...Iconic figure Walt Disney once stated, ‘Reality and fantasy often overlap’. Disney’s ‘Enchanted’ explores this intriguingly through the development of characters, incorporating Disney references in both worlds and comparing the contrast between the different views of love from all the characters. The film begins with a lovely opening sequence in hand-drawn animation set in the fairytale land of Andalasia. It’s a perfect summary of the classic Disney fairy-tale motif, capturing everything great of the old approach. The audience is first introduced to the fairytale stereotypical characters: joyful princess-to-be Giselle, lunkheaded Prince Edward, comical Nathaniel, malicious Queen Narissa and feisty Pip the chipmunk. Giselle serenades her fellow woodland creatures yearning for the arrival of a handsome prince to deliver her ‘true love’s kiss’, a reference to the only way Snow White and Aurora could be awakened from the curses that were put upon them. Prince Edward is your typical charming knight in shining armour and declares his love for Giselle instantly after hearing her sing. His stepmother, Queen Narissa, is the antagonist and does not want to step down from the throne so she banishes Giselle from the idyllic kingdom and into the not magical, unforgiving live-action world of New York city. What better purgatory than the place where, as the stepmother puts it, “There are no happily ever afters”. The characters of the reality world are: cynical, non-nonsense Robert, fairytale...
Words: 979 - Pages: 4
...It meshed together many of my childhood fairy tales and stories, creating an unique plot for the musical. The main theme that stood out, in my opinion, was greed. The musical shed light on how many people have selfish tactics and will do anything in their power to get what they want. Jack wanted gold, the married couple wanted a baby, and Cinderella's husband wanted a beautiful woman. Each person did what could to get what they wanted, and everything seemed fine. Just like in reality, everything that glitters isn't gold. Once each person had what they wanted, things started to backfire on them because of the way they recieved these different wishes. Everybody still wanted more than what they had, or at least wanted to add to what they already had attained. The musical also showed how easy it was to lose things, once you have taken them for granted. Jack's mother died, the wife of the married husband died as well. If I had to create an alternate ending, I don't think I would have had anyone die. I did appreciate how the musical was shedding light onto great values and life lessons, but I would have altered death being involved. When I think of my favorite fairy tales, they all ended with happy endings. I wanted the musical to end that way, maybe the people could have been punished for their wrong doings. I would have maybe had everyone lose their prized possesion, but not their family member or spouse. It is still supposed to be a fairy tale. The musical did not end with a happily...
Words: 353 - Pages: 2
...Hair Extensions Won’t Save The Modern Rapunzel Hair extensions and expensive shampoo might not find your man, but Austen will writes Alex Simmons As I once again retire to my ivory tower, or rather my apartment on the fourth floor, I look out my window to see but another possible suitor across the street. Why he doesn’t look up at me, I wonder, as he strolls casually by. Is it because of how I look, I question, as I survey myself in the mirror with a fine toothed comb. Or is it because of where I live, in average furnishings and a moderate city block? And now I think to myself, is the modern world so frustratingly bound to physical appearance rather than personal depth? Or is it my reclusive nature and timid personality that restrains me from racing down the stairs and potentially entering into my own fairytale? For the adult population of the modern world, in particularly males, the possibility that fairytales and happy endings still exist seems to be a fanciful notion. Perhaps I am a child at heart or more likely delusional in the hope that such “fabrications” of reality that struck a par with me as a young girl do exist in the contemporary world. And whilst years of seemingly perfect yet failed relationships, contradictory evidence and vindictive and damning opposition stack up against me, I still earnestly believe in the literary complex of Prince Charming sweeping me off my feet and into my happy ending. But what if there is the possibility that simply waiting...
