Disney Weekend

While on Twitter this morning, a tweet caught my eye.  It was tweeted by RevRunJnr and said, "A prince gets married, the bad guy is dead. It's a real Disney weekend here on earth."  As soon as I read this I immediately got thinking.  I have written in a lot of my papers about what is seen in Disney fairy tales is unrealistic, but I guess I was wrong.  The Prince and Princess have their royal fairytale wedding, and the villain has been killed.  It was the fairytale ending that the United States was waiting for. In many "real life fairytales" such as the Royal Wedding this weekend, we tend to only look at the good.  This is the first situation of a "real life fairytale" that I can think of which also looks at the bad side.  I would have to agree with this tweet...it has been a true Disney fairytale weekend here on earth.

A Country Girl Fairytale

As summer is approaching I have been listening to Country music more than usual.  I have noticed that fairy tales are mentioned in some songs but was wondering if there were any country artists other then Taylor Swift who sings specifically about fairy tales.  So i googled 'Country Fairytale Songs' and found the song 'Country Girl Fairytale' by Ruth Collins.  Unfortunately there is no good recording of the song so I read through the lyrics.  This artist took many aspects of the typical fairytale, but translated them to the desires of a 'Country Girl.'  


            I never wanted a week night
            I always wanted a cowboy
            I never dreamed of a castle in the clouds
            Just a cabin on the edge of town

            So welcome to the country girl fairytale                                                                                                                                                                             Running down the dirt road, pennies in a wishing well
            Hey, I got a plan for some Tennessee land
            The snow that's in the river I'll sing at later on
            Little house on 20 acres of all of you

            Our very little own happy ever after
            And all our dreams come true

I really like how the artist translated the qualities of fairy tales into her own life because it is a clear example of  the idea that every women's image of a fairy tale is different.  She explains that she doesn't want to live in a castle, as she is content in a cabin.  Also, she has her own wishing well and water that she will sing in to as Snow White does.  She then mentions one of the most memorable phrases in fairy tales, 'happy ever after.'  It is their 'own little happy ever after.'  Everyone has different dreams and therefore their own fairy tales.

Lyrics taken from: http://www.lyricsmania.com/country_girl_fairytale_lyrics_ruth_collins.html

The Many Faces of Princesses

The TLC show, 'Say Yes to the Dress,' is regularly watched in my home.  So when there was a special 'Say Yes to the Dress: Princess Brides' episode on last night, it was no surprise we all gathered around to watch.  This special was on because of the Royal Wedding coming up next week, and looked at the best and the worst of the self proclaimed  Princesses that have passed through the doors of Kleinfeld.  The episode was sectioned off, showing the Picky Princess, Daddy's Little Princess, the Pageant Princess, the Blinged-Out Princess, and many more.  After spending hours of my time working on my research paper about Fairytale Weddings, I couldn't help but analyze this episode.  I was very surprised by the range in the definition of the word 'Princess.'  Some called themselves princesses because they were spoiled while others were looking for the 'Cinderella gown.'  This episode did a great job in displaying the many sides of a Princess.  Women come in to their bridal salon everyday, each with a different goal.  Fashion tastes, budgets, and opinions are just a few of the differences.  The episode clearly portrayed the conclusion I have come to; the definition of Princess varies from person to person.  Kleinfeld's success comes from their ability to cater to the needs of each 'Princess.'  Click here for more information on TLC's Say Yes to the Dress

Today Was A Fairytale

Sitting in HoCo today I received a text from my friend John saying simply, "today was a fairytale."  In the spring of Senior year Taylor Swift's "Today was a Fairytale" was released.  My friends John, Josh, and I had all of the same free blocks so would frequently make Wendy's trips.  Every time "Today was a Fairytale" came on the radio, John and I would raise the volume and sing on the top off our lungs.  From then on, it has been 'our song.'  As soon as I got home, I then had to listen to the long unheard song.  There were so many elements of not only fairy tales in general, but specifically Disney fairy tales in the lyrics of the song.  The main characters in a fairytale, a Prince and a damsel in distress, are both noted right in the first line.  Later, qualities of Disney fairy tales, magic and the well known kiss are both referenced.  Also, we have discussed in class a  lot about how reality is not as simple as a fairytale is.  But, in the song, a small encounter led to the "fairytale" feeling.  So, maybe fairy tales do exist in daily life; in the simple moments that leave us feeling happy.  Our own little 'happily ever after.'

