The Web of Wizardry Paperback Cover 1978

Editor: Here we have Boris Vallejo's "The Web of Wizardry" paperback cover from 1978, rendered in oil paint. It definitely captures that classic fantasy aesthetic, but honestly, the hero's pose feels a bit…clichéd, wouldn't you say? How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see it as deeply rooted in its cultural moment. Consider the late 70s: second-wave feminism is challenging traditional masculine archetypes, even as popular culture, like fantasy art and film, grapples with these shifts. The muscular hero confronting the dragon isn't just about individual bravery; it’s about asserting dominance within a changing power structure. The red cape itself can symbolize the assertion of political will within the shifting cultural landscape of gender and power dynamics, don't you think? Editor: I hadn’t considered it in terms of broader social commentary! Curator: Precisely. This image isn't just about a hero and a dragon, it's also reflecting anxieties around identity, gender roles and traditional heroism, so prevalent at the time. Does it subvert any tropes for you, or does it largely adhere to expectations? Editor: It feels…conflicted. The hyper-masculine figure reads as almost cartoonish now, but perhaps then, it was both celebratory and subtly questioned? Curator: Exactly! The artist is working within established tropes, maybe even celebrating them, while simultaneously opening a space for their re-evaluation. So in conclusion, the "cliche" then is actually much more complicated than it appears at first glance. Editor: That is really fascinating! Thanks for sharing. It really changes how I view it.