Time Machine Essay Anastasios-Odyssefs Ntinopoulos

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Analysing the change of the old fairytale of RedRiding Hood to modern stories in relation to modernsociety and its needs.

Time MachineCG Arts and Animation Year 1

April 22, 2012

Anastasios-Odyssefs Ntinopoulos

Chris Hunt


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Contents

Introduction .. Page 3Main Body .. Page 3Conclusion .. Page 9Illustration List . Page 10Bibliography Page 11


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Figure 1: The classic figure of Red Riding Hood fairytale.

Introduction:

This assignment will analyze the changes of the old classic fairytales to modern stories inrelation with modern society and its needs in terms of storytelling. This study will focus on thefairytale which was first published by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps

pass in 1697 Red Riding Hood. The fairytale was later published by the Grimm Brothers atthe 18th century in their book for children with fairytales stories Kinder-und Hausmrchen(Children's and Household Tales) in 1812. The Grimm Brothers stories were not originallyintended for children audience, they were written for adult audience. With the establishment ofthe childhood for children the Grimm Brothers published they fairy tale of Red Riding Hood.

Also the film Company of Wolves (1984) directed by Neil Jordan will be discussed in terms ofthe changes that has been made to the original fairytale through the years. Other filmsassociated with the original story of the Red Riding Hood will be discussed in order to comparethe different versions. I will contrast the different versions of the fairytales in order to show theculture differences of the time they were published and how this affects modern culture. Thisassignment will start by introducing us the early versions of the Red Riding Hood fairytale and

examining the specific period of the time they were written. In my final conclusion I will showhow the different periods of time change the version of the story and how this is achieved byeach periods characteristics.

Main Body:

A fairy tale is a type of a short story that typically features folkloric fantasy characters andcreatures. Characters can be: fairies, goblins, elven trolls, dwarves, giants and many others.Even the fact that they are called fairy tales only a small number of them contains stories withfairies. Fairy tales are found in oral and literature form. Fairy tales existed for thousand years.The first time that fairy tales were described as a genre of literature was from the French writerwho was known for her fairy tale stories Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness

d'Aulnoy. She was also known as Countess d'Aulnoy. Fairytales motifs were to teach and give amoral meaning with their content. Fairy tales were preserved through the generations ratherthan written down. They were preserved by being told to the newer generations. Thats howfairy tales were preserved through history. Until the time they were written and published inbooks. Little Red Riding Hood or else known as Little Red Cap was a European fairy tale abouta young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The figure of the Big Bad Wolf has been used in many versionsof other stories and fairytales and most times its usage is symbolic. The story of the Little Red


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Riding Hood was first published by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps pass in1697 Red Riding Hood.

Figure 2:Kinder-und Hausmrchencover page by Grimm Brothers Figure 3: Illustration in a manuscript of Charles Perrault's.

The story through the years and history has changed a lot and has received numerousadaptations. The tales story is about a young girl called Little Red Riding Hood. Her name wasbecause of the red hooded cloak she wears.

Figure 4: Red Riding Hood with her cloak.

The girl in the tale walks in the woods to go and deliver some food to her sick grandmother.While she is on the way to her grandmothers house a wolf appears. The wolf wants to eat herbut he is afraid to do it in public so he tricks the girl. After learning the destination of the girl thewolf tricks the girl to go and pick some flowers for her sick grandmother. While the girl has beentricked by the wolf and picks up flowers for her grandmother the wolf goes to the house of hergrandmother and eats her. The wolf dresses like her grandmother and waits for the young girl tocome and eat her. When the girl arrives to the house he sees her grandmother (the wolf


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dressed like her grandmother) and questions her. In the end the wolf attacks the girl andswallows her as he did with her grandmother. While the wolf is sleeping on the bed a lumberjackarrives at the house. When the lumberjack finds out what the wolf has done, he takes thescissors he opens his belly and he saves Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. Thenthey put stones in his belly, the close it and they throw him in the river where he drowns. Thatsthe original story of the Little Red Riding Hood. The main meaning of the story that was the

reason why it was invented was not to speak and not to trust any strangers on your way. Thisstory was original made for children with the aim to teach them not to trust any stranger.

