Monday, November 23, 2015


What have I learned this semester?

To begin I learned that the Disney movies I grew up watching are not the original tales that I had believed they were. (Gasp)

 

I learned Dr. Esa doesn’t know many famous people in pop culture (but we’ll excuse him)

I learned that you can really read into the tales and lots of them relate to sex.

 

I learned not only where Dr. Esa lives but also that he has 4 chickens (perhaps I’ll send them a letter, just kidding I don’t remember his address…but it’s the thought that counts right?)

 

I learned how to play protect the president and it was lots of fun.

I learned the old cattle got out excuse only works in high school (I’ll think of something better next time)

I learned Mandy has a twin, I think that’s cool
I still think my friend Casey looks like Tabitha, so maybe Tabitha has a twin too (ooh plot twist) they both have black jackets too. #twinning

 

I learned blogging is difficult because Microsoft and blogspot don’t use the same format for pictures (that is extremely annoying and such a pain in the butt)

I learned group text can be fun

I also learned group chats can be the worse (like when you are trying to take a nap and you drop your phone under your bed with the volume up and you’re too sleepy to go under your bed and get it so you just kinda lay there and try to ignore the constant buzzing…yes this happened to me)

I learned sitting at the head of the table is strange because you can see everyone

I learned that when Dr.Esa thinks something is funny his voice gets higher as he speaks (seriously guys listen for this because I’ve noticed)

And lastly I learned the semester goes by quick

Friday, November 13, 2015


RAPUNZEL CARTOON

I’ve selected this cartoon from a cartoonist named Isely. The cartoon takes a comical approach and doesn’t have much to do with the original tale by the Brothers Grimm but it has the comedy aspect in common with the Disney movie, Tangled.  In all 3 the character of Rapunzel has long blonde hair and is locked away in a tower, when a prince comes to climb up her hair. The main difference is that in the Brothers Grimm tale and the Disney movie Rapunzel has long hair from her head. While in this cartoon she has long arm pit hair. In both Tangled and the Brothers Grimm version of Rapunzel the evil sorceress chops off Rapunzel’s hair but in this cartoon it seems as though Rapunzel will be cutting off her own hair because she asked the prince if he brought the razor she asked for. But of course it is still very different from the Brothers Grimm’s Rapunzel and Disney’s tangled because her hair is under arm hair and not the hair that grows from her scalp. This is clearly a social cartoon just because the only purpose it is really serving is a comedic purpose, it has no political references. I think the look on the Prince’s face would suggest that he does not have the razor she asked for. Also I find it strange that she ask him if he has the razor she asked for just because that implies they have spoken before.

http://www.toonpool.com/user/8371/files/rapunzel_859715.jpg

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Bluebeard vs. The Robber Bridedgroom vs. The Fitcher's bird


 

 

Bluebeard, the fitcher's bird and the robber bridegroom are all versions of bluebeard.

 All three tales deal with a women marrying or intending to marry a horrible man. All the men are horrible because they are criminals. However not all the men are the same, in bluebeard the man is rich and ugly because he has a bluebeard, in the fitcher's bird the man is a sorcerer and in the robber bridegroom the man is a prince.

 The men also take different approaches in how they wanted to kill their ladies, in the robber bridegroom he wanted to cook and eat the princess, in the fitcher's bird he wants to kill his lady by chopping her into pieces just as he did to her 2 older sisters, and in bluebeard he planned to kill his wife by slitting her throat.

 All the women saved themselves the princess from the robber bridegroom left and went back to tell her father when all the men were sleeping, in the fitcher's bird the woman pretended as if nothing was wrong as she plotted to have him killed and she also brought her 2 sisters back to life, and in blubeard the wife pleaded for her life as she waited to be saved by her brothers.

All tales ended with death but it much different ways. In the robber bridegroom the prince and all his fellow robber were executed, in the fitcher's bird the husband to be and all his wedding guest were burned alive in his house and in bluebeard his wife’s brothers killed him.

