Women in Fairy Tales and Film

[lavender]

 

[Tyrael]

Kind of angry today, aren't we?

 

[erosman]

NOW, that sounds militant...or at least phobic.

 

[Black_Bird]

It's amazing how women are depicted in fairy tales and in movies now. No matter how far we have come as a gender, the way stories and mainstream culture depict us still holds that theme : waiting for some fictitious man riding on a goddamned fucking white horse to save us.

Labyrinth?

... No prince charming; just a girl, the bad guy, and the will to beat the odds.

 

[lavender]

 

[Weevil]

I just saw the title of a thread and was assuming it was going to have the lyrics to "Someday my prince will come." Although the thread was not about that at all, the second post was. I let out a frustrated moan.

It's amazing how women are depicted in fairy tales and in movies now. No matter how far we have come as a gender, the way stories and mainstream culture depict us still holds that theme : waiting for some fictitious man riding on a goddamned fucking white horse to save us.

So behind the times indeed. Today's princess is waiting for a fictitious man in a white mercedes.

 

[lavender]

Re: Re: Women in Fairy Tales and Film

 

[lavender]

Re: Re: Women in Fairy Tales and Film

 

[Guest]

 

[modest mouse]

It would be wise to separate fariy tales from your argument. The whole 'damsel in distress' thing is ingrained in the formula. Much the same way the loner cowboy exists in Westerns.

 

[Weevil]

Re: Re: Re: Women in Fairy Tales and Film

Save the environment, fuck women.

You know, I had that very saying stitched on my backpack in college.

 

[KillerMuffin]

When I was 17 my prince did come. I took a crowbar to his BMW and then I lit out after him. Me'n some friends were in the middle of a good rumble and he showed up and pulled me out of it. So what if I was the only girl? I mean jeez, I'm hard to hit and the idiot with the knife was big, dumb, and slow. Somehow, I think he'll look for Snow White some place else.

 

[Weevil]

Re: Re: Re: Women in Fairy Tales and Film

Save the environment, fuck women.

I wish I had said:

That's what I had written under my Life's Goals section of my high school yearbook.

 

[lavender]

 

[modest mouse]

Thelma and Lousie.

I agree.
Worthwhile film and Sarandon could play darts and hold my attention but the ending was not enlightening or some liberating act by two women. It was a cop out in so many ways and I felt ripped-off.

Perhaps an ending was too difficult to write so it was cliff diving time.

A much more resonant tone and point could have been made with how they dealt with all the shit that went down and the 'trouble' all around them, brought on by their own actions or not.

I expected more from the cast and crew.

 

[lavender]

 

[lilminx]

A good anti-fairy tale:

http://www.annickpress.com/catalog/paperbagprincess.html

 

[Dillinger]

Re: Re: Re: Women in Fairy Tales and Film

Save the environment, fuck women.

Fucking IS environmentally friendly. Hell, its just plain friendly...

 

[Black_Bird]

Re: Re: Re: Women in Fairy Tales and Film

One example. But, even in that movie, there are various stereotypes promoted. Her quest was to redeem selfishness. Her quest was to find a baby. It was very maternalistic, in a way.

*Nods* ...but it isn't as bad as the others. I'm sure that there are fantasy/fairytales in which the woman is *not* in a stereotypical role, I just can't think of any.

Stereotypes are of some use in all manners of storytelling - although I agree that it would be more interesting to see *less* of it.

 

[modest mouse]

Agreed. But the fairy tales were the catalyst to my reaction. Some Day my Prince Will Come is a song from the Disney version of...Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. I don't recall.

Disney as your societal barometer?

Shall we discuss the opression of sidekicks and how racial diversity is only achived in Disney with stereotypes?

Naw.

 

[riff]

I think it's all a Jungian thing, lav. Archetypes and stuff, you know.

My honest opinion. There are no knights, no maidens in towers. These are just metaphors we give to feelings people have felt since there were people.

 

[Cherry]

Okay, so I'm a little head over heels in love.
(glad to see you don't have me on ignore, Lavy)

I can't help it ... my big guy has fulfilled me in ways I never thought possible.

It feels great letting myself be loved and nurtured this way, instead of always being dependent on myself. It took me a little while to let go, and I don't regret it.

I give my heart and soul to him ... and in return, he has given me his.

For those still looking for their "Prince" ... don't be confused by the horse thing.

 

[Guest]

 

[KillerMuffin]

You mean monsters really don't collect scream energy, MM?

 

[lavender]