiction and horror) to exert such an influence. The respondents highlighted a number of aspects that could potentially have a socio-political impact, some of which have done so in their experience. For instance, fantasy can shape social perception through fantastic metaphors (Bidlo) and offer narrative visions of the future by combining science and poetics (Brassel). Publishers can contribute to public discourse in their role as gatekeepers (Buchheim), political debates can be sharpened through fantastical exaggeration of certain aspects (Huber), and fantasy can provide its audience with a space for trial and error, as well as relaxation in times of crisis, thus alleviating psychological stress and problems (Winter)

Art, Aesthetics, and Perception · Comics and Graphic Narratives · Media, Gender, and Advertising