Purpose of Fairy Tales Today
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Mary Elizabeth Gambke
Feb 1, 2012, 7:45:57 PM2/1/12
to TeamOgres2012
There are a variety purposes that fairy tales serve today. Like the
original Grimms fairy tales, fairy tales today also serve as a source
of entertainment in addition to a platform for sharing various values.
Today, fairy tales also serve as a way to improve literacy among kids
as well as fostering young and old peoples’ imaginations.
It is evident that one of the main reasons fairy tales exist still in
present day is due to entertainment value and the ability to make
money off of them. A prime example is what the Walt Disney Company has
done with tales. The Grimms’ fairy tales were used as a basis and
turned into movies, rides and even musicals. Disney is continuously
releasing and re-releasing popular movies with a fairy tale premise.
Some tales, such as Snow White, have plans to be released this year
through different production companies with different plot aspects,
one being fairly dark and catering towards adults and the other being
more whimsical and catering towards younger children. In addition,
fairy tales have also served entertainment purposes through TV outlets
as of recently. Prime time TV shows such as Once Upon A Time and Grimm
delve into various Grimms’ fairy tales and provide millions of viewers
each week with a source of entertainment.
While entertainment may be the largest and most obvious purpose of
fairy tales today, there are other purposes as well. Fairy tales are
often used as a way to share specific values with young children. As
portrayed in Granny O’Grimm, the grandmother uses a version of
Sleeping Beauty as a way to teach her granddaughter a lesson on how
one cannot get through life on beauty alone. In addition, fairy tales
have often been used as lesson on why children should not talk to
strangers. Many parents say, “don’t talk to strangers” or “don’t take
candy from strangers” and a good fairy tale example of why this is
true is what happened to Snow White when she took the apple from the
strange old hag. She ate the apple and unbeknownst to her it was
poisonous. She then fell into a deep sleep where she could only be
awoken with love’s first kiss. Another example of children talking to
people they have never met is in Hansel and Gretel. In one version of
Hansel and Gretel, the children are lured into the house of a wicked
witch who they do not know and are locked in a cage in preparation to
be eaten by the witch until they are able to overtake the witch
themselves. There are many other examples in fairy tales where people
interact with those they do not know and bad things happen to them.
Therefore, fairy tales are a way for parents to educate their children
on not talking to those they do not know.
Fairy tale books are often some of the first stories that children
read when they are younger. Therefore, fairy tales are currently used
as a way to improve the reading levels of children. In addition,
because fairy tales are so popular, the repetition of reading them
both with their parents and by themselves helps youth literacy.
Another purpose I believe fairy tales serve today is by nurturing the
imagination of both young people and old people. Fairy tales encourage
young people to “dream big” and think of things that are magical and
mystical. They make children believe that anything is possible. I
think for adults, fairy tales help to recreate the extensive
imagination they once had as a child. As people go through life, it
may become more mundane, but fairy tales help exercise the “kid
inside” among many adults.
original Grimms fairy tales, fairy tales today also serve as a source
of entertainment in addition to a platform for sharing various values.
Today, fairy tales also serve as a way to improve literacy among kids
as well as fostering young and old peoples’ imaginations.
It is evident that one of the main reasons fairy tales exist still in
present day is due to entertainment value and the ability to make
money off of them. A prime example is what the Walt Disney Company has
done with tales. The Grimms’ fairy tales were used as a basis and
turned into movies, rides and even musicals. Disney is continuously
releasing and re-releasing popular movies with a fairy tale premise.
Some tales, such as Snow White, have plans to be released this year
through different production companies with different plot aspects,
one being fairly dark and catering towards adults and the other being
more whimsical and catering towards younger children. In addition,
fairy tales have also served entertainment purposes through TV outlets
as of recently. Prime time TV shows such as Once Upon A Time and Grimm
delve into various Grimms’ fairy tales and provide millions of viewers
each week with a source of entertainment.
