Clear Up Definition and Correct Misuse: Urban Fantasy

I'd say, for me, an Urban Fantasy story has to be set no earlier than the Industrial Revolution.

I've read that the modern era begins with the French Revolution since the seeds for modern democracy were already planted and sprouted by then, and the industrial revolution and urbanization was just beginning to get underway.

The Addams Family is Fantastic Comedy but I'm not sure if the two can overlap.

On the Historical Fantasy page someone listed Medieval European Fantasy as a subgenre but Historical Fantasy is a subgenre of Urban Fantasy and Medieval European Fantasy can't be Urban Fantasy.

edited 15th Dec '11 9:06:01 AM by jate88

Medieval European Fantasy isn't a genre, it's a setting. I say take off the mention to it.

edited 15th Dec '11 5:58:42 PM by NoirGrimoir

I wouldn't say that Historical Fantasy is a subgenre of Urban Fantasy; they're just very closely related Fantasy subgenres due to both taking place in the "real world".

Before it claimed to be a subgenre so I listed it as such, but now it looks like someone has changed it. We can move it to the related genre's list.

Also, I added the hot tip about 'modern'.

edited 15th Dec '11 6:11:44 PM by NoirGrimoir

Historical Fantasy and Urban Fantasy do overlap a lot. Especially if you combine Clock Punk and Gas Lamp Fantasy or Urban Fantasy and Dungeon Punk.

Agreed

I went ahead and switched out descriptions. If everyone is happy with it are we done or is there something else we were going to do?

The crowner still has the option to vote on it, does that mean it hasn't been called?

edited 20th Dec '11 5:39:15 PM by HiddenFacedMatt

We pretty much called it a while ago, I guess I should holler to close it.

Crowner closed. We done here?

I switched out a description already, so I think so, maybe put a clock in case of a few straggling comments rather than closing the thread.

What makes Urban Fantasy different from Post-Modern Magik?

Urban Fantasy is a genre. Post-Modern Magik is when you update/extrapolate fantasy conventions for modern day technology. Example: Magic Mirror becomes Magic Cell Phone. The description is just really confusing.

edited 21st Dec '11 10:59:50 PM by NoirGrimoir

So take Standard Fantasy Setting, apply Post Modern Magick and viola you have Urban Fantasy?

jate 88, no. One of the key points of Urban Fantasy is that the world setting as a whole is not a fantasy setting. It has fantastical elements, but by and large the world itself is fairly ordinary with the fantastical exceptions.

Or, in short, Like Reality Unless Otherwise Noted.

edited 22nd Dec '11 12:20:43 PM by Nohbody

Urban Fantasy does not require Post-Modern Magik, it's just common. Post-Modern Magik is just a story element. Also the whole point of Urban Fantasy is that it doesn't have a Standard Fantasy Setting. It's set in modern day.

So could Mundane Fantastic and Fantastic Comedy be urban fantasy or does urban fantasy require a High Fantasy or Heroic Fantasy style antagonist without bringing anything else from those genres?

Mundane Fantastic set in the modern day urban world is just Soft Sci Fi honestly.

Fantastic Comedy generally lacks enough magical elements to really be Urban Fantasy, but it can crossover into it. Especially in shows that run long enough to focus more on the fantastic elements. Most of it isn't though.

edited 23rd Dec '11 10:16:32 AM by shimaspawn

Everyone okay with closing this thread?

You swapped in the description, right? I'd say close it. Maybe start up a Trope Talk thread to discuss the finer points of the trope.

Closing as requested.