“Cinderella” unrealistically uses magic as a tool to gain success. This gives children the wrong idea that they can be successful though passivity. Success and riches is much more likely to be obtained though the methods of hard work and innovative ideas. Marriage as a path from rags to riches is more realistic than magic. Real life examples of people marrying into wealth do exist and thus should be treated as more realistic than magic, but still unlikely. For fairytale purposes such as “Cinderella” however, magic and marriage are both perfectly acceptable and realistic.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Week 8 Cinderella: Rags to Riches
“Cinderella” is a classic example of a “rags to riches” story. Rags to riches stories are stories in which someone, through means of hard work or good fortune, climb the class ladder from poverty to extreme wealth. In fairytales, the advancement through society is mostly achieved through the good fortune. The fairy tale “Cinderella: fits perfectly into this category. Cinderella is a poorly treated stepdaughter, who with the help of magic and marriage (good fortune), becomes a wealthy princess. In fairytales, rags to riches is a common motif. There are many different paths to wealth throughout fairytales however. In “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Joseph Jacobs, it is achieved through theft. In “Cinderella”, it is though magic and marriage.
“Cinderella” unrealistically uses magic as a tool to gain success. This gives children the wrong idea that they can be successful though passivity. Success and riches is much more likely to be obtained though the methods of hard work and innovative ideas. Marriage as a path from rags to riches is more realistic than magic. Real life examples of people marrying into wealth do exist and thus should be treated as more realistic than magic, but still unlikely. For fairytale purposes such as “Cinderella” however, magic and marriage are both perfectly acceptable and realistic.
“Cinderella” unrealistically uses magic as a tool to gain success. This gives children the wrong idea that they can be successful though passivity. Success and riches is much more likely to be obtained though the methods of hard work and innovative ideas. Marriage as a path from rags to riches is more realistic than magic. Real life examples of people marrying into wealth do exist and thus should be treated as more realistic than magic, but still unlikely. For fairytale purposes such as “Cinderella” however, magic and marriage are both perfectly acceptable and realistic.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Week 7 Storytelling in Deaf Culture
This week we had Deaf Studies professors Dr. Mark Rust and Dr. Ricky Rose give a presentation on storytelling in ASL. It was interesting to see the difference between the deaf and hearing cultures. The deaf storytelling is much more animated. The story is told with the entire body. Emotion can be seen on the face and in the intensity of the body movements whereas in hearing cultures emotions can only be indicated with voice and facial expressions. It took me a little bit to adjust to the new style of performing, but once I did I found that I enjoyed it more than hearing it regularly. It became more of a play with the narrator as the actor than someone just reciting a story. Dr. Rose also changed the place he was standing when he was reading as different characters. This visual really helped to make the story come to life.
This lecture gave me an appreciation for the use of body and facial expressions in storytelling. One of the characteristics of a fairytale is that they are depthless. The main character doesn’t experience much emotion, if any in tales. The facial and body expressions adds some depth to the character and thus makes the story more gripping than one with no emotion.
This lecture gave me an appreciation for the use of body and facial expressions in storytelling. One of the characteristics of a fairytale is that they are depthless. The main character doesn’t experience much emotion, if any in tales. The facial and body expressions adds some depth to the character and thus makes the story more gripping than one with no emotion.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Week 6 Snow White
“Sonne” by the band Rammstein is a music video that tells an interesting verion of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” Rammstein puts a unique spin on the tale however. Instead of a wicked stepmother that repeatedly tries to kill Snow White, they use gold to symbolize a number of things found in the traditional Brothers Grimm version.
Both stories start off the same. Snow White lives with the seven dwarves in the woods and the dwarves are gold miners. This is where the Rammstein version drastically changes course from the Grimms’ tale. In the music video, Snow White is a ruthless dictator who uses the dwarves to obtain gold. Snow White then uses the gold to get high. The gold is what ties the stories together. It simultaneously represents drugs, greed, and the wicked stepmother. In the video, Snow White is seen snorting gold dust through a straw, an obvious reference to cocaine. A little later, Snow White overdoses from injecting gold into her veins. The gold helps to play the role of the wicked stepmother. In the Grimms’ version, the stepmother is the one who kills Snow White. The gold is the physical item in the Rammstein version that kills her. However, I think that Snow White herself also helps encompass the stepmother role. Snow White is greedy for the gold while the stepmother is greedy for beauty and the admiration of the people. In both tales, this is what ultimately leads to Snow Whites death.
I like the Rammstein version better because it is more modern and thus I can connect with it more. I also thought that it was a very unique and clever take on the story and that the music video itself was well done.
Both stories start off the same. Snow White lives with the seven dwarves in the woods and the dwarves are gold miners. This is where the Rammstein version drastically changes course from the Grimms’ tale. In the music video, Snow White is a ruthless dictator who uses the dwarves to obtain gold. Snow White then uses the gold to get high. The gold is what ties the stories together. It simultaneously represents drugs, greed, and the wicked stepmother. In the video, Snow White is seen snorting gold dust through a straw, an obvious reference to cocaine. A little later, Snow White overdoses from injecting gold into her veins. The gold helps to play the role of the wicked stepmother. In the Grimms’ version, the stepmother is the one who kills Snow White. The gold is the physical item in the Rammstein version that kills her. However, I think that Snow White herself also helps encompass the stepmother role. Snow White is greedy for the gold while the stepmother is greedy for beauty and the admiration of the people. In both tales, this is what ultimately leads to Snow Whites death.
I like the Rammstein version better because it is more modern and thus I can connect with it more. I also thought that it was a very unique and clever take on the story and that the music video itself was well done.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Comparing Beauty and the Beast to Cupid and Psyche
When comparing it to Beauty and the Beast, Cupid and Pyche, written by Lucius Apuleius is most like Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s 1756 version. Both stories have three daughters, one of who’s beauty stands out among the rest. In both stories, the daughter is chosen to leave the comfort of home and family to live with a stranger. An important part of the comparison is the character and attitude of the heroines Beauty and Psyche. Both leave their previous lives willingly and with a determined attitude. Psyche and Beauty are cherished by the townspeople for their beauty, but they are too virtuous and humble to become egotistical and vain. Both heroines end up at a magnificent castle full of lavish niceties and devoted servants. Both have sisters who are full of jealousy, but whom they love anyway. The similarities between the two heroines is uncanny. One could put Beauty in Psyche’s place and Psyche in Beauty’s place and the tales wouldn’t miss a beat.
Another similarity is the lesson both stories tell. Beauty marries Beast because of the goodness of his character, despite his appearance. Cupid asks Psyche not to look at him because he wants their marriage to thrive on love alone, not his godlike looks.
Another similarity is the lesson both stories tell. Beauty marries Beast because of the goodness of his character, despite his appearance. Cupid asks Psyche not to look at him because he wants their marriage to thrive on love alone, not his godlike looks.

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