While entertainment may be the largest and most obvious purpose of
fairy tales today, there are other purposes as well. Fairy tales are
often used as a way to share specific values with young children. As
portrayed in Granny O’Grimm, the grandmother uses a version of
Sleeping Beauty as a way to teach her granddaughter a lesson on how
one cannot get through life on beauty alone. In addition, fairy tales
have often been used as lesson on why children should not talk to
strangers. Many parents say, “don’t talk to strangers” or “don’t take
candy from strangers” and a good fairy tale example of why this is
true is what happened to Snow White when she took the apple from the
strange old hag. She ate the apple and unbeknownst to her it was
poisonous. She then fell into a deep sleep where she could only be
awoken with love’s first kiss. Another example of children talking to
people they have never met is in Hansel and Gretel. In one version of
Hansel and Gretel, the children are lured into the house of a wicked
witch who they do not know and are locked in a cage in preparation to
be eaten by the witch until they are able to overtake the witch
themselves. There are many other examples in fairy tales where people
interact with those they do not know and bad things happen to them.
Therefore, fairy tales are a way for parents to educate their children
on not talking to those they do not know.
Fairy tale books are often some of the first stories that children
read when they are younger. Therefore, fairy tales are currently used
as a way to improve the reading levels of children. In addition,
because fairy tales are so popular, the repetition of reading them
both with their parents and by themselves helps youth literacy.
Another purpose I believe fairy tales serve today is by nurturing the
imagination of both young people and old people. Fairy tales encourage
young people to “dream big” and think of things that are magical and
mystical. They make children believe that anything is possible. I
think for adults, fairy tales help to recreate the extensive
imagination they once had as a child. As people go through life, it
may become more mundane, but fairy tales help exercise the “kid
inside” among many adults.
Zoe Ullman Nagel
Feb 1, 2012, 8:30:02 PM2/1/12
to TeamOgres2012
I agree with every point Marybeth said. I think by far the biggest
purpose for fairy tales is their entertainment value, and I was also
going to talk about Disney, but since Marybeth covered that so
efficiently, I will attempt to add on to her points, hopefully adding
something new in the process.
When I think of fairy tales, I still always associate them with
Disney, childhood, and morales (for children). As we saw from reading
Little Red Cap, the story was trying to emphasize the importance of
listening to one's mother (about not straying from the path). However,
what's interesting is that until the 18th century, children were not
even seen as a separate entity from adults, and no "childrens' books"
existed yet. From our Bottigheimer discussion, we learned that fairy
tales have their origin from literary sources from the 1500s, so
there's a 200+ year period here where fairy tales were being created
and developed, but not yet for children. How then did they come to be
so strongly associated for children today? Well, part of that must
come from when children were seen as separate from adults with very
separate needs. The educational system for children was developed and
enhance and along with that came educational books for children,
including fairy tales, to help teach them the difference between right
and wrong as all as more about their German background, culture,
history, and more. Still even then, there were many signs incorporated
in the fairy tales that prove they were not just meant for children.
In Little Red Cap, for example, the red cape was often read as a sign
of sexuality. The wolf could be seen as a metaphor for sexual
predators in general, not just a physical wolf. Similarly, in the
original version of Rapunzel, a king essentially came in, got Rapunzel
pregnant, and kind of left her there, which later was revised to the
Rapunzel story we now know because the story was seen as inappropriate
at the time. Similar themes of irony and satire underlying fairy tales
is something put in for adults' pleasure. So while ostensibly for
children, fairy tales incorporated messages applicable to adults and
in fact any age range.
In modern times, I feel we have kept with the 18th century values of
having fairy tales be for the educational and entertainment of
children, but we as adults can enjoy them too and pick up on elements
that kids would miss. It's a common belief that Disney has
incorporated, perhaps for their own humor, sexual elements into some
of their movies. In Aladdin, there's a scene where Aladdin's voice can
be heard in the background to say something that sounds like "All good
teenagers take off their clothes." In The Lion King, there's
supposedly a scene where the stars spell out the word "sex" (though
I've tried many times to see this and never have). In other Disney
cartoons, there are many phallic references or images as well. Though
perhaps we're all just crazy and these sexual innuendos are our own
imaginations' work, it still kind of goes to show how adults try to
make fairy tales, a thing we think is created for children only, an
entertainment object for both children and adults.