Only the fitcher's bird and bluebeard included the secret room with dead bodies and the bewitched blood stains. But still all women faced bad men be it a murderer or a robber they were all bad.


These tales are unique because they involve husbands that are not the kinds women would like to marry, the reader is exposed to the dark sides of these men and instead of the tales ending in marriage they end in murder.

I liked the fitcher’s bird the most because I have 2 sisters, so its more relatable and I loved that she was able to bring her sisters back to life and save the day.

 

Thursday, October 29, 2015



“Little Red Riding Hood” cartoon

Little red riding hood is clearly the theme of this cartoon because it shows a little girl dressed in red and of course the wolf but the little girl refers to him as a “doggy”. I have chosen this simple cartoon by Lilaune R.  I believe this cartoon to be social and not political because I do not think it displays any political reference, however I can see the social reference. I believe her cartoon is demonstrating what it would be like if the roles were switched between the two characters. Therefore the wolf is the innocent victim and Little Red Riding Hood is the dangerous predator. It is not to the extreme as the Brothers Grimm took the danger because she just loves the dog so much that she is smothering him with affection. But the point is still made that the dog is unhappy with the situation and is in need of help. This cartoon speaks socially to prove that men are not always the bad guys instead yes it can be women who are predators. I feel this cartoon breaks the gender norms we normally would apply to society.

I like this cartoon just because I think it is cute. It reminds me of the way I acted when I was younger and met a new animal. I also like this because as I said before it portrays a women as a predator which can very well be the case. Not all criminals/rapist are men and it is important for people to understand that.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhOC0WhebycVom-FUe1gNHeGaRkFs1lzWEIgDYUt22DufEKha9iHadi7oNJN0A2Xlc4ccIi0K4zm52xMn5xgxK60PIiZnWZUachf_G5HoMok2v3sw8BpST5nVDiMkLtzXPwjTU6xhPagt/s1600/Rotka%25CC%2588pchen_Cartoon.jpg

Sunday, October 25, 2015


"The Frog King" by the Brothers Grimm vs. "Cupid and Psyche" by Lucius Apuleius
  
“The frog king” begins with the ”beautiful” princess playing with a golden ball and accidently dropping it into a well whereas “Cupid and psyche” began with really developing who the princess is, the reader is told she has a father, mother and two older sisters. But of the three daughters she is the most beautiful.

Both begin with emphasizing the daughters’ beauty.

The focus of “cupid and psyche” is centered on the princess’s beauty so much that the real Venus became jealous of the princess and sent her son, cupid to get revenge.

The focus of “the frog king” is to not judge a book by it cover and not to make promises you can’t keep.

There is no frog character in “cupid and psyche” though the frog is one of the main characters in “the frog king”

However there is a character who acts as the frog and it is the unknown monster figure.

Both the princesses wanted to kill the “beast” they faced. In cupid and psyche when the monster approached her she held a knife in plans of killing him. As for the frog king she threw the nasty frog against the wall in hopes that would kill him.  

A major difference is that cupid and psyche is a myth because it involves Gods and the frog king is a tale because it involves a magical transformation.

 


 



Thursday, September 24, 2015


Disney took the tale Snow White from the brothers Grimm and adapted it to the times and his audience to make his first animated film ever, one which most people believe to be the original. However those people are wrong.

