Why is it so common for people to criticize escapism within fantasy if it brings us much tranquility and joy? In this episode, host, Anahi Canales Dominguez, discusses with a peer, Adela Sheng, the impact of escapism on our mindset, and why fantasy critics view it detrimentally. Their conversation focuses on escapism to the Spirit Realm, a magical world in the popular Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, to attempt to form a consensus on escapism’s impact. Within their interview, they compare reality and escapism as the film expresses them, and how the difference between the two is strengthened by "hustle culture," their influence on mental health as well as our contrasting emotional judgment towards both.