Though less conventional "fairy tales," movies like Avatar and the Toy
Story series also have many fairy tale elements, but these movies are
made for people of all ages to enjoy and learn from. Avatar, in a
story eerily similar to Pocahontas (and if you go even further back to
a more obscure fairy tale movie, Ferngully), can be seen as a movie
for children in that it's teaching children how to respect our
environment and to not be racist or prejudiced in any way. Though
still important messages for adults as well, the movie also has some
sexual references, making it more fitting for adults too. In Toy
Story, the morale rests on the importance of friendship and how
emotions such as jealousy can lead to disastrous results. At the same
time, Toy Story has many jokes purposely put in there for adults'
pleasure (Toy Story 3 is one of my mom's favorite movies). After all,
these movies were written by adults.
One of my favorite features of common day fairy tales, like the many
Disney movies, is that I loved them as a kid, but I love them now not
only for their sentimental value but also because when I watch them as
I've grown older, I notice new things and can take different lessons
from them. I suppose the one purpose of fairy tales I would add then
to Marybeth's argument is that fairy tales serve as a kind of common
ground for us to talk about and relate to. Most everyone I know, boys
and girls alike, have seen Aladdin, The Lion King, and so on, and
believe me, we never get old comparing our favorites to our friends'
favorites. Fairy tales help to bring people closer, while also serving
as a memory bank for us to fall back on when we want to remember
things from our childhood.
On Feb 1, 6:45 pm, Mary Elizabeth Gambke
purpose for fairy tales is their entertainment value, and I was also
going to talk about Disney, but since Marybeth covered that so
efficiently, I will attempt to add on to her points, hopefully adding
something new in the process.
When I think of fairy tales, I still always associate them with
Disney, childhood, and morales (for children). As we saw from reading
Little Red Cap, the story was trying to emphasize the importance of
listening to one's mother (about not straying from the path). However,
what's interesting is that until the 18th century, children were not
even seen as a separate entity from adults, and no "childrens' books"
existed yet. From our Bottigheimer discussion, we learned that fairy
tales have their origin from literary sources from the 1500s, so
there's a 200+ year period here where fairy tales were being created
and developed, but not yet for children. How then did they come to be
so strongly associated for children today? Well, part of that must
come from when children were seen as separate from adults with very
separate needs. The educational system for children was developed and
enhance and along with that came educational books for children,
including fairy tales, to help teach them the difference between right
and wrong as all as more about their German background, culture,
history, and more. Still even then, there were many signs incorporated
in the fairy tales that prove they were not just meant for children.
In Little Red Cap, for example, the red cape was often read as a sign
of sexuality. The wolf could be seen as a metaphor for sexual
predators in general, not just a physical wolf. Similarly, in the
original version of Rapunzel, a king essentially came in, got Rapunzel
pregnant, and kind of left her there, which later was revised to the
Rapunzel story we now know because the story was seen as inappropriate
at the time. Similar themes of irony and satire underlying fairy tales
is something put in for adults' pleasure. So while ostensibly for
children, fairy tales incorporated messages applicable to adults and
in fact any age range.
In modern times, I feel we have kept with the 18th century values of
having fairy tales be for the educational and entertainment of
children, but we as adults can enjoy them too and pick up on elements
that kids would miss. It's a common belief that Disney has
incorporated, perhaps for their own humor, sexual elements into some
of their movies. In Aladdin, there's a scene where Aladdin's voice can
be heard in the background to say something that sounds like "All good
teenagers take off their clothes." In The Lion King, there's
supposedly a scene where the stars spell out the word "sex" (though
I've tried many times to see this and never have). In other Disney
cartoons, there are many phallic references or images as well. Though
perhaps we're all just crazy and these sexual innuendos are our own
imaginations' work, it still kind of goes to show how adults try to
make fairy tales, a thing we think is created for children only, an
entertainment object for both children and adults.
