Saturday, June 9, 2012

Roundtable Discussion: How Fairy Tales Cast Their Spell

It's a few years old but very much a topic of the moment so even if you saw it back in '07 it's worth a revisit. Besides, a roundtable discussion with Anne Cattaneo, Mark Lamos, Donna Jo Napoli, Roger Rahtz, Maria Tatar, and Jack Zipes? What's not to love more than once about that? ;)


Here's the program blurb (with more information about the presenters from HERE):
In a recent article in Time, entitled "The End of Fairy Tales?" James Poniewozik refers to Shrek and other recent fairy-tale films and writes, "This is a new world of fairy tales: parodied, ironized, meta-fictionalized, politically adjusted and pop-culture saturated. . . . What these stories are reacting against is not so much fairy tales in general as the specific, saccharine Disney kind, which sanitized the far darker originals." This may, indeed, be true, as a reaction to Disney, but the new forms are really not new. Fairy tales have been transformed in diverse ways and have been transforming themselves ever since they originated in an oral tradition. What is fascinating about the fairy tale genre is precisely its transformative quality and capacity to capture our imaginations. However, it is not clear why we are so addicted to fairy tales and why we continually return to them, change them, and use them in such innovative ways in the theater, opera, cinema, school, at home and, of course, on the Internet. Fairy tales touch our lives from birth to death. As a genre they were never developed or cultivated for children until late in their development, and adults are largely the writers and creators of fairy tales in practically every country in the world. The tales continue to speak to us and call out, it seems, for transformation. This panel will set out to discover the sources of this tradition and how it infuses and is infused by imaginative processes, including indigenous myth, religion, art, dream-life and morality.
Note: There's a little part at the beginning with announcements and an intro as is standard for any conference-type presentation so give it a few minutes to get going and be warned: it is LONG! (But so worth it.) Without further ado here is:
Transformations: How Fairy Tales Cast Their Spell
A roundtable discussion from Philoctetes.org
(The Multidisciplinary Study of Imagination)

For those who don't have time to sit here right now and watch it all and would like some notes to supplement, you're in luck! Philoctetes have also provided edited transcripts in the form of a (23 page!) Word Doc or PDF HERE (you'll need to scroll down for the link). How awesome is that?!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Letting Fairy Tales Live (A Fairy Tale Enthusiast's Dilemma)

Oops. It's an essay.
Consider yourself warned regarding the wordage!

So, in the last post I wrote this:
...that's one of those difficult things about fairy tales. We have to let them go and watch how they evolve, even when the outcome is not what we would choose or hope for...
It's something I've been thinking about a lot with all the various incarnations of tales and familiar characters popping up all over the place this past year and then on the release day post for Snow White and the Huntsman, Christie wrote this comment:
I have mixed feelings about this film. Its promise to be visually stunning and the re-worked storyline are intriguing but pouty, post-Twilight Kristen Stewart as Snow White does not speak to me. Part of me approves mainstream Hollywood peeking into the wealth of fairy tale material we all know is there, and part of me wishes we could keep it to ourselves in our community, where I know it will be properly appreciated.

I totally feel her dilemma. I've grappled with this for many, many years and still have an uncomfortable dual response to fairy tales appearing in film, TV and even books. Let me digress for a moment to explain some realities made clear to me in my time in Hollywood:

(I'll get back to actual fairy tales right afterward, I promise!)
Note: I've always worried about saying these things on the blog because I'm concerned it might impact my future employment in the entertainment industry when I stop being a stay at home mum and can go back to work BUT my respect for (most) people working in film and animation has only increased with the dose of reality that changed my outlook, so here goes. I hope my previous and future colleagues understand this has only made me more in awe of most people who continue to work regularly in the field and still aspire to producing something truly excellent.
When I finally got to work for Disney Feature Animation - a dream of mine since I was small - reality quickly came crashing in: I discovered, no matter what the official press, the company wasn't truly interested in honoring fairy tales or a tradition of good storytelling. At the end of the day it's run on dollars (how much they could ultimately make) and the "wow" factor that would dazzle both the public and the executives in charge of handing out the jobs and the money to make movies. The people in charge were not interested in someone who could help with development by offering research insight and access to avenues they may not have considered. Ironically, they thought they were, but challenging people on a production schedule quickly proved where the focus was and why as a result there was so much confusion. It was a club, it was exclusive and it was run on dollars, not on ideals. That was heartbreaking to realize for the little girl inside who had planned to help Disney make the best fairy tale films in the world. I quickly went from dreaming big and driven by ideals to scrambling to fit in enough to keep my job and survive. (You'd be astonished at the number of people who have, not only good ideas but excellent skills and are still in "workhorse" jobs.)