"Today was a Fairytale" by Taylor Swift

Unrealistic Dreams

     Feminist Karen Rowe has a lot to say about the feminism in fairy tales.  She believes that, "subconsciously woman may transfer from fairy tales into real life cultural norms which exalt passivity, dependency, and self-sacrifice as a female's cardinal virtues (342)."  Although there are many valid points supporting her argument, people fail to look at the affects characters have on young boys.
      I have a five year old cousin, whom at a recent family gathering was outfitted in all things Spiderman.  He had a shirt on with the Spiderman mask, and shoes with Spiderman webs and was telling us all about his new Spiderman video games.  Is there a difference in the effect Spiderman has on my boy cousin as opposed to the supposed effect the Disney fairytale Princesses have on his three year old sister.
                                   As previously stated, Rowe thinks that young girls are subconsciously effected by the portrayal of women in fairy tales as passive and subordinate.  She believes that young girls will then grow to think that is how women should act and be treated.  I am not saying this is wrong by any means, it could definitely have a subconscious effect.  But, dreaming to be a Princess is the same as dreaming to be a Superhero.  Unless you are going to magically marry into the royal family, a woman will not become a Princess.  At the same time, there is less of a chance for a man to become a Superhero, as Superheroes are not real. 
                                                                                        So while many young girls are subconsciously being drawn into thinking women should be passive and subordinate, young boys are believing that they can be as great as the Superhero they admire.  Both of these characters give young children a false sense of how real life is.  But by the amount of criticisms towards Disney fairy tale Princesses, and the lack of criticism towards Marvel Comics and their Superheroes, does that mean it is okay to be given a false sense of reality if you are given a belief that is above your obtainable potential as opposed to far below.
       I personally believe that characters such as Princesses and Superheroes shape the person you become and do not have such an effect as Rowe and others may think.  Every situation and person a young child encounters has their own personal effect on the growth of the child.  The person a child becomes will not be effected by the viewing of fairy tales alone.


Rowe, Karen. "Feminism and Fairy Tales." 1979. Folk and Fairy Tales. 4th ed. Buffalo: Broadview, 2009. 342-58. Print.

Happily Ever After?

      Gabriel Garcia Marquez transformed the original version of Sleeping Beauty, tiled Sun, Moon, and Talia, written by Giambattista Bastille into a modern version with the story, Sleeping Beauty and the Airplane. Unfortunately, a very important expectation of all fairytales is missing in this rewrite. In Sleeping Beauty and the Airplane there is no 'happily ever after.' The story ends as the beautiful woman picks her things up and exits the airplane. The man who has been admiring her then remains in his seat with unfulfilled wants and no happy ending. If Marquez was working to bring the original version into modern time, but did not include a 'happily ever after' in the story, does that mean there is no such thing as happy endings in real life?

      One woman, Alisa Bowman, does believe that there are happy endings in real life.  In 2010 she wrote a book, titled Project: Happily Ever After.  The book tells the story of the trials and tribulations in her marriage, and her work towards a 'happily ever after.'  Bowman along with friends and family, believed the marriage between her and her husband was hopeless.  But, with the help of relationship and marital books, the couple was able to fall in love all over again.  Her story as been featured on many large cable broadcasting shows, and her website, http://www.projecthappilyeverafter.com/, is full of information for struggling couples.  Bowman is a real life example of a 'happily ever after.'

      Marquez left a 'happily ever after' out of his story, but Bowman clearly presents they can be found in real life.  I believe that Marquez did not include a 'happily ever after' because more often then not, it does not happen.  He did not want to leave the reader with the false hope, that everything always works out.  Although sometimes it does, as in Bowman's case, but it takes a lot more work to reach that ultimate real life 'happily ever after' then can be written about in a single fairytale.


Bowman, Alisa. Project: Happily Ever After. Philadelphia: Running, 2010. Project Happily Ever After. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://www.projecthappilyeverafter.com/the-book/>.

