WHAT MAKES A REPULSIVE FROG SO APPEALING? BY: JACK ZIPES Presentation by: Katrina Markowicz Aurora...
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Transcript of WHAT MAKES A REPULSIVE FROG SO APPEALING? BY: JACK ZIPES Presentation by: Katrina Markowicz Aurora...
WHAT MAKES A REPULSIVE FROG SO APPEALING?
BY: JACK ZIPES
Presentation by:
Katrina MarkowiczAurora Stoica Lauren O’Neill
THESIS It is important to explore why tales from oral
tradition have been transformed throughout the years and why they stick with us as memes. Accomplish this using theories from the various
sciences, such as social sciences, evolutionary psychology, and cultural anthropology.
Meme: “Cultural artifact that acts as a cultural replicator or cultural adaptor that manages to inhabit our brains (essentially becomes memorable).”
CLAIM #1TALES STICK AROUND Tales stick around because they are
revealing of certain aspects of both our social lives and human behavior; this makes them memetic. Almost everyone knows the story of the Frog
King even if they don’t know how it has transformed into a literary version, but the story sticks with us and the appeal transforms it into different avenues.
Particularly, “The Frog Prince”, gives insight into mating and courting behaviors that can be traced back hundreds to thousands of years.
CLAIM #2MEMORABLE MEMES The versions of the “Frog King” by the
Grimm Brothers are “artistically shaped, prepared, and stabilized” to make it so memorable that we, as a culture, talk about it and pass it on to others. This version is memetic according to Zipes
because it is relevant to culture and provides information important in demonstrating how to act in society, specifically “sexual selection, reproduction, and evolution as culture.” (Zipes, 111)
CLAIM #3IRON HEINRICH IMPORTANCE The tale “The Frog Prince; or Iron
Heinrich” provides an example of how tales can be revealing of human nature. It provides important information on the process of mate selection, reproduction, and in general, the evolution of culture.
CLAIM #4SCIENCE/NATURAL SCIENCE THEORIES The propagation of a meme within
society can largely be compared to the propagation of particular genes within a population.
Theories about the brain and evolutionary psychology help explain how fairy tale memes change. Dawkins Genes
Humanities and natural sciences help explain how culture evolves and how folk and fairy tales support this cultural evolution. Wilson and Sperber
CLAIM #5SHIFT IN FAIRYTALE TRADITION Fairytales will only be viewed as a meme if
it is preserved and replicated using a socio-historical lens to incorporate the purpose of the relevant topic (sexual selection) The Grimm’s “The Frog Prince” is guaranteed to be
preserved and replicated because: 1) The 1857 version (the most told/well known version) is
not forgotten because of retellings.2) Variations of the story are generated in terms of specific
cultural discourses to communicate information of alterations of the original message.
The kiss replaces the wall slam and sleeping in the same bed in some versions. Major shift in “Frog Prince” tradition Implies changing viewpoint in mate selection Feminist movement of 1960s – Self Help books
contributes to this
CLAIM #5 CONTADAPTATIONS Children/early teens’ books
sexual elements in a comical fashion or eliminated; questions mating rules. Jackie Mims Hopkins’ The Horned Toad Prince (2000): Prince
leaves, beauty isn’t enough to stay Novels for young readers
show a gender switch focus is less on mating; more on finding one’s own
identity (both still present) E. D. Baker’s The Frog Princess (2002): self-reflection
mate selection Adult literature
focus on mating process, false promises, and marriage. Nancy Springer’s Fair Peril (1996): illusion; stand on her
own feet Zipes concludes that all of these variations
contribute to the “Frog Prince’s” ability to continue to be a meme playing a role in mating norms.
OTHER SCHOLARSHIP Haase
Purposeful deviations in story that destroys message Zipes: culture causes the deviation to fit norms
Talairach-Vielmas Gender roles change with time cultural shift of
tale Zipes’ argument is similar, but focuses on mate selection
changes Hearne
Fairy tales undergo changes and adaptations because of cultural changes Zipes would agree, but adds that adaption occurs
because of the memetic ability of the tale
ARGUMENT Strong argument? Yes.
Uses examples from various other scholars and professionals Haig, Sforza, Dawkins, Wilson and Sperber
Applies theories from various disciplines such as science, the social sciences, evolutionary psychology, and cultural anthropology
Uses many examples of adaptations of the Frog Prince to demonstrate his thesis helps solidify the idea that tales become altered and
adapted Shows how fairytales stay relevant to current society
CONCLUSION The memetic significance of a fairy tale has
been integrated into society and passed down through tradition so much that it is seen through mass communication avenues. This becomes even more integrated into society that it is transformed throughout history to change the oral tradition that people believe originated with their ancestors.