Surprise, surprise, most of Hollywood runs this way. Sure directors, writers and others lucky enough to be allowed creative input may start out with noble aspirations for a special story or project but that tends to get swallowed pretty quickly in the day-to-day reality of trying to get - and keep! - a job (and, for those a couple of rungs down the ladder, just trying to keep feeding their families). I'm not saying great things don't happen. Nor am I saying there aren't people who aim for the ideal and have a strong sense of respect. I know they exist as I've been lucky enough to meet a few of them but the reality is most people really are just trying to keep their jobs, just like the rest of the population. (The current economy has made that abundantly clear.) The challenge these storytellers have is to keep working while trying to hold on to their unique vision (often with both fists and all their teeth!). No one sets out to make a "bad" movie (one that the public hates or is indifferent to and doesn't earn good dollar return). Unfortunately, unless you are independent or a powerful enough force in Hollywood that you can do things entirely your own way,  the story you wanted to tell is rarely the one that makes it to the end/screen (or the starting gate as far as the public is concerned). It turns out that even "bad" movies are hard to make.


It's a tough business and I've gone from being highly critical of films using fairy tales to assessing them by the following criteria: Would I have been proud to have been part of that production? I have high standards so the answer isn't "yes" as often as you might think but it is "yes" far more often than it used to be. And "yes": I still want to do what I can to encourage excellence and truly resonant storytelling with regard to fairy tales in entertainment.

So, regarding Snow White and the Huntsman: would I be proud if I could add that project to my resume? The answer is "yes". Absolutely. Could it have been better? Absolutely. But that's not the point. In some ways I've come full circle and am back to being excited when fairy tales are used, period. It's a very odd feeling and something I have to remind my cynical, critical self to be aware of, especially right now.

The tales can't "live" without being retold by "common" people (ie. those who haven't made them their life and focus) because they belong, not just to linguists and writers but to average Joe's and Jane's. This is often very tough for people who love fairy tales!

Regarding SWATH, however, it's clearly a (pure) fantasy film* and one could argue that its very essence as such puts it in a different category from the sorts of tales the Grimms were collecting and retelling. Movie making is a much different business than working with tales everyday people tell and retell. That doesn't make it irrelevant though. In one sense it's reverse "popular" storytelling (in the sense of the types of tales and storytelling the Grimm Brothers were trying to preserve). Only a select few (the movie's creative team and writers) work on the reworking of a story and set up a "buzz" via teasers and other marketing to get people thinking about their product (that's right: "product", not "story" as you might at first think), the object being to capture the imagination of the public and get them talking about a story/movie and ultimately spending some of their hard-earned money on it. It's not until you see what sticks or how deeply it invades the lives and thinking of the public afterward (ie. what, if any, impact it has long term on popular culture) that you can truly see if there's been an evolution in a tales understanding or a "new" culture-wide reaction to a tale or tale-type.


I would suggest that the serial form of ABCs Once Upon A Time, for all its many short-comings and cringeworthy moments has still managed to capture the public's imagination over the long term and is one form the Grimms might have seen more as carrying on the oral/evolution of fairy tales than any blockbuster movie. While I personally have more than a few issues with the show regarding its use of fairy tales (yes, my precious! Told you I have this dual response), one thing that's clear is how it has encouraged widespread change in how people think about fairy tales and what wonder tales in general are. None of the concepts are new and there have been many far better written/filmed/etc ways in which fairy tales have been retold over many, many decades but it's rare that those have had such a wide impact (much to the chagrin of the fairy tale community). For every amazing Angela Carter work we've been blasted by (eg.) Little Mermaids and yet it turns out both are relevant for their effect on general thinking about fairy tales as well as for keeping fairy tales alive. The cross-cultural impact of Once Upon A Time (and other contemporary entertainment using fairy tales which only serve to bolster OUAT's impact again) is undeniable and impressive, especially considering that the "princess culture" which has remained, until recently, the current reigning popular consideration of fairy tales.


Are fairy tales "breathing" today? Most definitely. It's just that how they're "growing" isn't always how we'd wish, despite our best efforts to encourage all those ideal qualities we believe tales should retain. (Sound familiar parents?) Art and other vital "cultural organisms", for want of a better term, are fickle that way. Prof. Zipes discusses this dilemma of the need for popular culture to mesh (or sometimes clash) with history in order to let tales "keep living" in his new book The Irresistible Fairy Talewhich I am currently reading and plan to review. (I can't wait to get to the chapter titled Fairy Tale Collisions which discusses what's happening with fairy tales in art and entertainment right now.)


