High and Low Fantasy

[steepholm]

I put this query out on Facebook but may as well repeat it here, since the answer hasn't come zinging back in unambiguous terms as yet...

Who coined the terms "high fantasy" and "low fantasy" - both the concepts and the actual phrases? I feel this is something I ought to know just like that, since they have historically had quite wide currency, even though (for several reasons) I dislike and avoid them myself.

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

My feeling is that "high fantasy" was the original and was used to distinguish Tolkienesque fantasy from whimsy or fairy tales. "Low fantasy" was a much later coinage. Is there anything in Rhetorics of Fantasy about the origins of the terms? I know that Farah defines her own categories, but was there anything in there about "high/low fantasy"?

Unfortunately, I honestly can't remember and also can't remember where my copy is. My books are very disorganised at the moment. :(

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I'm away from my books atm and so can't check, but I don't remember her discussing it. If she did I imagine it would have been as part of clearing the ground for her own taxonomy, which is set up quite differently of course.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

If I can find my copy of Rhetorics of Fantasy I'll see whether "high/low" is mentioned. It might have been briefly discussed in the introduction and of course it's a reputable source.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I think high fantasy was used to distinguish epic fantasy from sword and sorcery. The fate of kingdoms (or the world) vs. wandering fighters.