Realism wins over readers for centuries

After Madame Countess d’Aulnoy left France, due to a scandal between d’Aulnoy’s mother and husband, she returned to Paris several years later looking for a fresh start.  She found a fresh start as she began her writing career.  d’Aulnoy, born in Normandy in 1650 or 1651, had a difficult childhood as her father died when she was young.  But, she was taught many languages, gained knowledge of many types of literature, and developed a love of Norman folktales, when she was educated by her aunt shortly after her father’s death.  This introduction to literature at an early age contributed to her ability to give the reader exactly what they were looking for in a story, realism.

d’Aulnoy was able to give the people the realism they wanted by linking her novels to events relevant to the time period.  As referenced in The Dictionary of Literary Biography, d’Aulnoy used the global interest in the death of Marie-Louise d’Orleans to base her novel, Memories de la cour d’Espagne. (Stedman, 2003)  d’Aulnoy recognized the popularity of d’Orleans death and was able to convert it into a story that people would want to read. d’Aulnoy did this once again with the novel, Le Nouveau Gentilhomme bourgeois.  The Dictionary of Literary Biography writes that, d’Aulnoy, “plays on the rising insecurities of the French aristocracy” (Stedman, 2003).  This novel was written during a time of economic trouble in France.  d’Aulnoy created characters that had the same these same monetary difficulties as the people.  By providing the people with stories that they could relate to, d’Aulnoy was able to gain popularity.


Out of all her works, d’Aulnoy’s most popular was Les Contes de fees, a collection of fairytales.  Fairytales were a new genre for d’Aulnoy, but she once again succeeded in pleasing the public; the novel was immediately popular, and continues to be her best known work.    An Answers.com article states that the popularity of her fairytales can be attributed to the use of “sentimental realism” (Seifert).  d’Aulnoy’s stories focus a lot on the emotions of the characters, making them more realistic to the reader.  By once again creating realistic scenarios and characters, d’Aulnoy’s fairytales became her most successful works.



d’Aulnoy was able to convert events from her personal life and those of society into well written novels. This use of realistic depiction of characters and events that the public could relate to, led to her being a memorable French writer.

Works Cited

Stedman, Allison. "Marie-Catherine Le Jumel De Barneville Comtesse D’Aulony (1650 or 1651-1705)". Seventeenth-Century French Writers. Ed. Francoise Jaouen. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 268. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 12-18. Dictionary of Literary Biography Complete Online. Gale. University of New Hampshire. 20 February 2011 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/DLBC_Online/durh54357/BK1560055003>.

Seifert, Lewis C. "Marie-Catherine Le Jumel De Barneville Aulnoy: Information from Answers.com."Answers.com: Wiki Q&A Combined with Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Encyclopedias. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. <http://www.answers.com/topic/marie-catherine-le-jumel-de-barneville-aulnoy>.

Flossie and the Fox - A remake of Little Red Riding Hood

            This semester I am taking Intro to Anthropology as a General Education requirement.  One of the concepts we have to learn was the concept of ‘self.’  A person’s sense of identity is created through their culture and is very important in a person’s development.  A study was done on Chimps, who had never seen themselves before.  When put in front of a mirror they were able to analyze their own bodies for the first time.  Then, after a blue spot was put on their forehead, they were put in front of the mirror again and they investigated this blue spot because it was new to the sense of identity and self they had created.  While a person’s sense of self is shaped by their culture and environment, it can also be re-formed.  This is the case in brain-washing situations.  Due to the importance of self-identity, a person can easily be manipulated into a new one.

            In Flossie and the Fox, the young girl, Flossie, is told that wolves are dangerous and to stay away from them.  But when she sees one along the path, he tells her he is a fox, and she immediately tells him he is not.  The fox feels the need to prove to the young girl that he is indeed a fox.  He gives her multiple reasons, but she turns down everyone.  His strong need to justify that he is a fox is much due to the fact that that is his sense of identity.  Although he is not physically different, the young girl’s words against the qualities he believe make him a fox affects his self-esteem.  She was easily able to manipulate and brain-wash him.  He is then forced to question what he has believed to be his self-identity, which corrupts his self-awareness.    After many hours of studying for my Anthropology exam, it was very interesting for me to recognize the important concept of ‘self’ in a children’s fairytale.  The specific attributes of a fox that are seen in all the Little Red Riding Hood stories were once again used in this one, but in a different way.  This time they were compared to other animals, therefore taking them away from the fox, and stripping him of his identity.  Self-image in Flossie and the Fox, whether on purpose or not, makes the story more interesting, with the use of a global concept.