Darkening of earlier written creations seems to be a very definite trend. I see it through shows aired on television. It is done with children's stories we are familiar with. And with Peter Pan there is an abundance of dark interpretations.
How would I forget how darkening the story was done for Alice in Wonderland in media? And certainly it was being done for stories tying into The Wizard of Oz.
2024 is here, so what do you think are the upcoming Fantasy trends for this year? I've noticed that Superhero fiction with Slice-of-life elements is doing well. Also, magic academies a la Harry Potter seem to be making a comeback.
I do see what you're pointing out with this. I've made no note of this before, though, considering my interest in stories, I feel like it should've been something noticeable if I'd taken the time to see it. I wouldn't mind going back to the days of Tolkienism as you call it. The amount of work Tolkien put into Middle-Earth is great, and it definitely deserves the attention it received over the years.
