Also, to drive the point that we are discussing and not arguing I want to clarify a few things and set up an example of mine that undercuts my own points:
- My feeling is that the culture is nursing too many audiences with escapist trivia
- I also feel that escapism is limited in the spectrum of affecting experiences it can deliver, maybe in the same way film itself is
- I don't deny that there is quality escapism, or that any genre can deliver affecting and excellent art
And to undercut my own point, The Leftovers is a deeply painful long form cable series on HBO that is based on (religious) fantasy.