Though less conventional "fairy tales," movies like Avatar and the Toy
Story series also have many fairy tale elements, but these movies are
made for people of all ages to enjoy and learn from. Avatar, in a
story eerily similar to Pocahontas (and if you go even further back to
a more obscure fairy tale movie, Ferngully), can be seen as a movie
for children in that it's teaching children how to respect our
environment and to not be racist or prejudiced in any way. Though
still important messages for adults as well, the movie also has some
sexual references, making it more fitting for adults too. In Toy
Story, the morale rests on the importance of friendship and how
emotions such as jealousy can lead to disastrous results. At the same
time, Toy Story has many jokes purposely put in there for adults'
pleasure (Toy Story 3 is one of my mom's favorite movies). After all,
these movies were written by adults.
One of my favorite features of common day fairy tales, like the many
Disney movies, is that I loved them as a kid, but I love them now not
only for their sentimental value but also because when I watch them as
I've grown older, I notice new things and can take different lessons
from them. I suppose the one purpose of fairy tales I would add then
to Marybeth's argument is that fairy tales serve as a kind of common
ground for us to talk about and relate to. Most everyone I know, boys
and girls alike, have seen Aladdin, The Lion King, and so on, and
believe me, we never get old comparing our favorites to our friends'
favorites. Fairy tales help to bring people closer, while also serving
as a memory bank for us to fall back on when we want to remember
things from our childhood.
On Feb 1, 6:45 pm, Mary Elizabeth Gambke
Robert Snook
Feb 1, 2012, 9:56:00 PM2/1/12
to teamog...@googlegroups.com
Marybeth and Zoe have both brought up excellent points, and I completely agree with them that the biggest purpose of fairy tales is entertainment. It goes without saying that if fairy tales did not provide entertainment to those who were exposed to them, than they would have fallen out of favor long ago. Instead, fairy tales have managed to evolve over hundreds of years into their current form. With the advent of modern technology, fairy tales can be viewed on tv and in movie theaters (even in 3d) by millions of people worldwide. While these tales are now used as a mechanism for making a profit, they still provide a useful service in the form of entertainment that people are willing to pay for.
While many commonly known fairy tales used to be used as a means to help preserve German culture, I believe the spread and accessibility of fairy tales has helped them transcend any specific culture. Fairy tales, especially famous tellings such as the Disney movies, are available world wide in countless languages. While specific cultural references within certain portrayals of a fairy tale may not be understood in different parts of the world, the basic moral values and emotional story lines transcend culture. Both Marybeth and Zoe note the moral messages built into fairy tales and help educate children in how to interact with the world and other people. As Marybeth said, many fairy tales target children and can be used as educational tools to help develop a moral, social, and literary foundation for children. Likewise, as Zoe discussed, modern interpretations of fairy tales and modern fairy tales often have elements that target adults. Humor and sexual elements that children may not understand purposefully target adults and seek to entertain them as well. Furthermore, some fairy tales specifically target adults. Movies such as Pan's Labyrinth incorporate fairy tale elements while dealing with much graver issues inappropriate for most young children.
Fairy tales serve many roles in contemporary society, but I believe the largest are entertainment, education, and helping to bring people closer together through shared cultural experiences. Fairytales provide an enjoyable experience for those who read or view performances of them. Additionally, they can provide entertainment for people of different ages and from different backgrounds. Fairy tales will continue to play a large role in our society, as they have in different societies for hundreds of years.
Huntley Lewis
Feb 1, 2012, 10:16:55 PM2/1/12
to teamog...@googlegroups.com
Marybeth and Zoe bring up very valid points concerning fairy tales and their effects on children today. Fairytales have undoubtedly made an impression on today’s youth, expanding and inspiring people’s imaginations by creating magical experiences with fanciful characters. Adults have also done a good job of maintaining adult twists within fairy tales.
