Bards of Fantasia
Bards of Fantasia is a multimedia and educational concept developed over the last three decades by writer S.W. Wilcox He believes living educators are more responsible for teaching the arts than the mere artifacts of long dead artists and novelists, the "dead white male" syndrome. "Bards" were ancient minstrels who taught and entertained without known written aids, as a "Fantasia" is a song without strict rules of form. Penpal as a teen with famed fantasy writer Michael Moorcock, Wilcox also brings a unique approach to visual design for the sight-challenged, with only one half of one working eye.[1] Paragraph one, next, covers attempted book design innovations in that area.
"Bards of Fantasia (Book 1): A Poem for Britain, Ver. 2," published 8-27-2017,[2] is aimed at an experimental YA readership. New page design concepts include detailed, hand drawn chapter pics by the author plus screenplay/comic formatting to ease reluctant/sight-challenged readers. This was minimized from the complaints of Ver. 1 (see history below) but staunchly retained. Following his final graphics experience at newspaper The Lebanon Daily News, professors at Pennsylvania colleges LVC (Prof. Ming, 2004) and HACC (Prof. Weible, 2004) respectively praised early versions of the accompanying Grammar Maps as original and "of the highest order" of teaching value. The story is also notable as only a few dozen or so novels are set in the 22nd century, but owes an admitted debt to the Young Adult Brit Lit traditions, and word count, of such influences as "Willy Wonka," and "Alice in Wonderland," the backcover divulges. Book 1 and Grammar Maps 1 - 3 were all independently published late 2017. As of 2-15-2018, the series has 29 ratings at Goodreads with a 4.5 of 5 star average, a critical success.
25+ YEAR HISTORY
"(BHM Records presents:) BARDS OF FANTASIA" was first developed as a short musical play (and 5-song cassette) in Sacramento CA between 1991 - 1993. A local California newspaper noticed with a quarter-page review: "What is so different about this...'heavy metal' duo?...They have a theatrical point of view...Their stage set looks like the inside of a wizard's laboratory, and they dress in renaissance costumes as well."[3] The duo's approach was notably novel but harshly critiqued as such, preceding the lead vocal/lead guitar/drums only minimalism of bands like The White Stripes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- even joke band Tenacious D -- who enjoyed big label funding to push the envelope for heavy rock duos. S.W. Wilcox, aka indie label owner DJ Scott, in 2008 reformed his production company from BHM Records in California to HGR Records in Utah, in 2010 starting a release of 1,000s of free compilation cd's of local bands. Senior Writer Bryer Wharton of Utah authority SLUG mag reviewed and hailed the first of three free discs as "A [firm confirmation to] local music fans."[4] But his first, 2008, commercial disc release was a 39-minute educational film just about "Bards of Fantasia" and no other bands.
"Bards of Fantasia: Tour musical, mythical Britain in 39 animated minutes" is a quick DVD aimed at schools with teaching manual and maps, published late 2008, archived at IMDB. A few months before he praised the first compilation cd from Wilcox's HGR Records, Senior Writer Bryer Wharton of SLUG also reviewed and praised the film: "As an artistic, musical and poetic piece, the film is one of a kind."[5] This One-person show with all voices and music performed by writer Wilcox, was fairly received critically, but it didn't attract distribution/post-production from educational publishers. School media publishers being notoriously political and nonreceptive to innovation, "Bards" would be incarnated again later, after nearly a decade of R&D, as an indie novel with grammar supplements -- and a screenplay awaiting full production, published verbatim with color storyboards as a "Pic-Novel". [6] This version was given 3 of 5 star review at LAS Reviews, liking it but also critiquing: "The gods and other mythical beings in this tale were a lot of fun....[but] I needed a lot more information about what was happening with the characters." [7]
References[edit]
- ↑ https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2017/07/19/meet-guest-author-s-w-wilcox/
- ↑ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35834492-a-poem-for-britain
- ↑ "Valley Music News" Sacramento, Review by Ally Feinman, February 1993
- ↑ "SLUG" Salt Lake Underground mag, Local CD Reviews, Sept. 2010. Pdf archive here: https://www.slugmag.com/issues/september-2010/
- ↑ "SLUG" Salt Lake Underground mag, Movie Reviews, March 2009. Pdf archive here: https://www.slugmag.com/issues/march-2009/
- ↑ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35557026-a-poem-for-britain
- ↑ http://www.longandshortreviewsya.com/?s=bards+of+fantasia
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