Rapunzel

Rapunzel
Rapunzel is one of America's favorite fairy tales. But this is in regards to the Disney version, where Rapunzel is saved by her prince and finds her fairy tale home and ending. Makes sense this is a popular tale, especially considering the musical numbers. Which, might I add, are AMAZING. This was by the far the best movie to be produced by Disney since "The Little Mermaid".

Cartoon:
I personally find this cartoon very funny because it gives Rapunzel a backbone when it comes to being used by a male counterpart- literally. She doesn't give in and looks away from the person that could give her freedom. It is implied in this cartoon that she will let this opportunity pass her by if it means getting to freedom on her own. This would be a huge accomplishment considering the typical role of females in traditional fairy tales. Many feminists are able to use fairy tales in their argument because of the use they have in teaching younger children. The tales are prime examples of teaching gender roles to children at a young age.

Cartoonist Name:Barbra Cahall

URL: https://www.deviantart.com/conservatoons/art/Feminist-Rapunzel-158349105

Barbe Bleu

Barbe Bleue v. Robber’s Bridegroom v. Fitcher’s Bird
All of the tales focus around the idea of a terrible man stealing women and killing them for malicious purpose. The man’s demise is the last woman that he tries to kill, when he is either outsmarted by them (Fitcher’s Bird), saved by their brothers (Barbe Bleue), or exposes the male in front of others (Robber’s Bridegroom). Each story is composed differently in how the women reveal the true intentions of the man to those who can save them. The Robber’s Bridegroom is one of the only tales in which the power of narrative is used by a character.

My Favorite:
My favorite of the three tales would be Fitcher’s Bird because the youngest sister is able to outsmart the Sorcerer without the help of a male overseer. She is also able to get the Sorcerer to do her bidding for her without having to do anything herself. This is a tale with a happier ending where the sister is able to redeem herself and save her sisters- who aren’t terrible people. If that is not the description of “Girl Power”, I don’t know what is.

Hansel and Gretel

Grimm...

We are all familiar with the Grim version of Hansel and Gretel. The siblings are abandoned by their family on the forest twice, but the second time they are unable to find their way back. Soon they stumble upon a cottage made of cake. The children begin to eat the house and soon meet the old witch who lives inside. After the witch welcomes the siblings, she snatches Hansel and begins to fatten him up so that he can eat them. When this day finally comes, Gretel out smarts the witch and pushes her into the oven, saving herself and her brother- all the while still grabbing treasures for their family. The siblings run away and are taken across a river on a duck so that they can eventually find their home. When they get there, their stepmother is dead and the father welcomes his children and the gifts they brought from the witch's house.

MGM...

This tale is familiar to the Grimms' although the mother loves her children and sends them to look for berries in the forest without malicious intentions. When they reach the witch's home, it is made of candy and gingerbread. The witch captures the children with magic and the father is searching for his children. Gretel defeats the witch and saves her brother and the previous children captured by the witch to be turned into guards for her home. The family is reunited and all live peacefully.

Differences v. Similarities... 
Obviously, the core of the fairy tale is the same in both- the family, the witch, and the plot in general. Both tales rely on religion and family orientation to take the childrens' victory form them and give them to a male figure- God or their father. Differences include the mother and step-mother and their intentions. The duck is nowhere to be found in the MGM version, but the Grimm version also lacks the magic included by MGM. Hansel and Gretel must also find their way out of the forest twice after being purposely left in the forest in the Grimm version, where MGM creates a more family friendly version where the children become lost on their own.

Little Red Riding Hood

Cartoon

Obviously this cartoon alludes to the theory that because we allude to Facebook followers as friends, we can trust them. A friend is defined as someone who we know and share a bond of mutual affection. Therefore, when we hear this term, we should be able to trust that person. Right? This socialistic cartoon emphasizes the issues we have created for ourselves as a society. We are very cognizant of who we allow into our lives, but that does not translate into our social media presences. Because we see the person who follows us as a "friend", we believe we can trust them.

This is the same for Little Red Cap. She interprets the wolf knowing her name as a sign of trust. This means very little in all actuality, as the wolf betrays Little Red Cap at the end of the multiple versions of the story.


Personal Outlook
I truly enjoy this cartoon. I have always disliked the presence of social media in my generation and the sway it holds. I see many people connected through social media, but just because we coined the term "friend" in social media doesn't mean they are that. I have never had a huge presence on social media and I am very selective with who I allow to friend and follow me. I don't know exactly why, but it seems to work in my favor compared to my friends who care about the number on the top of their profiles.


Cartoonist: Chris Slane
URL: https://dionisopunk.com/2018/02/22/little-red-riding-hood/facebook-friend/