One role that fairy tales play for children today is the role of exposing them to pop culture. As Zoe pointed out, fairy tales serve as a connection point to many of us, especially with the popularity of Disney movies in the past fifty years. By reading and relaying popular fairy tales to children today, adults provide ways for young people to connect to others across generations. Additionally, because of the institution of fairy tales in our society, many television shows, movies, comedy bits, and other forms of entertainment allude to fairy tales, whether subtly or otherwise. An encompassing understanding of fairy tales from history allows children and young people to understand these allusions and effectively plug in to society.
Another underestimated role fairy tales play in the lives of children is exposing them to common archetypes and introducing them to literature with reasonably deep lessons. Although they contain magical happenings and strange creatures, fairy tales teach children not to trust characters like the “wolf”, introducing them to the ominous and dark archetype often associated with wolves. Also, especially with the original stories we have been reading, fairy tales expose children to stereotyping, predators, and other real-world issues that happy-go-lucky children’s books often fail to do today. Although sometimes deemed inappropriate, I think these lessons are important for children to learn in order to interact with the world around them.
In conclusion, fairy tales effectively teach lessons to young people and children while simultaneously entertaining people of all ages. They have permeated our culture for many years and remain a very important institution that children should know and understand in order to grasp our culture.
Huntley Lewis
Jenna Anne Lindley
Feb 2, 2012, 2:31:11 AM2/2/12
to TeamOgres2012
Fairytales have been around for ages and continue to be a part of our
culture. But what is the purpose of fairytales today? All the members
in our group have brought up valid points as to their importance. They
serve an educational purpose, they are entertaining, foster creativity
and imagination, and provide an escape from reality. The allow
children to enter into another world and adults to get in touch with
their inner child.
I know when I’m babysitting, I always request a Disney movie to watch
with my babysitee. They are extremely entertaining and I enjoy
watching them as much as the 4 year old girl I take care of does.
Just like fairytales (and often based on fairytales), Disney movies
are not just geared towards young children but also teenagers and
adults. As Zoe mentioned, there are instances in multiple Disney
movies where sexual jokes or innuendos are made that are intended to
be humorous for an older audience watching the movie. And as Zoe also
mentioned, there are two new hit televisions series marketed towards
adults about fairytales: Once Upon a Time and Grimm. So while
fairytales are for children, it would appear that in our society
today, they are for people of all ages.
Fairytales provide a creative outlet and escape from reality from
whoever the audience is. For a moment, instead of being stuck in
first grade with a bully or at work with a terrible boss, you can be
transported into a magical kingdom where you can interact with
princesses and princes, fairies and other sorts of whimsical
creatures. I really enjoyed Mary’s point about fairytales “nurturing
the imagination of our youth” because it is so true. Some of the most
interesting and unique stories are fairytales, and your mind cant help
but wander when you are listening to one. There have been countless
remakes, adaptations, and stories inspired by fairytales just showing
how wonderfully fairytales can jump start the imagination.
The only thing I am hesitant to agree with is the idea that fairytales
are lesson teaching or moral guiding. How educational or moral guiding
are fairytales really? The only one so far we’ve read that really does
seem to indicate a sense of morality is the Fisherman and his Wife.
All the other fairytales seem to prove the opposite of a moral
guiding. Rumpelstiltskin seems to promote the idea that its ok to
fool, trick, and deceit to get your way. Or often they don’t even
really touch on morality, like the Bremen Town Musicians. Mary points
this out with her Little Red Riding Cap and Hanzel and Gretel examples
that there is a lesson such as not talking to strangers and listening
to your mother, which can be gathered from the stories, but form my
experience of reading them, this morality point seems to be on the
back burner. That educational factor of fairytales is not as
important as the entertainment factor. They do usually have a clear
cut “right” and “wrong” in a story that a children and take reference
from but it is my opinion that entertainment, escapism, and creative
outlet are the more important uses for fairytales and modern society.
culture. But what is the purpose of fairytales today? All the members
in our group have brought up valid points as to their importance. They
serve an educational purpose, they are entertaining, foster creativity
and imagination, and provide an escape from reality. The allow
children to enter into another world and adults to get in touch with
their inner child.
