This study explores how the fantastical worlds created by authors such as Lewis Carroll and J.M. Barrie function as both realms of escapism and tools for cultural and social control. Using a mediological and sociological framework, the analysis interprets the adventures of characters like Alice and Peter Pan as metaphors for the tension between individual self-determination and societal expectations. The research delves into how these narratives mirror the complexities of modernity, reflecting broader cultural and social transformations during the 19th and 20th centuries. Initially aimed at young readers, these stories reveal deeper symbolic meanings that transcend their genre, offering multiple layers of interpretation. The study also highlights how the influence of these works extends into cross-media adaptations, continuing to shape modern cultural representations and thought.
Alessio Ceccherelli (Fri,) studied this question.