Snow White - the tale, the character - definitely has something to say to people in 2012. There's a reason she's the "it" girl of the year. Any other year Snow White - in these exact retellings and incarnations - may not be as well received but there's something about the tale that's filling a needed gap right now. What that actually is, is up for debate. I think it depends on who you are and what your situation is that impacts what you take away and retain from a story in particular. For Snow White, right now, it would seem that many aspects of her tale have things to say that are relevant to many different people. That's very interesting and points to something significant in the "life" of a tale.**


One thing that is clear from current adaptations is that familiar fairy tale characters appear more relatable to adults and grown-up situations than they did when Disney was the "king of the fairy tale". Again, it's nothing new but what I'm seeing is that adults who previously dismissed fairy tales as something only belonging to their childhood are suddenly connecting the dots and finding adult relevancies. While that's not news to anyone who's studied fairy tales it's a significant change for everyone else.

There's no doubt the film Snow White and the Huntsman has its own slants. Whether it is relevant or not to men and women today is another issue.  Some people will see it as a film about the need for strong heroines. Others will see a message saying women can't do really anything of consequence without acting like a man (or a very scary witch). Others still will see it as good will win out in the end if you persist while for others it will reinforce the idea that fairy tale values are unrealistic and unattainable without the perfect vessel (which in this film is the beautiful, powerful yet still virginal Snow White). Each of those, in their own way, is valid. At the end of the day, though, the film is pure entertainment first and foremost. While we can critique it and dismiss or embrace it, what the public overall see it as saying in 2012 - and how it affects their lens on fairy tales in the longer term - is yet to be determined.

*Unlike, for example, Pan's Labyrinth which, while clearly embracing fairy tales and a fantasy, has solid real world elements and is therefore more akin to a wonder tale than a purely fantastic film.
** In the case of this film (SWATH), the fact that the leading lady of the Twilight phenomenon (who gives up all ambition and her sense of self for a boy) was cast in a very non-passive*** role as Snow White (almost a polar opposite of her Bella Swan character) may have more to do with how fairy tales affect the "Twilight generation" rather than the fact that it's "Snow White" but that's a whole other discussion right there.
*** I've used the words "non-passive" instead of the more correct "active" for clarity here. Being active is more than doing action-hero stuff. Unfortunately, it's quite possible to be a passive action-hero. When I say "non-passive" I mean it has to do with a strong sense of identity, facing fears and forging forward for what you believe.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Jack Zipes Weighs In On "Snow White and the Huntsman:

 What would the Brothers Grimm think of the current box office hit Snow White and the Huntsman?

We'll never know, of course, but asking fairy tale scholars may give us some insights and HERE The Smithsonian talks to Prof. Jack Zipes for his take on the question.

So many reviews talk about movie making, visuals and Hollywood impact and it's difficult to get more than a line or two of consideration on the actual fairy tale aspects, despite it being the whole premise. Thankfully The Smithsonian asks some of the questions we've all been wanting answers to and Prof. Zipes concentrates on how the Snow White tale is told and what he sees regarding the contemporary relevancy of this particular retelling. He also weighs in on how he believes popular culture is doing in telling tales of the common people (grim!) and how that's one of those difficult things about fairy tales. We have to let them go and watch how they evolve, even when it's not what we would choose or hope for...

[More in this in the next post - which should be up shortly. Hopefully. Life has been a tad unpredictable the last few months.]

In the meantime, go read The Smithsonian interview HERE (I recommend it) and get a "Grimm review" on Snow White and the Huntsman.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Life Imitates Fairy Tales (Don't Complain About the Soup!)

Stone Soup by Sue Cornelison
I just had to share this:
Row over cold soup leaves husband stranded in frozen forest for a monthA Russian man found himself stranded in the middle of a forest in sub-zero conditions for over a month after storming out of the house following an argument with his wife over her cooking.
Lost in a frozen forest over an argument about soup. Go read the story - all that's missing is a talking bear.


(Found via Cate Fricke's Twitter feed.. which contains a lot of fairy tale related gems.)

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Article: The Unequivocal Connection Between Social Media and Myths, Fairy Tales, & Fantasy

 A succinct little article at Forbes explaining why and how, in the age of social media, fairy tales are necessary.
To know why we need Snow White or “Once Upon a Time,” we should quickly understand what social media does to us, explore what myths provide us, and what to do (next) about it.
The solution, according to Todd Wilms?

Fairy Tales Connects Us

I agree (and I finally understand why infographics are all the rage).

You can read the whole article - very quickly* - HERE.