Words: 1006 - Pages: 5
...Title: Varying Interpretation of Fairy Tales in real life and The effects when introduced early in childhood. Justin L. Soriano Vincennes University Abstract This paper explores published articles that report studies done from research conducted upon observation of young children by Bettelheim (The uses of enchantment, 1976). The articles however vary in their definitions today. Bettelheim suggested that fairy tales have an emotional and symbolic importance especially those traditional stories that included abandonment, death, injuries and evil witches. These tales allowed children to cope up with their fears and understand moral values in their own terms. This paper also examines how preferred relationship traits are created based on stories like Cinderella or Snow White and how it affects us in choosing an ideal suitable partner. Varying Interpretation of Fairy Tales in real life and The effects when introduced early in childhood. Everybody as children has been read or told a version of “ Cinderella” at one point in their lives. They were recited to us by out parents and grandparents, aunts and uncle, older siblings or other relatives and of course our dear teachers at school when we were young. We can’t help but feel enthralled as our imaginations transport us to the enchanted time and place. But what really draws us to be so interested in fairy tale stories like these? How does these stories affect us or the children exposed to it in the long run as we...
Words: 2008 - Pages: 9
...of storytelling. One folk-art in particular, fairy tales, seems to be quite affected by this transition. Although the mass printing and marketing of fairy tales as reproduced books, movies, and other media has increased availability of the public like never before in history, there also seems to be a “cheapening” of the art itself, as well as art in general, as the role of the storyteller has been removed. Once only heard if one were to run into a skilled storyteller, fairy tales with the help of printing and mass marketing are now available to everyone able to buy an inexpensive children’s book. This simple fact cannot be overlooked as the whimsical tales that define childhood imagination are now readily available to all that seek them. Previously, if a child did not have any storytellers in their family or, let’s say, their village- then they may never have heard certain tales that other like-aged children would. This is just simply not a problem anymore, and is a testament to the benefits of mass printing fairy tales- though one would still be wise to realize what has been lost in the process. The commercialization of fairy tales has removed the role of the storyteller which directly affects the ability of fairy tales to be modified by the storyteller to reflect current socio-trends and concerns as they once did. Fairy tales are now sometimes referred to as “timeless classics” which in a way is quite different to fairy tales of old which while always taught a certain lesson...
Words: 337 - Pages: 2
...Women in our society Engineer Patricia Galloway believes that serving as the first woman president of the 151-year-old American Society of Civil Engineers - a historically male bastion if there ever was one - makes her a role model to women in the industry. It's high times for women leading construction-related engineering groups, with three others currently in high office. The same goes for construction organizations. Nova Group's Carole L Bionda is chairelect of Associated Builders and Contractors. Meanwhile, the US House Education and Workforce Committee last month passed the Family Time Flexibility Act (H.R. 1119) which could undermine workers' most basic rights by altering the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which currently requires employers to pay overtime to certain employees when they are required to work beyond the normal 40 hour work week.( Peterson 98) At home, we're aware (perhaps painfully so) that men and women often have different communication styles. But it's easy to forget that such differences can show up at work, too. To do an effective job of communicating, keep in mind gender-related communication styles. Young boys are socialized to give an immediate answer or solution to a problem. Young girls want answers, too, but tend to talk things over to solve problems. So while a man might prefer to work things out for himself, a woman is more likely to want to discuss them. According to researcher Deborah Tanhen, author of Talking from 9 to...
Words: 2052 - Pages: 9
...EDU-210 January 27, 2013 Students in the 21st Century I conducted an observation that was one to two hours long on students of the 21st century at the movie theater. I will reflect on these six areas: their communication styles, social and interpersonal behaviors, topics of discussion, common phrases and verbiage, attitudes, and their clothing and body art. Their communication styles were both verbal and nonverbal. At the local community theater I observed that the high school age kids were not doing much talking. They were sitting around either talking or texting on their phones or on the social media sites updating their status. The only time the older kids really talked was when I asked them a question, besides that they were into their electronics. There were also a group of younger kids who look like they were probably in middle school, they were more into the video games, talking to each other about the movie they just saw or admiring the older kids play on their electronics. Social and interpersonal behaviors. As mentioned earlier the older kids were not being very sociable with each other. Unless you count them socializing on the social media sites. Besides that it was pretty quite in their little section, they seam very cool and laid back. Some of the younger kids on the other hand were discussing the film they had just seen. Topics of discussion. For the younger kids the only topic that was discussed was the movie Parental Guidance, which they had just seen...
