One, almost universally-overlooked, facet of fairytales is that they pass on culturally-relevant information in the form of metaphor in order to bypass certain taboos about certain contemporary flashpoints and/or political issues that would otherwise cause them to be memory-holed. Can you think of something you're absolutely not allowed to say today, publicly, because it would make you and your in-group the target of mass outrage, censorship, job termination, etc, but which you and your friends know down to your marrow needs to be communicated far and wide, yelled from the rooftops? That's *also* one of the timeless "problems" human have had to deal with.
Fairytales and other "fiction" are a workaround, whereby the clever author can disguise heretical and or potentially inflammatory information to the powers that be, into a plausibly deniable format, "safe" for public consumption. If read with that in mind they're much more valuable to a child than just as a way for them to work through their fears (Bettelheim's alignment with Freud is a little eyebrow raising, not to mention that he was terminally depressed and committed suicide). They are a way of showing them that, yes, our ancestors had to deal with a whole bunch of bulls**t, also, and needed to figure out creative ways to deal with it and write about it, while living in a society who's values were often contrary to their own.
Outstanding point. I really never thought of it that way, so thank you for this.
I don’t suffer under the illusion that Bettelheim’s thesis (or the man himself) was perfect — there is plenty in his book that I’m not entirely sure I agree with — but I think for people who are reluctant to read folk and fairy tales to children because of their inherent darkness, it can be a helpful reframing of the genre as a whole.
The Talking Eggs was one of my absolute favorites when I was in school! I need to share it with my daughter.
It’s so good!
I am a sucker for all things Anansi so I will definitely be looking for the one you’ve recommended here. Thank you for such a thoughtful list!
Do you know The Adventures of Spider by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst?
Wow, you’ve jogged my memory. That was one of my first Anansi books! Damn, I’m going to have to get my hands on it again.
It’s my favorite Anansi of them all, and I always recommend it as a first read-aloud for kiddos who are transitioning to not having any pictures.
Thank you for this fascinating compilation.
One, almost universally-overlooked, facet of fairytales is that they pass on culturally-relevant information in the form of metaphor in order to bypass certain taboos about certain contemporary flashpoints and/or political issues that would otherwise cause them to be memory-holed. Can you think of something you're absolutely not allowed to say today, publicly, because it would make you and your in-group the target of mass outrage, censorship, job termination, etc, but which you and your friends know down to your marrow needs to be communicated far and wide, yelled from the rooftops? That's *also* one of the timeless "problems" human have had to deal with.
Fairytales and other "fiction" are a workaround, whereby the clever author can disguise heretical and or potentially inflammatory information to the powers that be, into a plausibly deniable format, "safe" for public consumption. If read with that in mind they're much more valuable to a child than just as a way for them to work through their fears (Bettelheim's alignment with Freud is a little eyebrow raising, not to mention that he was terminally depressed and committed suicide). They are a way of showing them that, yes, our ancestors had to deal with a whole bunch of bulls**t, also, and needed to figure out creative ways to deal with it and write about it, while living in a society who's values were often contrary to their own.
Outstanding point. I really never thought of it that way, so thank you for this.
I don’t suffer under the illusion that Bettelheim’s thesis (or the man himself) was perfect — there is plenty in his book that I’m not entirely sure I agree with — but I think for people who are reluctant to read folk and fairy tales to children because of their inherent darkness, it can be a helpful reframing of the genre as a whole.