Analysis of the fantasy genre in two Korean and Iranian stories, Border Market and Nightmare of the black garden

Abstract

Introduction

This article examines the fantasy genre and its elements, principles, functions, and semiotics in two Korean and Iranian stories: The Border Market by Kim Seung-Jung and The Nightmare of the Black Garden by Arman Arian. The comparative analysis is conducted with reference to Elements of the Story by Jamal Mirsadeghi and Fantasy in Children’s Literature by Mohammad Hadi Mohammadi, and it seeks to answer the following questions:
 

what extent are superstitious, religious, and mythological elements and beliefs used in the fantasy genre in these two stories?
What are the similarities and differences in the characteristics of the fantasy genre in the two stories?

 

Methodology

This research is based on the elements, principles, actions, and semiotics presented in the two books The Elements of the Story by Jamal Mirsadeghi and Fantasy in Children’s Literature by Mohammad Hadi Mohammadi. Initially, the similarities and differences of story elements, including plot, theme, characterization, point of view, scene construction, and setting, in the two stories are analyzed. Then, a brief comparison of the principles and semiotics in the two stories is provided. Finally, the extent of the use of elements and the presence of superstitious, religious, and mythological beliefs in the two stories are examined.
 

Discussion

The main findings of this article are as follows:
Both stories are written in the fantasy genre, utilizing the native elements of Iran and South Korea. In this study, the elements, principles, and semiotics of the two stories have been compared in terms of their similarities and differences. Furthermore, we have examined the extent to which superstitious, religious, and mythological elements are used in both stories.
In terms of plot, it can be said that the narrative in The Nightmare of the Black Garden is more continuous and interconnected, whereas in The Border Market, the plot is fragmented and resembles dreamlike events, with strange incidents occurring to the characters one after another without clear reasons.
In terms of theme, both stories explore various psychological, philosophical, social, mystical, and mythological dimensions. Perhaps the most prominent feature of both is their focus on the theme of identity.
From the perspective of characterization, The Nightmare of the Black Garden has a single main character and revolves around the battle between good and evil. In contrast, the fate of the main character in The Border Market cannot be separated from his two friends, and this story does not contain an antagonist.
Regarding the use of superstitious, religious, and mythological elements, features such as the garden, jinn, monster, book, and savior in The Nightmare of the Black Garden, and elements like the moon, river, and four-directional statue in The Border Market, link the stories to the native beliefs of the two countries.
 
4.Conclusion
 In comparing the two stories, The Nightmare of the Black Garden and The Border Market, it can be concluded that despite their differences, both address the important theme of "identity and awareness" and, by utilizing native elements, explore and interpret this theme from different perspectives. In The Nightmare of the Black Garden, the boy ultimately moves from ignorance to self-awareness and liberation. In fact, the author portrays his personal desire for humanity’s release from the bonds of ignorance and loss of identity through an evolutionary path toward self-awareness.
However, in The Border Market, the author takes a different approach. This story centers memory as the core of human identity. The characters initially possess memories and identity, but upon entering a flashy market, they sell their memories in pursuit of peace or pleasure, essentially fragmenting their identities. Gradually, these characters become empty and eventually reach oblivion and meaninglessness. Therefore, it can be said that Ms. Kim adopts a more realistic path in confronting the issue of identity in today’s world.
Moreover, both stories depict the main characters’ encounters with the shadows of their unconscious. In The Nightmare of the Black Garden, the boy sees the shadow of his unconscious fears in the form of his nightmare monster, and by destroying it, he attains liberation and awareness. In The Border Market, the male character meets the shadow of his unfulfilled desires or dark past in the form of prostitute women, but instead of destroying them, he becomes engulfed by these desires. Although he manages to escape the market, he dies a few days later.
Additionally, both stories incorporate social critique within their narratives. The Border Market, by portraying a flashy market, criticizes the capitalist system in which people lose their identity even for a moment of pleasure and become empty puppets or move toward destruction. The Nightmare of the Black Garden, by depicting a garden whose inhabitants have no connection to the outside world, speaks of an oppressive society that keeps its people in ignorance and attempts to impose its desired identity on its youth.
Ultimately, both stories conclude with thought-provoking endings that invite the audience to reflect on themselves and the world around them.
 
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