What is your project about?
The chosen theme of my Context of Practice essay and supporting practical work is that of fairy tales, aligning with my love of children's books and narratives. A fairy tale is defined by being a short story, of nursery standard, that is filled with enchantments and the supernatural, with a hero or heroine overcoming supreme obstacles to reach a happy ending, and filled with a recognisable shared language of symbols, images and motifs. I will be focusing on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and how it has changed over time through a feminist lens, concentrating on the symbol of the wolf and what that means through themes of being a sexual predator, being a sign of a dangerous man with animalistic tendencies, and so on. (this last part is going to change and not well written at the moment but I need to research more!)
What are your case studies? + images – visual references
My case studies will be 3 different versions of the tale. The earliest known tale originating from Italy which is very violent, Grimm's tac which is the most popular, and Angela Carter's feminist retelling.
What are you hoping to find out?
I am hoping to find out more about the origins of the story of The Little Red Riding Hood, any feminist retellings, theories and opinions of the text and why the symbol of the wolf was used. I want to learn more about the powerful symbol of the wolf as the oppressor and the predator and how the story has culturally impacted and restricted women’s expectations and ideals of romance and life goals, and how women are subjected to lesser roles of passivity, dependency and self-sacrifice. I am hoping to find out more about the origins of the story, feminist retellings and why the symbol of the wolf was used.
What texts are you using?
- Beckett, S.L. (2008) Red Riding Hood for All Ages: A Fairy-Tale Icon in Cross-Cultural Contexts. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press.
- Warner, M. (1995) From the Best to the Blonde: On Fairy Tales and Their Tellers. 2nd Edition. London: Vintage.
- Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood: Versions of the Tale in a Socio-Cultural Context
- Marshall, E. () Stripping for the Wolf
- Little Red Riding Hood - Werewolf and Prostitute
- On Anazlyzing Fairytales - Little Red Riding Hood
- Women Who Run with the Wolves - Clarissa Pinkola Estés? Perhaps?
Key Points
- What a fairy tale is and why they exist
- How powerful the symbol of the wolf is and why it is used in stories
- How feminism has retold and reinterpreted the Red Riding Hood story, reinforcing women's right to choose and indeed choosing the wolf instead!
Key Words / Phrases and Definitions
• Fairy Tale: something resembling a fairy story in being magical, idealised or extremely happy
→ Folk tales: a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth
→ Regional? Country-based? Small communities?
• Narratives: a spoken or written account of connected events; a story
• Feminism: the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of equality of the sexes
→ Advocacy: public support for or recommendation of a particular case or policy
→ Equality: the state of being equal - especially in status, rights or opportunities
→ Liberation: set someone free from imprisonment, slavery or oppression
→ Women's rights, human rights,
• Wolf: A wild carnivorous mammal which is the largest member of the dog family, living and hunting in packs. Used figuratively to refer to a rapacious, ferocious, or voracious person or thing.
• Predator: An animal that naturally preys on others. A person who ruthlessly exploits others, i.e. a sexual predator.
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