Words: 574 - Pages: 3
...Risk-taking and social mobility in “Jack and the Beanstalk” One of the common themes in most fairy tales is extreme poverty and starvation. This is because these tales were folk traditions told by peasants and poverty was one of the few things that they knew very well. In “Jack and the Beanstalk” poverty is the central theme. Joseph Jacobs and Andrew Lang tell the story of a poverty-stricken boy and his adventure to rise above his childhood poverty and become rich. In both Jacobs and Lang’s version of "Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack is depicted as an ambitious risk-taker and clever boy who steals to overcomes poverty yet the audiences that Jacobs and Lang are writing for is clearly different. Jack takes numerous risks that allow him to get out of poverty in both versions but Jacobs’ version would be much more appealing to peasants while Lang’s version would be more appealing to the middle class who would not favor social mobility of peasants. Jacob’s and Lang’s version of the tale are remarkably similar because they both depict Jack as a risk-taker and resourceful boy who is able to use his cleverness to escape the clutches of poverty. In each tale Jack takes four risks. These risks are selling his cow for magic beans and each of the three times that he goes up the beanstalk to the giant’s/ogre’s castle. The very act of selling the family cow for a few magic beans is an incredibly risky one. This act is risky because the beanstalk has no economic value whatsoever...
Words: 1796 - Pages: 8
...VI of The Odyssey, the tale of princess Nausikaa exhibits the folklore motifs of struggle, lust, persuasion, marriage, determinedness, and gender roles that are historically valued in Western culture. People perceive the episode of Nausikaa and the Phaiakians in different ways. Book VI is a wonderful representation of a "fairy-tale" encounter that simply allows those who are involved to experience hope and change. In the Nausikaa episode, innocence is almost lost, persuasion becomes a method for salvation, kindness is overabundant, and genuineness to the self is of great importance. Folktales have been used throughout history to pass along customs, beliefs, and ways of life. They have influenced society's structure and development, along with metaphorically reminding and teaching people about how things were in the past and should be in the future. In Book VI of The Odyssey, Odysseus is washed onto the shore of the island of the Phaiakians, is wakened by the princess Nausikaa and her maidens, and his encounters are filled with folktale motifs. These motifs are cliché elements that constitute the Nausikaa episode, are defined in nonfictional culture, and express the themes of persuasion, eroticism, forbidden beauty, social norms, and rebirth. John Arnott MacCulloch, a Scottish author whom wrote many works on mythology and folklore, describes folktales and relates their use in culture and The Odyssey's Book VI in his article "Folk-Memory in Folk-Tales." Like MacCulloch, Michelle...
Words: 1624 - Pages: 7
...Fairy tales, whether written or visual are used as a medium to teach children morals, life lessons and social etiquette. From interpretations, a fairy tale can be defined as a story that has fictitious and folklore characters which displays the message for every action there is a reaction whether it be positive or negative. These fictitious characters influence children and help them to understand the messages so that children can be socially accepted (Hohr). The origins of fairy tales can not be narrowed to a specific time line but they were once old wives tales which were passed on from generation to generation which writers have modified to become or claimed as their own. Although fairy tales are useful to teach children morals fairy tales are inappropriate for children because of the psychological effects, presentation of the content and morals. This has given reasons for the modifications of fairy tales although these modifications are believed to be better both traditional and modern fairy tales are in somewhat way unsuitable for children. The early versions of fairy tales are not filled with the sanctified, altruistic images seen today but are filled with gory and sadistic images. In an attempt to understand these reasons for modifications of fairy tales we must understand the journey which the traditional writers took. Thomas O'Neil senior writer at the National Geographic and Maria Tartar the chair for program in Folklore and Mythology at Harvard University both go...
Words: 2527 - Pages: 11
...alien what domestic realism would seek to represent as familiar and internally integrated. Retaining the subversive charge and the painful ambiguities inherent in its original form. References to such moral children's tales as Sandford and Merton indicate that, in his mind, there was no serious distinction between adult and adolescent morality, and that, like his acquaintance, Hans Christian Andersen, he used one to reinforce the other. . . . [At times] the fairy tale is of structural importance, as the Cinderella fable is for Great Expectations. Pip starts his career in a low state before a forge (if not a hearth), and, by the aid of a supposed fairy godmother, achieves a high station. Because Dickens means to convert the fable to a Christian purpose, Pip must relinquish the glass slipper of pride (a showy, but impractical item), and return to ordinary, but ennobled circumstances, freed from the fairy-tale illusions that have so long misled him. It is worth noting that Great Expectations is also a Christian tale, opening on Christmas eve, partly located in a manger-like forge, and progressing to a symbolic crucifixion (Pip's wounded hands, symbolic illness, and resurrection). The child's fairy tale has been merged with what Arnold described as the adult's fairy tale, and the models of Cinderella and Christ confused, with all the aesthetic fascination of the storybook figure, but also with the moral power of the divinity. Biblical parable...
