Both "Fairy Tales and A Dose of Reality" by Catherine Orenstein and "Cinderella and Princess Culture" by Peggy Orenstein show the impact of the idea of being a princess stays the same among different age groups. Both authors discuss that fairy tales adapt to our changing society and that the economical standpoint affects the fairy tale world, as businesses use women's love for fairy tales to make a profit. However, both Catherine Orenstein and Peggy Orenstein differ on the age groups discussed within their articles, as Catherine Orenstein is talking about an older age group than Peggy Orenstein. Catherine Orenstein in "Fairy Tales and A Dose of Reality" discusses how reality television is a fairy tale for adults searching for that "fairy …show more content…
Orenstein and P. Orenstein have similar ideas in their articles. Both authors use the idea of how fairy tales have changed over time to relate to what people want. C. Orenstein states that our expectations for love and marriage have changed in the past three centuries (285). These changing expectations relate to how the fairy tales have been altered to relate more to the changing society with different views and thoughts. P. Orenstein says "it's 2006, not 1950" referencing to how ideas from the 50s don't hold true in today's society where women are seen as being more independent. With society changing at times, fairy tales must change for them to be successful in different times. Both authors believe that fairy tales effectively change over time to make them relatable to what the society believes in and …show more content…
C. Orenstein shows how true love didn't matter and marriages were considered business deals (285). This relates to the changing of the fairy tales, as during the 17th century people didn't expect to live happily ever after as others have in recent history. People viewed love as an afterthought to money, considering love and fairy tales to be microscopic compared to the economical standpoints hat comes from love. P. Orenstein directly gives the reader numbers of how much money flows through the princess world. This uncovers the economical aspect of the fairy tale world in how businesses look to profit by taking advantage of what people are focused on. This relates to the changing of societies making fairy tales popular for girls. With both authors contributing numbers and historical evidence, it creates credibility to show the impact of fairy tales in our world. Both articles prove that the business side of fairy tales plays a major factor in keeping people hooked on
In James Poniewozik's "The Princess Paradox" (323-325) the author explains how the idea of a feminist, independent woman becoming a fairy tale princess is a paradox and that society is engaging in a paradox through the belief of it. He utilizes the recent bout of Cinderella retellings to show the paradox of how girls cannot be both completely independent and a fairytale princess, and yet society perpetuates the paradox through believing that this is not only possible, but realistically attainable as well. Poniewozik exposes the contradictions that surround these new Cinderellas to defy these "realistic" stories that society has come to embrace. By showing how truly constrictive and illogical these fantasies are, Poniewozik also shows how hypocritical society has become for idolizing them and why this new princess is a true paradox.
Presently, many books and fairytales are converted movies and often, producers alters the original tales to grasp the attention of a large audience. However, some of these interpretations hide the primary interpretation. The original interpretations of the Disney classics Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are greatly reinvented from the original fairytales Sun, Moon, and Talia and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs because of the brutal nature of the treatment women in these original forms. Although there are differences in certain aspects from the original tales to the movies, there are many issues that are influential to the young girls who are still watching the Disney version. I realize this when my youngest niece, Anella asks me, “Why can’t I be beautiful and fall asleep and suddenly wake up to finally find my prince?” This is true in all cases of the four different translations of the fairytales. Every single girl in these stories are in a “beautiful” state of half-death who wake to find a prince who if eager to carry them off. This can lead to negative psychological effects on young girls as they are growing up, creating a large amount of pressure and low self-esteem due to the beauty that these stories portray and maintaining restrictions that these women experience in the stories. While it is true that Sleeping Beauty and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves are considered Disney classics that entertain children and provide meaningful role models, it is evident that the true, vulgar nature of these tales are hidden; these stories are about women who are thrown away.
We all grew up hoping that we were the princesses who met the dreamy prince and lived ‘happily ever after’ like in a fairytale.People debate over whether or not Disney fairytales are beneficial for children. Like Melissa Taylor the author of the piece ‘10 reasons why kids need to read non disney fairy tales’, I am against disneyfied fairy tales. In this essay I will argue on why kids should not only watch disney fairytales but also the real versions.
read through the article I had to pick out ten important facts about the fairy tale genre and its origins. Collecting my facts was difficult because there were many writers that changed the audience for fairy tales. I didn’t want to just write down 10 authors and their works t...
Hope Edelman’s “The Myth of Co-Parenting: How It Was Supposed To Be. How It Was”, Edelman struggles to break the stereotype that has been placed on her by society, of her being the stay at home mom, while her husband remains the sole supporter. Peggy Orenstein’s “Cinderella and Princess Culture” fears a similar stereotype that has been placed on her daughter for her to be very feminine and dependent, which has been placed on young girls by the highly demanding princess culture. Both authors are very outspoken feminists and both believed that women should be more independent and be encouraged to make their own choices. Edelman is currently living in what one can assume is a “Feminist’s Nightmare”, she has been unintentionally degraded by her
In the article, “Fairy Tales and a Dose of Reality,” Catherine Orenstein attempts to show the contrast between the modern romanticism of marriage and the classic fairy tale’s presentation of them (285). She looks at the aristocratic motivations for marriage and the way these motivations are prominent in Cinderella. She then looks at the 20th century to highlight the innate difference of our mentalities, showing a much more optimistic and glorified relationship. In the article, “Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior,” Elisabeth Panttaja claims that Cinderella’s success can be attributed to her craftiness (288). She shows her and her mother as an equal to the stepfamily, analyzing each family’s goals and values. She attempts to show their similarities,
Over centuries of children have been enjoying the classic fairy tales of the Grimm Brothers and Charles Perrault. The fanciful plots and the vivid details allow children to be entranced by characters and adventures that can only be found in these stories. One of the most beloved fairy tales, which both the Perrault and the Grimms have their own separate versions of, is Cinderella. Cinderella is able to show how both versions are able to feed off the same plots while personifying the century and social economic situation in which they have lived.