Another version of the story recorded from Paul Delarue by the name of The story ofGrandmother. In this version of the story the little girl that is presumably the Little Red RidingHood and is unknowingly cannibalistic. This version of the Little Red Riding Hood existedbefore the one we know and the one that was published in books for children. The fairytale hasmany similarities to other fairytales. Especially the theme and the motif of the wolf has manysimilarities with the Grimm Brothers German fairytale The Wolf and the Seven Young Kid andthe Russian fairytale Peter and the Wolf. Also the wolf theme appears in a big number offables in the ancients Greek fable teller Aesop. The oldest tale we found was an Aesopic fablethat dated from about the sixth century BC, so the last common ancestor of all these talescertainly predated this. We are looking at a very ancient tale that evolved over time. (Gray,

2009:1).Although Aesops fables have been dated in the 6 th century BC their meaning and theirusage (of course manipulated and adopted in the each circumstance individually) is used inevery days life art form, literature, and even entertainment (movies). They have been writtenfrom the ancient years, to give meanings and moral lessons.

Figure 5: Aesops fables book.

Interesting though is in the 17th century Charles Perrault version of the story of the Red RidingHood. Charles Perrault version of the story is more sinister than the original version of the story.The story is the same with the original I mentioned before but it ends with the wolf eating theLittle Red Riding Hood. The ending hides moral meanings. Perraults moral points it out ratherclearly, though, doesnt it? Its not about being aware of the wild animals in the forest, its themen a girl meets in her daily travels, in the streets of her town, that she needs to be wary of. (Unknown, 2010) Earlier versions of the story differ a lot from the ones we know and from the


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ones I mentioned. The earlier versions of the story subject female virginity and lust from thewolf. In the 17th century there was the period of the French literature and Classicism in France.From 1470 to 1789 there is the early modern period in French. In the 17 th century in French poetand literature were developed. French lyric poetry, and, in the later seventeenth century, anunparalleled burst of creativity. (Kay, 2006:17) Also classicism in the architecture was visible inthe 17th century. The story of the Red Riding Hood has also been depicted in the art of

paintings. The French painter Fleurys Franois Richard who was inspired from the troubadourpainters style depicted Red Riding Hood in one of his paintings in the 18th century.

Figure 6: FleurysFranois Richards painting.

Painting is not an imitation of reality. It is a symbol, a figurative language which presents theimage of thought; and thought rises to the source of infinite beauty, there finding the

archetypical forms signaled by Plato, of which created beings are only copies. (Franois, citedin Bazaine, 2002:56) I agree with FleurysFrancois Richards statement although differentmeanings by different artists can be given for their work. His version of Red Riding Hooddepicts her in a sinister way with an ambiguity of serving the wolf. Different meanings anddefinitions of the specific painting can be given. Really important to take in mind is that the timethis painting was done there was the beginning of the movement of Romanticism in Europe. Themovement of romanticism played a significant role in the area of arts. Romanticism was anartistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in Europe the 18 th century.Romanticisms basic characteristic was the emotion expression, the love of nature, theexoticism and the supernatural. Paintings in the romantic era are linked with mystical portrayal ,symbolism , natured and politics. Its obvious that the painting has a symbolic meaning with theRed Riding Hood facing the wolf in the bed. The painting suggests that the Red Riding Hood

serves the wolf and she is waiting for his move or submitting to his desires. The painting is verysymbolic. At the end of the eighteenth century, an idea of childhood as innately innocent andmorally superior to adulthood began to be expressed in the cultural products of the Romanticliterary and cultural movement. (Mfire, 2010:26)It can be agreed that the idea of childhood inthe time of Romanticism has significantly changed and was depicted in a more free and notconventional way. Another painting from the Spanish romantic painter Francisco Jos de Goyay Lucientes who was born in Spain and was an inspiration for further artists. Hispaintings depicts the wide fantasy and the expression of the supernatural. Especially with thepainting: Saturn Devouring One of His Children.


