Incorporation of Bulgarian folklore traditions and culture into the urban fantasy genre

Abstract

In The Soul Beneath I explore the elevated importance of setting in the urban fantasy (UF) genre. My work is based on creative research of the UF genre carried out by reading works of authors such as Cassandra Clare, Ben Aaronovitch and Ilona Andrews. Upon examination of the novels I’ve read, it has become clear that many published UF texts are set in a surprisingly limited number of large cities such as New York in City of Bones or London in Rivers of London. This begs the following question, which forms the basis for the thesis accompanying the creative element: what if an urban fantasy work was set in a non-typical for the genre city? This project aims to present how Bulgarian setting and culture can be incorporated into UF and the effect that can have on the story. Rituals such as fire-walking and spirit scaring were crucial inspirations for the magical element in the creative piece. Throughout the thesis, I discuss what Anastenaria is and how I’ve moulded this folklore tradition into a magic practice. The overarching results of my work reaffirm the great importance of setting, particularly cultural when it comes to an urban fantasy text.