I’m tired of hearing intellectuals put down generic literature and storytelling versus the literary because, for me, there’s a completely blurred line between the two.

For those unaware, let me elaborate that there is a mindset in society that only Oscar-nominated films can say anything about our world and the human condition, that only classic literature taught in high school English classes can relate with us on the deepest levels, and that any stories seen as impossible within the societal and scientific confines of our own Earth do not, or perhaps cannot, have the same level of impact as Scorsese and Dickens.

And while I appreciate the historical significant works and the highly celebrated spiritual successors on today’s award stages, I blatantly refute this claim. I sincerely believe that fantasy and storytelling that may very well be seen as ‘out-of-this-world’ can impact us just as much and show humans our true selves.

For one, I’ve always been a proponent of anthropomorphic characters: the walking, talking animals many attribute with Disney Animation and cartoons for children. But in many of those instances and some equally if not more so fantastical for more mature audiences, anthropomorphs have the ability to let us see ourselves in characters that are mostly alike.

Without the visual prejudice of obvious gender and race, we are more open to view these characters as living and breathing without stereotypes and see them for who they are, which purposely as authors and writers create, are much like us.

Both high and low fantasy also reflect our society in many ways. Low fantasy, including the likes of Harry Potter and Star Trek, take place in an alternate universe or future that directly reflects our own, leaving plenty of room for universal storytelling, relatable characters and symbolic fantasy elements that fill a space that is admittedly much more interesting than our own.

Even high fantasy from Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings to The Last Airbender and my own stories (A Saga of Souls (unabashed plug)) can impact us profoundly. Some commonalities and themes are more obvious than others. The Force for example is a prevalent and consistent nod to our planet’s world religions and how they affect us.

Other reflections might have to be dug for a little deeper; I’d count the allegorical tendencies of Tolkien’s Middle Earth as a large one, capping off with Frodo’s quest to destroy the corruptive, evil One Ring akin to a Christian’s struggle to be above traditional sin.

A film I recently witnessed, Dennis Villeneuve’s Arrival, really hit home for me and reminded me why I love science fiction and fantasy so. By stripping us of preconceived notions in storytelling in the reality of the world we know, we are then able to broaden our horizons, see past our own lives and universe to something larger that can directly reflect back upon ourselves as human beings: essentially universality, a touchstone of quality literature.

There can be something truly special there if it is crafted lovingly and uniquely. The fantastical allowing us to see more of the real is something literary fiction and true stories just don’t have.