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Figure 7: Francisco Goyas painting of Saturn Devouring one of his children.

Francisco Goyas art was inspired and involved in the movement of Romanticism. This can beobviously seen in his painting Saturn Devouring One of His Children. Francisco Goyaelaborated on Black paintings with haunting themereflective of the artist's fear of insanity, andhis outlook on humanity. Saturn Devouring one of his son was one of his black paintings.

Francisco Goyas painting doesnt have any significant association with the fairytale of RedRiding Hood but it is important to see the representation of the son which gives us a wideexplanation for FleurysFranois Richards painting of Red Riding Hood. Symbolism and theidea of the supernatural beyond means especially in Francisco Goyas painting can be observedin both paintings. Fairy tales through the period of industrial revolution were more accessible tothe public. The industrial revolution transformed society. Up to the seventeenth century the ideaof childhood did not exist. With the industrial revolution the perception of the people for childrenchanged and people were seeing children as innocent identities who had to be safeguardedfrom the evil society. Fairytales were published and were changed in order to be adopted forchildren. Later in the 20th century the fairytale story of the Disney movie Snow White and theSeven Dwarfsin 1937 was a ground-breaking film for fairy tales. Many fairy tales were based onmovies that came out. Company of Wolves (1984) directed by Neil Jordan was a movie based

on the classic fairy tale of Red Riding Hood.


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Figure 8: Company of Wolves (1985) Film Poster.

The movie Company of Wolves tells the familiar story of Red Riding Hood in a darker andmore horrific or psychological way aimed for adults.A new genre in the film making wasestablished with fairy tale stories transformed into movies especially in darker and more horrificand psychological content for adults. The movie has many symbolisms and produces manymotifs to the audience. Although it has the basics of the story of Red Riding Hood it shows theyoung girl and her challenges with the wolves of taking her virginity and transforming her froma girl to a women. The movie recounts the ambiguous sequence of events and feelingsconcerning a girls first sexual encounter.(Orenstein, 2003:166).The movie is great and itshows how the original fairy tale has changed into a more darker fairytale with more symbolism.The plot is changed but the original fairytales motif remains the same about Little Red RidingHood. Another example of using the original fairy tales story is in the modern film industry isLittle Red Riding Hood directed by Catherine Hardwicke.


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Figure 9: Red Riding Hood (2011) Film Poster.

The movie is a dark fantasy movie. The movie differs from the original tale but the motif is thesame. Instead of the bad wolf there is a werewolf which kills people from the village of theRed Riding Hood. The story is not the same, it has been manipulated and changed in order tobe adopted in moderns audiences needs. Many modern movies has been produced and beenpublished to the audience with the motif of Red Riding Hood. Each movie is individuallychanged in its needs but the basic story remains the same.

Conclusion:

Fairytales and especially Little Red Riding Hood has remained through the years. Althoughfairytales and specific Little Red Riding Hood have remained through the years there havebeen made many changes. From the first publish of the fairytale by CharlesPerrault in Histoires ou contes du temps pass in 1697 and later from the Grimm Brothers intheir book for children Kinder-und Hausmrchen(Children's and Household Tales) in 1812before the tale was published its story wasnt for children, although it had a moral meaning itwas presumably and unknowingly cannibalistic. We can see through the years that fairytaleshave many associations with ancient fables and how they remained through the years by oraltransition to the newer generations. Fairytales and especially Little Red Riding Hoods fairytalein its earlier versions were not written for children. It was written for adults and its content wasnt

accessible to the public. In the 17th century Charles Perrault version of the story was moresinister that the one we have been taught. Furthermore we can see Romanticisms associationin fairytales and storytelling by extinguishing the art of Little Red Riding Hood of this time fromartists and their paintings. We can see how the supernatural and the expression of the emotionsare being depicted in the fairytales and in the art paintings of Little Red Riding Hood. Theambiguity of Little Red Riding Hood can be observed. Industrial revolution contributes to thespread of the fairytales for the children and we can see how its changed and has been adoptedfor children the story that used to talk about female virginity and wasnt intended to be for


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children. From new movies in modern culture that have involved and have the basic motif ofLittle Red Riding Hood in their story we can observe that in modern culture the fairytale hasbeen used in different meanings.A genre has been made in the film industry specific for fairy tale based movies. Also in ourmodern culture fairy tales plays their significant role in each use they have been put. Even if thatis in children literature or in the movies industry.

