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+====== What is the source of ‘Generic’ Fantasy? ======
+This is a quick opinion piece...or analysis...whatever.\\
+This is a quick //whatever// on what I think are the origins of ‘Generic’ Fantasy. Because...if you become familiar with Tolkien, you start to think that ‘Tolkienian’ is a misnomer.
+{{tag>musing}}
+===== Tolkien =====
+I imagine most people will point to Tolkien as the origin of generic fantasy...because everyone else copied him.
+Though I don't actually think this is the case. Hear me out.
+Sure, he brought us elves, dwarves, orcs, halflings and a bunch of other stuff I don't want to bother mentioning – however! when you go thru the lore on all of these...you find that they don't really resemble generic fantasy races //that// much. At least that's the impression I get.
+For example, the trait I'd most associate with dwarves isn't ‘mines’ but ‘exile’: it's kinda a whole thing that the dwarves don't really have a home. The Hobbit is partially about them reclaiming their home.\\
+This trait hasn't really shown up anywhere else.
+Also, they //aren't// that technologically advanced as compared to the rest of Middle-Earth. They're good jewelers but Elves are better smiths. Like: significantly better smiths.
+Elves come off as way more angelic in Tolkien's world than anything else. Though that doesn't apply all the time, it applies generally.\\
+I don't even get the impression they're //that// arrogant, honestly. I completely understand why Elrond is frustrated, for example.
+Basically, I //could// go on (and I likely will in the future), but I don't think Tolkien is who everyone initially copied.
+===== So who was copied? =====
+There are two other fantasy franchises that I believe are the actual source of generic Fantasy, because they reflect it a lot more than Tolkien – or, at least, that's my impression as an outsider and if it turns out I'm wrong I'm going to be //very embarrassed//.
+I think those two franchises are //Dungeons & Dragons// (what a surprise) and Warhammer Fantasy (possibly surprising). Their lore actually establishes a lot:
+  * D&D made it explicit that humans are the ultimate jack of all trades and even established the concept of humans being dominant among the races.
+  * D&D established a lot of the generic traits of races (including weaknesses and specialties).
+  * Warhammer Fantasy kinda took those and turned it up to 11, going all-in on arrogance for the elves for example.
+I might bother to elaborate further if I can think of something – and I don't forget about this article completely.