Words: 470 - Pages: 2
...creative, and imaginative. Without that, the people under his rule become silent. 2. Is this a story for children? Why or why not? I don’t think that it is honestly. Even though there is a young child playing a major role in the story with his father, most children I don’t think would grasp the concept of the story, nor would they be able to follow along with all the characters and references made in the story. 3. What do you think the author had in mind with Khattam-Shud and his Silence Laws? Do we have to know Rushdie’s personal history for the story to make sense, or does the story have a broader application? I picked up right away that this story was some form of culture that I’m not accustomed to. Maybe a folk tale of some sort from India? Either way, I’ve seen firsthand in the military being in a variety of different countries that you need to respect the laws and rights of their culture. A lot of places are very different than the United States and who are we to judge what they say or do? Being too outspoken may get you into trouble at times. I feel as though it would be nice to know about Rushdie’s past in order to better understand him as a person, but we don’t necessarily need to know his past in order to figure out what he is trying to get across to us. The broader application is that stories are...
Words: 522 - Pages: 3
...Jowdat Kassis Prof. Rhoda Stamell, Eng 1010 November 16, 2009 Women’s Position in Stories A folk tale is a short story that comes from the oral tradition. Folk tales often have to do with everyday life and frequently tell an inspiring tale of the lower class (peasants) triumphing over the higher class (nobles). In their original versions, most folk tales are not children's stories because of the violent nature of the story. Most folk tales come from true stories with tragic endings or violent and horrific events. For example, the “humpty dumpty” story was about a man who tried to commit suicide several times and succeed at the end. Also the “little red riding hood” story masked the ending of little red riding hood falling victim to a rapist. Unlike a folk tale which has cultural background, a fairy tale involves magic and fantasy. Examples of fairy tales are, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, “Beauty and the beast”, and Disney’s “Cinderella”. Usually fairy tales include fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, gnomes, and talking animals. Since folktales usually mirror the values and culture of the society from which they originated, a fairy tale can be a folk tale. In essence a fairy tale can also be a subgenre or genre of a folktale. Up until 1450 folktales were passed on orally, so not all folktales were the same. Because Folktales have been told by so many different people there were many different versions. In 1450 the printing press was invented and the folk stories...
Words: 1215 - Pages: 5
...Quaaackeroodles A Tale of Feathers and Friendship By S. L. Davis Copyright 2014 A story of life in the country and all that it offers. Aunt Mimi and Uncle Poppy try to keep Sherman, their pet duck, from getting into trouble! But Sherman and Sadie, the little girl of four who lives next door, finds country life fun and sometimes forgets the rules! Uh oh ………! Approx. 3000 words Sharon L. Davis...
Words: 2917 - Pages: 12
...Submitted by John Mcqueen DVD Analysis Paper * I Summary I Choose Into the Woods it is a musical with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, from a book written by James Lapine . I choose this play from all the others selections because I’am a huge Bernadette Peters fan. Peters plays the wicked witch . The play won several Tony awards , including Best Book, Best Score , and Best Actress. The Musical Intermingles , Different stories from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, stories such as Little Red Riding Hood , Rapunzel, Jack and the Bean Stalk and Cinderella and they join it to a Baker and his wife, who want a child but have a curse on them to be childless , because his father stole from the witches garden but the witch tells them that if they go into the woods and gather 4 items in three days , she will reverse the curse. 1 A red cape 2 a gold slipper 3 a white cow and 4 Golden Hair These items will allow the Witch to make a potion that will bring her youth and beauty again . The Bakers wife played by Joanna Gleeson joins him in the woods, on their quest to gather the items. The Baker first finds Little Red Riding hood, and just steals her cape, and then returns it to her, after she got mad at him. Then later he kills the bad wolf , and takes granny out of the...
Words: 713 - Pages: 3