The gorgeous fairy tale infographics on "The Good and Bad in Fairy Tales" (only available in Israeli as far as I can find) are by Jenny Lumelsky. You can see a couple more on her Behance page HERE. I would dearly love it if an English translation were available.

*So smart to write it this way. Even the I-only-have-5-minutes-thanks-to-my-social-media-wiring minded people he mentions will be able to get the gist. :)

Article: Snow White is Smarter Than Many Politicos

Snow White (Snow White & the Huntsman)
I guess this article at The Bellingham Herald would properly be classified as political - so expect some opinions when reading it and this post - but key to the discussion is the changing aspects of fairy tale heroines and princesses* in the public mind. 


For once, Hollywood is being touted as an example and force for needed changes in social (and political) attitudes instead of perpetuating dysfunctions. This is exactly what The Arts and Entertainment are supposed to do - challenge us, get us to think, tell our stories and help us shape the world the way we truly want it to be. They've been doing that all the way along, in some manner of course, but the "princess culture" and examples of supposedly strong women who ultimately throw out their values for a pair of rare Mahnolo's (or love's first "bite") has pervaded popular entertainment more than the alternatives. Well, no more.
Elizabeth I (Elizabeth)
In 2012 we have the princess thought to be "the most passive of them all", leading a war, a girl on fire who ignites a nation and an animated leading lady making her own future that has nothing to do with princes or love. It's true it's nothing new in Entertainment - not really - but it is when contrasted with the current hot-button women's rights issues demanding attention in the political arena.
Saint Joan (Joan of Arc miniseries)
From the article by Jenee Osterheldt at the Bellingham Herald:
How did we get here? Why does it feel like the women's rights movement never happened and women are suddenly second-class citizens? Politicians will have you believe (women) are pampered princesses, damsels in distress who need to be saved from ourselves. 
And then I turn on the television and the world looks different. Somehow, it looks better for the ladies. We aren't weak on the screen. We are Hannah Horvath owning our quirks on "Girls," Kate Beckett solving crimes on "Castle," Olivia Pope fixing problems for the president on "Scandal." Even when we are princesses, we can save the day. The "Once Upon a Time" fair maidens aren't soft and whiny and hypersexual. They fight for themselves. 
In the real world, women are being stripped of their rights. But Hollywood is pushing forward an image of women as we truly are - independent, strong and brilliant. It reminds me of how "The Cosby Show" dispelled racial stereotypes and what "24" did to pave the way for the possibility of a black president.

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/06/05/2550834/snow-white-is-smarter-than-many.html#storylink=cpy
You can read the rest of the article HERE.
Merida (Pixar's Brave)
While the article isn't all-encompassing as it could be and may even come across as a little naive, it does put its finger directly in the center of issues that need thinking about by women and men everywhere, no matter what country they live in or what their political leanings.
Brienne of Tarth (Game of Thrones)
One of the things we love about fairy tales is their ability to get to the heart of matters succinctly and unavoidably so that we can tell - and make - our own personal stories better. The word "Queen" used to be a very powerful word but is rarely used now beyond farce. The word "princess" has come to mean the exact opposite of what "Queen" used to be. Imagine reading fairy tales in which the word "princess" was a power word again! What a difference that would make.
Natalia Vodianova (fashion shoot for Bazaar)

While we don't all need to pick up a sword or wear armor plating to avoid death or imprisonment (can you imagine?!), we do need to know what we stand for and why, and to stick to our standards when the going gets tough. It's not that we don't need help - everyone does, even Queens; Kings too. What it means is that we also do our part to help ourselves even as we're helping others. When people do it's a wonder all of its own. That's my kind of story.

Alice (Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland)

*I'm including heroines in entertainment that have been romanticized, and therefore given fairy tale aspects in the public mind, such as Elizabeth the 1st and Joan of Arc, since this also blends in with issues of what the public considers to be "fairy tale" and what isn't.

Snow White's Scary Adventures Come To An End

On May 31st, Snow White took people on her scary adventures ride at Walt Disney World for the very last time. As of June 1, 2012 Orlando will no longer have Scary Adventures due to the expansion of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Said by many to be the best of all the Snow White attractions and rides around the world, including those in Anaheim, Tokyo and Paris, this is a sad time for many fans of the ride and the movie.


No one will be sadder than Ben, born in 1993 with autism. It wasn't until he went on the Snow White's Scary Adventures ride in WDW at age nine that he finally started communicating and being "present" with regard to the world around him. He has since been on the ride almost 3200 times. You can read his touching story, in four very readable parts, starting HERE (links provided too the next sections).

HERE, written by Ben's mother father (sorry Ron!), is a retrospective on the attraction, complete with some great video comparisons that help to explain why Florida's Scary Adventures were unique and special.

