Imaginary Worlds
Creating Hindu Fantasy Worlds
Oct 25, 2023
Authors Kritika H. Rao, Shveta Thakrar, Roshani Chokshi, and Ram V discuss the challenges of incorporating Hindu mythology into their fantasy books for a Western audience. They share their favorite deities, the Hindu comics they grew up reading, and the questions they've faced about who gets to tell their stories. They explore themes of love transcending lifetimes, the power of mythology in storytelling, and the conflicts between religion and creativity. They also discuss the complexities of Hindu mythology and its portrayal in fantasy worlds.
35:46
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Quick takeaways
- The authors discuss the challenges of creating Hindu-themed fantasy books for a Western marketplace, including the need to educate unfamiliar readers about their culture and the fear of backlash and controversies.
- The authors emphasize the importance of storytelling and the mutable nature of mythology, highlighting the complexities and contradictions within Hindu myths and their efforts to create diverse and nuanced characters that challenge traditional gender roles and toxic masculinity.
Deep dives
Challenges of Writing Hindu-Themed Fantasy Novels
In this podcast episode, several authors discuss the challenges faced when writing Hindu-themed fantasy novels for a Western marketplace. They highlight the exoticization of their culture and the need to educate unfamiliar readers, while also addressing controversies and the fear of backlash. The authors express the importance of storytelling and the mutable nature of mythology, as well as the freedom to reinterpret and adapt these ancient stories. They emphasize the complexities and contradictions within Hindu mythology, and how they strive to create diverse and nuanced characters that challenge traditional gender roles and toxic masculinity.
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