There are many people, including academics that view the fantasy genre as worthless and stuff of child’s fairy tales. However, there are several books, movies, and TV shows that are very popular and very good.
Fantasy Genre That I Like:
Book Series:
Dragonlance & The Death Gate Cycle – BY: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Forgotten Realms- various authors
The Wayfarer Redemption – BY: Sara Douglass
Avalon series – BY: Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Lord of the Rings – BY: J.R.R. Tolkien
A Song of Ice and Fire – BY: George R.R.Martin
Harry Potter – BY: J.K. Rowling
The Sword of Truth – BY: Terry Goodkind
The Shannara Chronicles – BY: Terry Brooks
The Belgariad & The Malloreon Books – BY: David Eddings
The Dresden Files – BY: Jim Butcher
and more.
TV Shows & Movies:
Xena: Warrior Princess
King Arthur
Game of Thrones
The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit
Conan movies
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Roar
Merlin
Covington Cross
Legend of the Seeker
Robin Hood
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Harry Potter
The Dresden Files
and more.
Several of these should be classics. And “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” are classics. My point is fantasy genre SHOULD NOT be dismissed, just because the academics say so.
Sources/Further Reading:
https://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/14/fredericks14art.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2007/apr/23/bridgingthegapswhyweneed
http://danniliang.weebly.com/film-and-genre/conventions-of-the-fantasy-genre
StarWolf Geek 