Although I never had the privilege to go on the Orlando version of the ride, the Disneyland version is one of the few attractions that not only brings back the experience of watching the movie but immerses you within it. I gather the experience in Orlando did this to a much greater extent and, personally, don't truly understand why they didn't just revamp/update the attraction (if they had to at all) with all the immersive technology now available.


The awesome and amazing Filmic Light blog (which is THE place to visit for all things regarding Disney's first feature animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) has a special post with a rare glimpse at the SWSA ride with the lights on. You can see it HERE.

It's one of the last rides that has its roots in what Walt approved for the original Disneyland so there's a large chunk of history disappearing as I write. The attraction is being replaced, ultimately, by the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster ride, complete with cutting-edge technology and due to open in 2014. It is, however a "ride" and not an attraction as per Scary Adventures so I feel that's a loss, though Snow White will still be represented in some form. While Walt meant - the best way - for the park to be ever evolving, to have it happen like this isn't probably what he had in mind. The space where Scary Adventures entertained people for over 40 years will host the new Princess Fairytale Hall, a Disney Princess meet-n-greet spot...
(Really?? I'm just... gagging.)

Saturday, June 2, 2012

TV Special on ReelzChannel TODAY: Snow White & the Huntsman: A Twisted Tale

Late notice, sorry, but I just found out it's running again today.

Reelz Channel has a decent half hour special on the making of Snow White and the Huntsman. I caught it this morning and it is worth watching if you like Snow White or are curious about aspects of this fairy tale movie. It's possibly the best special on this available at the moment, apart from the pre-released featurettes (I do hope they include it on the DVD/Blu-ray but it's unlikely). 

There are the usual/fun movie-behind-the-scenes bits as well but they do discuss the Grimm's Little Snow White and dealing with classic imagery and characters (and there's more of a peek at Snow White as a child and also her mother, which I don't think I've seen before).

There's more info HERE but if you're interested don't dally too long - it starts in a few minutes!

Quick - go record!

FT Blog Alert: Cate R Fricke's "Something To Read For the Train"

Crown by Trina Schart Hyman
I found Cate's Twitter and blog while doing some quick research on Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Red Riding Hood Redux hitRECorderly project (posted on HERE a couple of days ago) and quickly realized Ms. Fricke is one of our own (ie. a fairy tale person), though the Trina Schart Hyman image (above) she uses for her Twitter account should have been a huge clue. ;)

Here's a quick sampling of recent blog posts by her:


There are many more. Those a just a recent few and not all by any means, so check out Something To Read For the TrainYou can subscribe so you don't miss any fairy tale goodness. And don't forget to follow Cate on Twitter for notices of fairy tale news happenings as well. :)

The Magic Swan Geese (1949)

 I recently came across this darling little Russian fairy tale film, "Гуси Лебеди" (roughly translated as "Geese Swans") made in 1949. Although the animators have clearly seen the Disney films made up to that point there's a lot in here that Disney wasn't doing at the time as well.

The film is completely charming and a real pleasure to watch. It's extremely well crafted with what can only be described as "genuine" quality to it. The fairy tale aspect is very clear with this feeling of a storybook coming to life (I didn't realize it was a fairy tale film when I started watching but quickly realized it must be). One of my favorite fairy tale characters, Baba Yaga, makes an appearance too. Of course. ;)

Here's a brief synopsis of the fairy tale The Magic Swan Geese that the film is based on:
A couple left their daughter in charge of her younger brother, but she lost track of him, and the magic swan geese snatched him away. She chased after him and came to an oven. It offered to tell her if she ate its rye buns; she scorned them, saying she doesn't even eat wheat buns. She also scorned similar offers from an apple tree, and a river of milk. She came across a little hut built on a hen's foot, in which she found Baba Yaga with her brother; Baba Yaga set her to spin flax and left. A mouse scurried out and said it would tell her what she needed to know if she gave it porridge; she did, and it told her that Baba Yaga was heating the bath house to steam her, then she would cook her. The mouse took over her spinning, and the girl took her brother and fled.
Baba Yaga sent the swan geese after her. She begged the river for aid, and it insisted she eat some of it first; she did, and it sheltered her. When she ran on, the swan geese followed again, and the same happened with the apple tree and the oven. Then she reached home and safety.
While the film doesn't follow this plot exactly, much of it is similar. Enjoy!

PS There's an interesting little side journey into Russian film music that includes information on this film HERE. If you're interested in these tales or Russian fairy tale animation I recommend it. It has links to some other treasures too, most notably this little film here. (TWELVE BROTHERS/WILD SWAN alert!)