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The Value of the genre of Fantasy as a ‘Field’ of Philosophy - Focusing on Lee Young-do’s Dragon-Raja and Future-Walker

  • Journal of Popular Narrative
  • 2024, 30(2), pp.335-374
  • DOI : 10.18856/jpn.2024.30.2.010
  • Publisher : The Association of Popular Narrative
  • Research Area : Interdisciplinary Studies > Interdisciplinary Research
  • Received : May 15, 2024
  • Accepted : June 20, 2024
  • Published : June 30, 2024

LEE YOUNGSEO 1

1고려대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to prove the literary and research value of the genre of fantasy, by analyzing two of Lee Young-do’s novels. Although discourse on genres like fantasy is more active than ever due to the rapid development of the web-novel market, interest has not yet sparked in academia, because the unique form and structure of genres and its inherent research value have not been sufficiently clarified from a conservative point of view. While taking this issue into consideration, this paper attempts to prove the value of fantasy as ‘a Field of philosophy’ by using narrative theory and philosophical discourse, which are the most traditional in literary study. First of all, in the case of Dragon-Raja, the novel shows the unique status and role of the setting in fantasy which implies the creation of new cultures such as myths, history, and language, as well as race, geography, and tools, in a virtual world. In particular, ‘Eupinel-Helkanes’ epistemology’ is linked to Cosmos-Khaos’ ontology of post-structuralism and stimulates readers’ philosophical thinking. Future-Walker further allows to delve into the issue at hand. In this novel, the author creates an unprecedented event called ‘fixed present’ in this philosophical setting. Events such as the presence of a ghost and the stop of to-come, that appear as the present is symbolically fixed, reflect Derrida’s view on time. As a result, the world of Future-Walker functions as a field of philosophical thought experiment that goes beyond not only reality-code but also narrative-code. In addition, the choices and conflicts of various characters carried out in these philosophical settings and events serve as a good example of how to turn philosophical thought experiments into narrative. As such, Lee Young-do’s works, being categorized as fantasy novels, take full advantage of being free from both reality-code and narrative-code, asking readers fundamental philosophical questions in an interesting and intuitive way. At this point, the genre of fantasy has a wider openness to philosophy than ‘pure literature’, and from now on, this value is expected to be recognized, and research on fantasy novels and Lee Young-do’s works is expected to become more active.

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