Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Darnton
I believe that Darnton was more successful than Bettelheim at explaining how fairy tales are more than merely children’s entertainment. Darnton explores the fact that although the settings of fairy tales are never specifically given, they usually maintain a close relationship to the culture in which they originated. This connection to the time and place in which they were created makes fairy tales innately historical. Even though they do not describe specific historical events, they can offer insight into the values and influences of the past. In addition to the historical insight offered by the origins of fairy tales, the way in which they continue to adapt to contemporary culture throughout the ages can serve as a sort of timeline for changes in societal values and norms within a culture. Fairy tales may often be a child’s first experience learning about the history and values of his or her culture.
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I think that connecting the fact that fairytales can serve not only as references of historical insight to a child's culture, but also to the timeline of that culture, is especially important. This shows how fairytales can be both beneficial for children as a form of entertainment, as well as a way in which that child can learn what is important to their culture in a literary style.
ReplyDeleteI also think that analyzing the adaptations over time of a fairy tale within a culture comprises one of the most important values of fairy tales. Additionally, I think that fairy tales could be useful for historical purposes in the comparison of tales between cultures, especially tales originating at the same time in different cultures. In this way, fairy tales could illuminate differences and similarities between values and concerns across cultures.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the fairy tales can be useful for children for their historical and cultural content too. I wonder how much the culture of the children matter, in other words, how the experience changes between a German reader of Grimm and an American one, for example.
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