Everyone knows and loves the enchanting childhood fairytales of magic, princes, and princesses, but very seldom are privy to the detrimental impacts of “happily ever after” on the developing youth. Fairy tales are widely studied and criticized by parents and scholars alike for their underlying tone and message to children. Peggy Orenstein, feminist author, mother, and fairy tale critic, has made it her personal mission to bring these hidden messages to the surface. In the article, “What’s Wrong with Cinderella?” Orenstein dissects the seemingly innocent tale of love and magic, and the princess many know and love, and points out its flaws and dangers. Fairy tales, Cinderella in particular, are not suitable for children because upon deeper evaluation,
Cinderella is known all around the world. Cultures are never exactly the same but yet they have some things in common. The main thing they have in common is fairy tales. The story of Cinderella is told all around the world. It is told in many different languages and in many different versions. Some cultures have other names for their Princess. In some versions the Cinderella of the story is not a girl it is a boy. Cultures have some of the same fairytales but their versions are a little different from the ones known today. One of the most common fairy tales known around the world is Cinderella. Cinderella is usually a pretty girl with evil stepsisters and a stepmother that treat her poorly.
“The Walt Disney Company is a powerful economic and cultural phenomenon known throughout the United States and the world as a provider of family entertainment (Maltin, 1, 308). Its media and entertainment holdings establish it as a central communicator in contemporary life. As such, it provides many of the first narratives children use to learn about the world� (Ward, 1). Disney has always been family oriented making it one of the main attractions of reading something Disney. They always have an innocent feeling to their stories, which makes it more appealing for children. But in Vietnamese fairytales a family oriented story may be somewhat gory or violent. “The stories from Vietnam tell us about their culture, their beliefs, and their determination throughout time� (Ly, 1). The 1950 version of “Cinderella�, written by Walter Disney and adapted by Campbell Grant, has some differences and similarities to the Vietnamese “Tam and Cam�, by Vo Van Thang and Jim Larsen. They differ in their violent content in their stories but similarly have a great deal of magic included and also both have prevalent characters to help them find their way.
In a society unbridled with double standards and set views about women, one may wonder the origins of such beliefs. It might come as a surprise that these ideals and standards are embedded and have been for centuries in the beloved fairy tales we enjoyed reading as kids. In her analytical essay, “To Spin a Yarn: The Female Voice in Folklore and Fairy Tales”, Karen Rowe argues that fairy tales present “cultural norms which exalt passivity, dependency, and self-sacrifice as a female’s cardinal virtues.” Rowe presents an excellent point, which can be supported by versions of the cult classics, “Cinderella” and “Snow White”. Charles Perrault’s “ The Little Glass Slipper” and the Brothers Grimm’s “ Snow White” exemplify the beliefs that females are supposed to be docile, dependent on the male persona and willing to sacrifice themselves. In many cases, when strong female characters are presented they are always contradicting in these characteristics, thus labeled as villainous. Such is the case of the Cinderella’s stepsisters in Perrault’s “Cinderella” and the stepmother in the Brothers Grimm’s “Snow White.” These female characters face judgment and disapproval when they commit the same acts as male characters. With such messages rooted in our beloved fairy tales it is no wonder that society is rampant with these ideals about women and disapprove of women when they try to break free of this mold.
At an early age, children become very engaged in the literature that they read. Fairy tales are one such genre that children read at some point in their childhood. Fairy tales allow children to immerse themselves in the world that the story portrays while also enhancing their imagination. However, fairy tales could be significantly influential on their mindset. It can give them a false interpretation on how gender roles are represented in society. Andrea Dworkin explores this topic further in her article, “Onceuponatime: The Roles.” In Andrea Dworkin’s article she argues that in our current society, gender roles are plagued by fairy tales that set unrealistic standards for both sexes to follow. Children’s minds can be easily manipulated by
As the world has transformed and progressed throughout history, so have its stories and legends, namely the infamous tale of Cinderella. With countless versions and adaptations, numerous authors from around the world have written this beauty’s tale with their own twists and additions to it. And while many may have a unique or interesting way of telling her story, Anne Sexton and The Brother’s Grimm’s Cinderellas show the effects cultures from different time periods can have on a timeless tale, effects such as changing the story’s moral. While Sexton chooses to keep some elements of her version, such as the story, the same as the Brothers Grimm version, she changes the format and context, and adds her own commentary to transform the story’s
The simplicity of fairy tales and non-specific details renders them ideal for manipulation allowing writers to add their own comments often reflecting social convention and ideology. Theref...
Fairy Tales have been around for generations and generations. Our parents have told us these stories and we will eventually pass them down to ours. In this time of age the most common fairytales are Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and The Beast and many more. Children idolize their favorite character and pretend to be them by mimicking everything they do in the stories. The character’s behavior is what is viewed as appropriate in society. These fairy tales show a girl and a boy fall in love and live “happily ever after”. The tales in many people’s eyes resemble a dream life that they would want to have of their own. However, have you ever really looked at what makes up a fairy tale? Many things are unrealistic but the most unflattering aspect of these tales is how women are depicted in them. Fairy tales give an unrealistic view to how women should look and behave in real life.