S24 Performance of Children's Literature

CASD 1717 – Spring 2024

How Do We See Fairy Tales Today?

In this module, you’ve read, listened to, or watched a number of fairy tales as they were collected, recorded, written, and shaped by some of the people most associated with fairy tales. Some may have come from oral tales and then shifted to literary versions. These aren’t so much the “original” tales but versions that were recorded that have had lasting staying power in this textual form. Most of these stories were written to be shared with adults and children. But fairy tales are constantly shifting and changing. They permeate our culture. Some stick around more than others.

Read

Jack Zipes is one of the most important scholars in fairy tales and children’s literature. Please read the following chapter from one of his many books on the subject.

“What Makes a Repulsive Frog so Appealing: Applying Memetics to Folk and Fairy Tales” Chapter 5 from Relentless Progress: The Reconfiguration of Children’s Literature, Fairy Tales, and Storytelling by Jack Zipes.

Get from the Brooklyn Library

 You will need your Brooklyn College library access for this chapter. If the above link doesn’t work directly, you can search for the book title in the main library catalog.

What do you think Zipes’ argument is? What is he trying to say in this article and how is he supporting that? Why do you think some tales have stuck with us more than others?

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Comments

16 responses to “Jack Zipes”

  1. Hanan Almoflihi Avatar
    Hanan Almoflihi

    Zipes is arguing that for some reason, although he is repulsive, the frog prince is an attractive character and story that many feel attached to. He shows the evolution of the story across time, and the consistencies and differences. I think some tales stick with us more than other because of their relatable characters and unique plot.

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  2. Obeed Ahmed Avatar
    Obeed Ahmed

    By showing us the evolution of the frog prince story, Zipes is telling us that some stories seem to attract audiences for strange reasons. One thing that could attract readers is comedy, or interesting characters.

    Reply
  3. Renee Montperous Avatar
    Renee Montperous

    According to Zipes, Disney has shaped and controlled the fairy tale narrative by using his position of power and impact in the entertainment industry. He also wonders why everyone is so fascinated with the fairy tale of the frog prince since the story’s main plot is a frog hiding his true self to sleep with and marry a girl. I believe some fairy tales stick with us more than others depending on how much we like the story, how disturbing it was if it connects to our culture, or whether we just thought it was interesting.

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  4. Milen Bekis Avatar
    Milen Bekis

    What do you think Zipes’ argument is? What is he trying to say in this article and how is he supporting that? Why do you think some tales have stuck with us more than others?

    Zipes’ argument was that people favor this Frog Prince story for an unknown reason. The prince is a frog… Some tales stick with us more than others because they are too wild to be real. People want to live in an imaginary life. The unattainable.

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  5. Aya Ibrahim Avatar
    Aya Ibrahim

    I believe that Zipe’s argument is that fairytales can embody elements that are powerful and resonate deeply with people, especially through themes and stand out characters. I believe that some tales stick with us more than others depending on how it was read, how lively the story seemed, and how animated the characters and plot was depicted. I also feel that stories that highlight the human experience tend to stick with a majority of us more because there is a level and aspect of relatability

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  6. Basamat Hamdan Avatar
    Basamat Hamdan

    Zipes’ argument is that the Frog Prince isn’t just a silly story, but depicts the reality of men and women during that time period. He explains how women were often married off to a wealthy man, even if he was unattractive to her. He delves into the science behind mating, in which men look for young, fertile women, and women look for his wealth or status to support her and their children. He explains how looks play a major role in wanting to be with someone, which explains why the frog had to become more attractive for the princess to like him.

    I think some tales have stuck with us more than others because of their relatability. I’d say the most popular fairy tales are those that were later animated by Disney. Those tales tend to delve into family problems, happiness, true love, and other aspects of life. Perhaps these fairy tales stick with us more because we see ourselves in the characters and hope for the same happy ending they typically get. It could be a coping mechanism or just an escape from our own problems. Other stories don’t stick as well because they feel out of loop. Stories involving cannibalism, like the ones from this module, might not exactly be something that we want to remember or share.

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  7. Cheyenne La Fritz Avatar
    Cheyenne La Fritz

    When stories are told orally, they are then influenced by the traditions and cultures of the place and time. This leads to the different dissections and interpretations of one story. Creating multiple, slightly different, versions of a story keeps the story alive. This specific example of the Frog Prince addresses reproduction as a main plot of the story and because of this, it was deemed important to retell. The tale came from the experience of humans and adapted as more knowledge came about. Sharing information on mating/reproduction was a part of the basic needs of humans. Feminism had a clear part in the major changes made in the story. The moral of the story also changed to one of mating to self-identity and autonomy, There is an evolution of fairy tales which makes the stories memorable. These stories evolve with the culture.