I know when I’m babysitting, I always request a Disney movie to watch
with my babysitee. They are extremely entertaining and I enjoy
watching them as much as the 4 year old girl I take care of does.
Just like fairytales (and often based on fairytales), Disney movies
are not just geared towards young children but also teenagers and
adults. As Zoe mentioned, there are instances in multiple Disney
movies where sexual jokes or innuendos are made that are intended to
be humorous for an older audience watching the movie. And as Zoe also
mentioned, there are two new hit televisions series marketed towards
adults about fairytales: Once Upon a Time and Grimm. So while
fairytales are for children, it would appear that in our society
today, they are for people of all ages.
Fairytales provide a creative outlet and escape from reality from
whoever the audience is. For a moment, instead of being stuck in
first grade with a bully or at work with a terrible boss, you can be
transported into a magical kingdom where you can interact with
princesses and princes, fairies and other sorts of whimsical
creatures. I really enjoyed Mary’s point about fairytales “nurturing
the imagination of our youth” because it is so true. Some of the most
interesting and unique stories are fairytales, and your mind cant help
but wander when you are listening to one. There have been countless
remakes, adaptations, and stories inspired by fairytales just showing
how wonderfully fairytales can jump start the imagination.
The only thing I am hesitant to agree with is the idea that fairytales
are lesson teaching or moral guiding. How educational or moral guiding
are fairytales really? The only one so far we’ve read that really does
seem to indicate a sense of morality is the Fisherman and his Wife.
All the other fairytales seem to prove the opposite of a moral
guiding. Rumpelstiltskin seems to promote the idea that its ok to
fool, trick, and deceit to get your way. Or often they don’t even
really touch on morality, like the Bremen Town Musicians. Mary points
this out with her Little Red Riding Cap and Hanzel and Gretel examples
that there is a lesson such as not talking to strangers and listening
to your mother, which can be gathered from the stories, but form my
experience of reading them, this morality point seems to be on the
back burner. That educational factor of fairytales is not as
important as the entertainment factor. They do usually have a clear
cut “right” and “wrong” in a story that a children and take reference
from but it is my opinion that entertainment, escapism, and creative
outlet are the more important uses for fairytales and modern society.
Katie McEwen
Feb 2, 2012, 3:09:12 PM2/2/12
to TeamOgres2012
Thanks for getting the discussion going this week, Marybeth. Your
discussion covers a lot of ground, and I'd like to come back to an
idea brought up by Robbie: that fairy tales today transcend a specific
culture. Would you challenge that? It seems that the opposite could
also be argued: that fairy tales, especially as recreated and
distributed by Disney, reflect (and spread) specifically American
values. Could what appears to us as "universal" or "transparent"
entertainment actually transmit an ideological position, a specific
view of the world? Does the very fact that we all recognize the happy
ending as happy show us something about what we, culturally, consider
to be "happy"?
On Feb 2, 1:31 am, Jenna Anne Lindley <jenna.a.lind...@vanderbilt.edu>
wrote:
discussion covers a lot of ground, and I'd like to come back to an
idea brought up by Robbie: that fairy tales today transcend a specific
culture. Would you challenge that? It seems that the opposite could
also be argued: that fairy tales, especially as recreated and
distributed by Disney, reflect (and spread) specifically American
values. Could what appears to us as "universal" or "transparent"
entertainment actually transmit an ideological position, a specific
view of the world? Does the very fact that we all recognize the happy
ending as happy show us something about what we, culturally, consider
to be "happy"?
On Feb 2, 1:31 am, Jenna Anne Lindley <jenna.a.lind...@vanderbilt.edu>
wrote:
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