Illustration List:

Figure 1: The classic figure of Red Riding Hood. [online image]http://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Little-Red-Riding-Hood-fairy-tales-and-fables-1004918_465_330.jpg(Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 2: Kinder-und Hausmrchen cover page by Grimm Brothers. [online image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Grimm%27s_Kinder-

_und_Hausm%C3%A4rchen%2C_Erster_Theil_%281812%29.cover.jpg(Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 3: Illustration in a manuscript of Charles Perrault's. [online image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Perrault_1695_Contes.jpg (Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 4: Red Riding Hood with her cloak. [online image]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwtUZjA1npw/TLcsM55L2eI/AAAAAAAAATo/I5K__Sk_pEM/s1600/411px-Little_Red_Riding_Hood_-_Project_Gutenberg_etext_19993.jpg (Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 5:Aesops fables book. [online image]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AjZZPw0x7mk/S_gATpuZQAI/AAAAAAAAIrk/2ZudwtBtQlE/s1600/aes

ops.jpg(Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 6: Fleurys Franois Richards painting. [online image]https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0503/5aea069243428/5aea069a1adb9.jpg(Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 7: Francisco Goyas painting of Saturn Devouring one of his children. [online image] http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/g/images/grotes_goya.saturn.lg.JPG (Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 8: Company of Wolves (1985) Film Poster. [online image]