    Sidenote: Zipe uses the word “meme” a lot, which is especially jarring as it is used in a way I have never seen before. The urge to abandon the term is addressed in the reading as well. This is another example of the evolution of culture.

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    1. Basamat Hamdan Avatar
      Basamat Hamdan

      Hey Cheyenne, I really like how you mentioned the change from mating/reproduction to self-identity and autonomy. Sometimes, the theme or general plot of a story can be altered to fit the current society and what is deemed as the norm. Your sidenote on the term “meme” is also really interesting. It did feel weird seeing it in a chapter lol.

      Reply
  8. Natasha Marques Avatar
    Natasha Marques

    I believe that Jack Zipes argued that by looking at folk and fairy tales through a memetic lens, Zipes explores how stories evolve, replicate, and endure over time, shaping cultural norms, values, and beliefs shared by societies. He states that stories contain enduring elements that can spread and survive because they tap into universal human emotions, desires, and fears (important factors about our mind, memes, and human behavior, especially mating strategies and courting practices.) By understanding how these moral memes are transmitted and accepted by the reader or listener, Zipes highlights the power of storytelling to convey ethical lessons and shape social norms.

    I believe some stories stuck with us more than others because it was the belief of emotion that the story made us feel. We agreed and aligned ourselves to the story either wishing we had that or something we yearn for.

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  9. Hasiena Madramootoo Avatar
    Hasiena Madramootoo

    What do you think Zipes’ argument is? What is he trying to say in this article and how is he supporting that? Why do you think some tales have stuck with us more than others?

    Zipes argue that Disney has effectively leveraged his immense influence and authority within the entertainment sphere to mold and manipulate the storyline and portrayal of fairy tales. I think some tales stick with us more than others because of how we connect to it. And if we like the tale it will stick more than others.

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  10. Badra Ahmad Avatar
    Badra Ahmad

    Zipe contends that fairytales possess potent elements that deeply resonate with individuals, particularly through compelling themes and memorable characters. Certain tales leave a lasting impact depending on factors such as the delivery, liveliness, and vivid portrayal of characters and plot. Additionally, narratives emphasizing the human experience tend to linger in our memories, as they offer a relatable aspect that resonates with many.

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  11. Ekaterini Fasarakis Avatar
    Ekaterini Fasarakis

    What do you think Zipes’ argument is? What is he trying to say in this article and how is he supporting that? Why do you think some tales have stuck with us more than others?

    Zipe argued that fairytales have changed over time due to various cultures being told. When stories are being told orally, new versions are created and characters, plots, and settings are manipulated to fit the version of the culture. I believe some tales have stuck more than others because of the connection we have with the story.

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  12. Quesia Cruz Avatar
    Quesia Cruz

    Zipes is arguing that the story changed over time, stories are changed by different people whom collected information from other collegues. I believe some stuck with us because we like the ending or simply we like the way they make us feel when we watch them or read them and we can also connect to them.

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  13. hannah Avatar
    hannah

    What do you think Zipes’ argument is? What is he trying to say in this article and how is he supporting that?
    According to Zipes, the Frog Prince represents the nature of men and women in that era rather than being merely a corny tale.
    he explores how narratives change, grow, and survive over time, influencing the universal beliefs, standards, and attitudes of civilizations.

    Why do you think some tales have stuck with us more than others?
    A story’s endurance is sometimes attributed to its unique, applicable, and well-rounded characters. Characters with captivating traits, whether they are heroes, villains, can capture people and make a lasting impact.

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  14. Jennifer F. Angel Avatar
    Jennifer F. Angel

    Zipes’ discusses how stories evolve and shape cultural norms and beliefs. The fairy tales are a reflection of how society values, in this case the importance of marriage and marrying a beautiful woman. That is why the frog was looking for a prospective woman. This hasn’t changed as years gone by. We retell these stories because we can still relate to them, the cultures roots are still intact. Just a few ideas have evolved, such as female heroism and villain empathy arcs.

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  15. Marissa Acosta Avatar
    Marissa Acosta

    Zipe is arguing that fairytales are important for us to relate to and to help us figure out why we are the way we our, especially when it comes to our attractions. He’s supporting that by explaining the iterations of The Frog Prince in conjunction with societal standards vs our true desires. I think some tales have stuck with us more than others becaquse we relate to it and we have a deep sense of understanding towards the protagonist.

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