Tropes Course: Down the Rabbit Hole and Into Portal-World Stories
Sep 26, 2023
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Exploring the trope of portal worlds in sci-fi and fantasy genres. Excitement for discussing meta stories and the significance of Loki. Delving into themes, characteristics, and storytelling traditions of portal-world stories. Exploring the concept of a hungry other world and relatable protagonists. The enchanting experience of books as portals to other worlds and the concept of time in portal universes. Highlights of portal-world stories like Narnia, Sarah's journey in the Labyrinth, and discovering Filary. Discussion on the complicated world of the Magicians novels and TV series. Exploring the concept of the upside down in Stranger Things and its connection to our world.
01:58:52
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Quick takeaways
Portal worlds provide an escape from mundane lives and offer the opportunity for thrilling adventures and self-discovery.
Characters in portal world stories must navigate dangerous and unpredictable environments, facing their fears and discovering their own strength.
Readers are drawn into portal worlds alongside the characters, experiencing the wonder and excitement firsthand.
Portal worlds inspire readers to embrace the unknown, seek out their own adventures, and find their own portals to new and exciting experiences.
Deep dives
The Call to Adventure
The main characters in these stories feel a restlessness and dissatisfaction with their ordinary lives, prompting them to seek out something more. They long for excitement and embark on a journey into the unknown. This call to adventure often stems from a desire to escape a mundane existence and find something greater and more meaningful.
Hungry Portal Worlds
These portal worlds are not always pleasant or safe. They can be dangerous and unpredictable, filled with strange creatures and challenges. The protagonists must face their fears and navigate through unfamiliar territory, learn the rules, and discover their own strength and resilience. The unknown can be both thrilling and terrifying, but it is through these portal worlds that the characters grow and find their true potential.
The Reader's Journey
These stories often involve a deep connection between the reader and the protagonist. As readers, we are drawn into the portal worlds alongside the characters, experiencing the wonder, danger, and excitement firsthand. We become part of the adventure, going through the same emotions and discoveries. The stories remind us of the power of imagination and the joy of getting lost in a book.
The Eternal Allure of Adventure
Through these portal worlds, we are reminded of the eternal allure of adventure. The call to explore the unknown, to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. These stories capture our imagination and inspire us to seek out our own adventures, to embrace the unknown and find our own portals to new and exciting experiences.
The allure of portal worlds in storytelling
Portal worlds offer an escape from reality, allowing characters to experience fantastical adventures and explore new realms and dimensions. These worlds often serve as a refuge for readers and characters alike, providing a break from the mundane and immersing them in extraordinary settings.
The significance of time in portal universes
Portal universes often play with the concept of time, with characters discovering that time can pass differently within these worlds. They may live lifetimes or return to find no time has passed at all. These temporal variations add depth to the storytelling and explore the complexities of time travel and its effects on characters' experiences and relationships.
The allure of a beloved world come to life
For some characters, the ultimate adventure is stepping into a world they've only known through books or dreams. Whether it's Narnia, Filary, or other enchanting realms, the excitement and joy of experiencing these fantasy worlds firsthand can be a powerful and transformative journey.
The danger and consequences of portal worlds
While portal worlds offer excitement and escapism, they also come with risks and dangers. Some worlds, like the Upside Down in Stranger Things, the Dark Tower series, or even the Barbie movie, bring peril and darkness that threaten to consume and disrupt the characters and our world. The consequences of navigating these realms often force characters to confront fears, make difficult choices, and face the impact of their actions.
Jo and Mal are here for another one of their famous Tropes Courses; this time, it is the journey into portal worlds (09:13). From Narnia to Oz and so much more, they take a look at what magical, other worlds have brought to so many readers and lovers of stories throughout the years.