http://pics.filmaffinity.com/The_Company_of_Wolves-347562354-large.jpg (Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Figure 9: Red Riding Hood (2011) Film Poster. [online image]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfjaNy3408o/TVtc0B-hasI/AAAAAAAAldA/H92IDASrVek/s1600/Red_riding_hood_poster.jpg (Accessed: 22/4/2012)
http://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Little-Red-Riding-Hood-fairy-tales-and-fables-1004918_465_330.jpghttp://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Little-Red-Riding-Hood-fairy-tales-and-fables-1004918_465_330.jpghttp://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Little-Red-Riding-Hood-fairy-tales-and-fables-1004918_465_330.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Grimm%27s_Kinder-_und_Hausm%C3%A4rchen%2C_Erster_Theil_%281812%29.cover.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Grimm%27s_Kinder-_und_Hausm%C3%A4rchen%2C_Erster_Theil_%281812%29.cover.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Grimm%27s_Kinder-_und_Hausm%C3%A4rchen%2C_Erster_Theil_%281812%29.cover.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Perrault_1695_Contes.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Perrault_1695_Contes.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwtUZjA1npw/TLcsM55L2eI/AAAAAAAAATo/I5K__Sk_pEM/s1600/411px-Little_Red_Riding_Hood_-_Project_Gutenberg_etext_19993.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwtUZjA1npw/TLcsM55L2eI/AAAAAAAAATo/I5K__Sk_pEM/s1600/411px-Little_Red_Riding_Hood_-_Project_Gutenberg_etext_19993.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwtUZjA1npw/TLcsM55L2eI/AAAAAAAAATo/I5K__Sk_pEM/s1600/411px-Little_Red_Riding_Hood_-_Project_Gutenberg_etext_19993.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AjZZPw0x7mk/S_gATpuZQAI/AAAAAAAAIrk/2ZudwtBtQlE/s1600/aesops.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AjZZPw0x7mk/S_gATpuZQAI/AAAAAAAAIrk/2ZudwtBtQlE/s1600/aesops.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AjZZPw0x7mk/S_gATpuZQAI/AAAAAAAAIrk/2ZudwtBtQlE/s1600/aesops.jpghttp://cdn2.all-art.org/neoclasscism/nazarenes/richard4.jpghttp://cdn2.all-art.org/neoclasscism/nazarenes/richard4.jpghttp://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/g/images/grotes_goya.saturn.lg.JPGhttp://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/g/images/grotes_goya.saturn.lg.JPGhttp://pics.filmaffinity.com/The_Company_of_Wolves-347562354-large.jpghttp://pics.filmaffinity.com/The_Company_of_Wolves-347562354-large.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfjaNy3408o/TVtc0B-hasI/AAAAAAAAldA/H92IDASrVek/s1600/Red_riding_hood_poster.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfjaNy3408o/TVtc0B-hasI/AAAAAAAAldA/H92IDASrVek/s1600/Red_riding_hood_poster.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfjaNy3408o/TVtc0B-hasI/AAAAAAAAldA/H92IDASrVek/s1600/Red_riding_hood_poster.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfjaNy3408o/TVtc0B-hasI/AAAAAAAAldA/H92IDASrVek/s1600/Red_riding_hood_poster.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfjaNy3408o/TVtc0B-hasI/AAAAAAAAldA/H92IDASrVek/s1600/Red_riding_hood_poster.jpghttp://pics.filmaffinity.com/The_Company_of_Wolves-347562354-large.jpghttp://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/g/images/grotes_goya.saturn.lg.JPGhttp://cdn2.all-art.org/neoclasscism/nazarenes/richard4.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AjZZPw0x7mk/S_gATpuZQAI/AAAAAAAAIrk/2ZudwtBtQlE/s1600/aesops.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AjZZPw0x7mk/S_gATpuZQAI/AAAAAAAAIrk/2ZudwtBtQlE/s1600/aesops.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwtUZjA1npw/TLcsM55L2eI/AAAAAAAAATo/I5K__Sk_pEM/s1600/411px-Little_Red_Riding_Hood_-_Project_Gutenberg_etext_19993.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwtUZjA1npw/TLcsM55L2eI/AAAAAAAAATo/I5K__Sk_pEM/s1600/411px-Little_Red_Riding_Hood_-_Project_Gutenberg_etext_19993.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Perrault_1695_Contes.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Grimm%27s_Kinder-_und_Hausm%C3%A4rchen%2C_Erster_Theil_%281812%29.cover.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Grimm%27s_Kinder-_und_Hausm%C3%A4rchen%2C_Erster_Theil_%281812%29.cover.jpghttp://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Little-Red-Riding-Hood-fairy-tales-and-fables-1004918_465_330.jpghttp://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Little-Red-Riding-Hood-fairy-tales-and-fables-1004918_465_330.jpg


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Bibliography:

Gray, Richard (2009). Fairy tales have ancient origin. In: Telegraph.co.uk (01) pp:01(Accessed: 22/4/2012)

Unknown, (2010). Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault,

http://carolsnotebook.com/2010/04/09/little-red-riding-hood-by-charles-perrault/ (Accessed: 22/4/2012)Kay, Sarah Bowie (2006). Short History of French Literature, Oxford: Oxford University Press,UK(Accessed: 22/4/2012).

Bazaine Jean (2002). Le Temps de la peinture, Paris: Champs Art.(Accessed: 22/4/20120)

Messenger Davies, Mfire (2010), Children, Media and Culture. Maidenhead: Open UniversityPress.(Accessed: 21/4/2012)

Catherine, Orenstein (2003). Little Red Riding Hood Uncloaked: Sex, Morality, and theEvolution of a Fairy TaleNew York: Basic Books(Accessed: 21/4/2012)
http://carolsnotebook.com/2010/04/09/little-red-riding-hood-by-charles-perrault/http://carolsnotebook.com/2010/04/09/little-red-riding-hood-by-charles-perrault/http://carolsnotebook.com/2010/04/09/little-red-riding-hood-by-charles-perrault/

Time Machine Essay Anastasios-Odyssefs Ntinopoulos

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