Fiction vs Nonfiction: How do you choose?
A dark clad figure runs behind a man, who is fleeing for his life. It is a stormy night, lightning giving a feeble and undependable illusion of daytime as the dark figure swiftly sweeps through bushes and rubble, at arm’s length with the other man. Suddenly, the escapee falters. A steep cliff drops below him, the dark, churning sea beckoning him mercilessly down below, the roar of the waves like amused laughter to the man’s ears. The dark figure catches up with him. It’s eyes glint a strange red behind it’s hood. Suddenly it changes form. Wings sprout from it’s hunched back and it plummets, aiming for the man. He gives a scream of terror….
Such a scene, either in a book or movie, is enough to make your heartbeat go up and adrenaline rush through your veins. You’ll be dying to know what happens next, irrespective of time or place. That’s what makes a book unputdownable or a movie so gripping you are on the edge of your seat. That’s the power of compelling storytelling. It has the ability to make time, or at least seem to make time stop.
All of us love fiction. As long as it does not become ludicrous, we love seeing our favorite superhero, donning his/her signature battlefield attire, bash up the evil forces that threaten our country, or maybe even our planet. We love reading about witches, wizards and detectives, their endeavors mesmerize us all the time.
Yet some people believe fantasy induces unrealistic and sometimes outright dangerous ideas among the youth of today. We have heard of children getting fatally hurt after attempting Spiderman’s stunts after jumping off a building. But does fiction exist only for entertainment? Do people indulging in it dismiss reality and trap themselves in a world of their own? No.
This is because fiction has the great power to bring out emotions and learn about human psychology through characters. We’ve all cried when a beloved character dies in a book or on screen. We can understand the inner conflict of a character as he/she struggles to make a tough choice. We might end up making the choice for the character, strengthening our ability to pick between the right and wrong.
It’s often seen that children understand something better if it’s told in the form of a story. We all know that we can sometimes be lulled to sleep during a boring school lesson, but an action and humor packed story keeps us on the edges of our seats easily. Stories, be it books or movies, allow us to become the characters we love, sharing laughter and tears with them till the very end. Basically, stories allow us to escape the humdrum life of school or work, to understand the ups and downs of the hero’s life. A deep impact on our conscience, and memories that last a long time, are the gifts a good story gives us.
Non fiction, comprising documentaries, and books, when put in the right way can be supremely interesting as well, They bring knowledge and, in the process, light to our life. They increase our storehouse of wisdom, which is extremely important. A well read and learned person garners respect and appreciation everywhere.
But if non fiction is the brain of the human soul, fiction is the heart. Not reading or watching fiction makes a person unimaginative and quite boring. He/she does not see anything beyond the trials and tribulations of the real world.
Imagine this: Someone’s only read fact or trivia books their whole life and simply can’t understand why people get so worked up over some fake superhero or some book filled with stupid, unrealistic adventures and stunts. But it’s impossible to live without stories. The world around is filled with imagination, creativity, authors and filmmakers spinning one story after another to captivate the audience. Won’t that person feel totally lost?
Just like a body is made up of many equally important parts, fiction and nonfiction are both essential for the enhancement of a good person. So go ahead! Balance your science documentaries with your favorite Avengers movie or detective book, without fear of being deemed too fantastical. Use your brain and your heart to make decisions, and enjoy life!