Fabulation
Definition:
Fabulation is a postmodern literary genre that involves the incorporation of myth, fantasy, and imaginative storytelling techniques to create a unique narrative. It is often characterized by the blurring of boundaries between reality and fiction, and can encompass a wide range of themes and styles.
Characteristics of Fabulation:
- Mythology: Fabulation frequently draws inspiration from mythological and archetypal figures, incorporating them within the narrative to explore universal themes and symbolism.
- Fantasy: The genre often involves elements of fantasy and the supernatural, introducing magical or surreal elements to challenge conventional notions of reality.
- Metafiction: Fabulation often includes self-referential and metafictional techniques, where the act of storytelling and the creation of the narrative become part of the story itself.
- Multiple Realities: Fabulation tends to explore multiple realities or parallel universes, playing with the idea that different versions of reality can coexist within the same narrative.
- Genre-blending: Fabulation frequently combines different genres, such as science fiction, historical fiction, and fairy tales, in order to create a unique and unpredictable narrative experience.
- Intertextuality: Fabulation often incorporates references, allusions, or direct quotes from other literary works, creating intertextual connections that enrich the layers of meaning within the narrative.
- Fluid Narratives: Fabulation challenges traditional linear storytelling, employing fragmented narratives, non-linear chronologies, and unconventional structures to disrupt the reader’s expectations.
- Social Critique: Many fabulist works use the genre as a tool for social critique, addressing political, cultural, or societal issues through imaginative and metaphorical storytelling.
Overall, fabulation offers a departure from traditional storytelling conventions, inviting readers to explore the boundaries of reality and to question the nature of narrative itself.