Posts in time!

Great that all of you posted on time!! Posts are interesting too!!

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.

Darnton v. Bettelheim

I also think Robert Darnton’s article does a better job of illustrating the purposes of fairy tales other than children’s entertainment. Darnton demonstrates the value of analyzing fairy tales as historical documents. The transformation of the fairy tale texts between different times and places demonstrates the importance of understanding the history and origins of each fairy tale in order to fully comprehend its meaning and significance. The meaning of the fairy tale, according to Darnton, must be considered in light of the context of the time in which it was told, which can in turn reveal aspects of the society at that time. However, as Darnton points out, many ignore this important fact in their analyses of the tales. Darnton singles out psychoanalysts specifically as prime offenders of ignoring the context and historical significance of fairy tales in favor of a focus on specific details. Bettelheim’s article argues that fairy tales are integral to child development but does not really discuss any other purpose.

Darnton vs. Bettelheim

I like Darnton's article more because immediately dismisses the overly analyzed version of the stories. A fairy tale is a story, and not a symbol.  The emphasis on how the tales are based in history, evolving instead of being created for a specific and set purpose. I think Bettelheim over analysis the phycological aspect of why children like fairy tales. Children love hear stories full of adventure and fantasy because they are exciting. Their create dreams of the impossible future of becoming a princess or going on a quest. Children are enriched by the fairy tale morals because children are essentially copycats and will follow the example of the protagonist as if its a game until it becomes ingrained in their persona. The horrific nature of the stories evolved to be fluffier when parents began to protect their children from mental scaring, so they once horrific tales of blood and gore became candyfloss. Darnton expresses fairy tales as evolving histories that are art of world culture, while Bettelheim nitpicks for a reason, modivation or symbol around every corner whether they exist or not. 

Bettelheim/Darnton Question

I believe that Darnton's explanation delves much further than Bettelheim's into other aspects of the fairytale and how it relates to almost uncovering the aspects of peasant's lives during the time and place that the fairytale was written in. As someone else has already stated, Bettelheim gives a great analysis of how and why fairytales are important to a child's understanding of the "inner turmoil" of other humans and searching for the right solutions to obstacles in their lives. However, Bettelheim seems to focus on this subject and does not go into the other aspects of a fairytale as well as Darnton does. Darnton illustrates quite nicely how someone can read into a fairytale and detect parts of the lives of people in that time and setting of the story, as well as how stories change as they're passed on orally based on the culture and what is happening in that culture at that time.

Darnton on Fairy Tales

I believe that Robert Darnton did a better job with explaining how fairy tales are more than children's stories. Firstly, Bettelheim's main goal was to prove that they are indeed needed for growing and intellectually developing children, and he does a fine job of explaining it. However, it makes it hard to think of them as specifically useful in any other way. Darnton, rather, argues about their effectiveness in tracing historical facts about their respective cultures, and the ways in which oral story telling progress from teller to teller, and from society to society.

Assignment 1- 13.Jan 2009

Hi Brian, Amy, Lydia, Caitlin and Briana,


Below you will find the question to which all of you must post one response by Tuesday Midnight.

On Wednesday, there will be four posts to read, since you have four group mates. Read through their responses and comment on at least two of them. You could agree, disagree, pose a related question and try to build on what the other person has said.

By Wednesday Midnight, you will have to have posted the comments, so that I can look through what you have written, and forward interesting posts/comments to Prof. Figal.

THE QUESTION FOR 13.JANUARY 2009:

Which of the following two essays do you find more productive in helping you to think about fairy tales as more than children's entertainment? Why?


Darnton, Robert. “Peasants Tell Tales: The Meaning of Mother Goose,” in Tatar, The Classic Fairy Tales
or
Bettelheim, Bruno. “The Struggle for Meaning,” in Tatar, The Classic Fairy Tales


Looking forward to your responses!


Ann

Introduction

Name: Briana Weiser
Year/College: Senior in A&S
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology

I am looking forward to learning the differences between how fairytales are written depending on the different authors - as well as in comparison to Disney tales.

This is a random video from Youtube