Educational Background

~ Upcoming Project ~ 

Many would say that fiction and fantasy are a waste of time and effort in a world run by science, artificial intelligence, and business. But Alex would argue that there are crucial functions of folklore and fantasy that we hardly notice, which actually underly the very basis of our ethical, psychological, political, economic, and social operations. 

What does fantays and fiction entail? Holy men, witches, love spells and monsters-- wizards, mages, headless horsemen and fire-breathing dragons. Why, Alex wonders, is so much of our literature and popular fiction speckled with magical beasts and fiction? What does the magical or the fantastic allow us to explore-- politically, psychologically, and socially-- that somehow we feel less comfortable exploring using real terms? 

Furthermore, how do stories of fairytales and fiction construct the social and gender norms of our society (if princesses are always to be rescued by princes) and how do we depend upon stories to conduct the ethical formation of our youth in the form of fables, lessons, and morals?