Tag: children

Tales and Legends

Let’s Scare Children

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I hope you understood the irony in this statement! Of course, I am talking about the fact that what was supposed to be cute fairy tales are, in fact, scaring children. One example of this is Rapunzel from the Grimm brothers. The brothers are renowned for their gothic and gloomy fairy tales.

First, I will summarize you a little bit the essence of the brothers’ story. It is the story of a couple who are going to have a child. To make sure the mother does not die, the husband needs to pick up fruits that are on the other side of a wall, where an enchantress lives. In order for them to have access to the fruits, the woman will take their child as soon as the mom gives birth. When she takes the child away, she brings her in a tower where no one will be able to see her, ever. One day, the enchantress realizes that Rapunzel, the child, is helping a young man entering the tower to spend time with her. As soon as she realizes it, she cuts the hair of the child and plays a trick on the young man. When the man climbs on the hair the woman had let down, she pushes him down in the rose bushes, where he gets his eyes pierced. In the end, we read that the young man finds Rapunzel back with their two children and live happily ever after. A quite long and rough journey to be able to live happily ever after!

Some gothic motifs can be analyzed in this short tale. There is the monster, of course, that is represented by the enchantress. She is considered as a human monster because she takes the child away from her parents to only do bad to her, in addition, to almost killing the young man.

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Another motif would be gloom, especially towards the end of the story. When the young man gets his eyes pierced, it is quite gloomy and disgusting for the target audience that is supposed to be children.

I suggest you read the brothers’ tale and after compare with the newest version by Disney, you will realize how it was changed and how it is more directed towards the young target audience.

Rosalie 😊

Movies

For Brave Children Only

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According to the director of the movie Coraline, this movie is destined to be seen by brave children only. What does that really mean? Don’t you think being brave is a little subjective? How can you make sure your child is brave enough to watch this movie, even is it is categorized as general?

I think this statement is completely inappropriate. If the director really wanted it to be watched by brave children, could he have categorized it to a specific age group? Right now, but especially when the movie first came out in 2009, children from all age groups were watching it and were afraid by it. I guess it is completely normal given that the main character, Coraline, lives with “false” parents that have buttons sewn over their eye. Which children would not be afraid of the fact that her parents have been replaced with scary doubles?

Like this wasn’t enough, she is trapped in an alternate world and can’t escape it. She is experiencing completely unreal but scary things, which not all children from all age groups are able to understand. Children from younger age groups could easily take this information for granted and think that it could happen to them.

I simply don’t really understand how the aspect of bravery is relevant to this situation given that it is presented as a general movie. Personally, when I was younger and I watched it, I was very scared of this movie, so I assume that it happens to several children in the same situation. I don’t know if you agree with me, but if you have children in your entourage, just be aware of it and maybe take some precautions to make sure it doesn’t “traumatize” them.                         

                                                                           Cheers, Rosalie