Disney started with the prince meeting Snow White right in the beginning of the movie which is not how the tale goes, the prince actually meets Snow White when she is already dead. So technically he really doesn’t meet her at that point. Snow white is also portrayed much older than seven in the film. I believe Disney did this just so it was more widely accepted that she was getting married. The huntsman ordered to kill little Snow White was demanded to bring back just her heart unlike the tale that ask for her lungs and liver that the queen then plans to eat. Obviously the queen eating her own daughter’s organs is way too graphic for children so that’s why Disney changed that. Disney went on to give the queen magical powers unlike the tale where she just plots master mind plans to deceive Snow White. The queen attempted to kill her daughter once in the film but in the tale she killed her 3 separate times. And of course in the film Snow White comes back to life from the prince’s kiss whereas in the tale the prince’s servants trip causing the apple to become expelled from her throat. Disney also had the queen die from accidently falling from a cliff instead of Snow White and the prince ordering her to dance until she died just because it makes their characters more innocent. The most crucial change Disney made to the tale were the seven dwarves not only did he give the names but also personalities and a larger role in the story. This change made the movie more enjoyable and humorous and definitely more kid friendly.

Now for some similarities, there were very few major ones. Disney kept the seven dwarves and that they were miners he also kept that Snow White died from eating a poisoned apple and he also kept the glass coffin and he kept how naive Snow White was but other than that he strayed quite far from the original tale.

This phone case is pretty great.
 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

While magic helped Cinderella achieve riches and success I don’t believe it’s realistic to count on magic to go from rags to riches however marriage is a whole different story.

Marriage in America guarantees a lot of benefits such as:

·         Citizenship to the united states of America

·      Lower state and federal taxes

·         Lower car insurance

·         Lower home owner insurance

·         Receive partners benefits for example health insurance

·         Easier to get loans

·         A beautiful ring (sometimes)

·         More socially acceptable

And while Cinderella’s story ended happily ever after that’s not the realistic situation for everyone. So I must say that with marriage sometimes comes divorce but don’t fret just yet because divorce can bring greater benefits then the marriage. For example without a prenuptial agreement the spouses will have to split everything they own equally among themselves. Therefore if you weren’t the bread winner you can still get your hands on their money.

If I still haven’t convinced you that marriage brings success and riches let me just say 2 words, GOLD DIGGER that’s right there are people out there ready to marry you just for your lavish lifestyle because they know what success and richness they can gain just from tying the knot with you.  

As much as I would love to say success can be reached with magic it can’t. The only way to become wealthy and successful is to either work for it and earn it all by yourself or find someone who has already put in the work and get hitched.
just in case you forgot Kim Kardashian was married to Kris Humphries for a few days.
 
They then divorced

Both received major publicity which helped their careers. Especially Kris because most people didn't even know who he was.
Magic didn't bring them together but their marriage made them a very powerful, wealthy couple.

Friday, September 11, 2015


COMPARE AND CONTRAST

ORIGINAL GRIMM TALE VS. THE MGM VERSION

SAME:

·         Their father was a woodcutter

·         Their mother didn’t like them

·         Hansel tricked the witch to believe he was skinny by using a bone

·         Their family was poor

·         Hansel and Gretel love each other

Differences:

·         In the book the mother forced the father to send the kids into the woods but in the movie she did it out of anger when the kids messed up

·         In the book the parents make a fire in the woods when they leave behind the children but in the movie Hansel makes a fire using the striking rocks that a local man gave to him

·         Hansel never looked back at the house in the movie to see the animals that he saw in the book

·         Their mother died in the book

·         They were taking into the woods by their parents in the book but in the movie they were sent to pick berries

·         In the movie Gretel wakes up in the middle of the night and figures out the old lady is a witch but in the book they just wake up to find Hansel in the cage, then they realize she’s a witch

·         The father gets the children home in the end of the movie but in the book the children find their way home all by themselves

·         Hansel and Gretel save other children that were lost in north woods in the movie but in the book there’s no other children

I think directors made so many changes to the story in order to make the movie longer and to make the mother seem like less of the villain.

Thursday, September 3, 2015


BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR FAIRYTALES!

A fairytale is a short story composed of magic and imagination. The story will generally begin with “Once upon a time” and end with “they lived happily ever after” and everything between contains a ton of wondrous magic.

Here are some signs you may be dealing with a fairytale:

·         If it couldn’t happen in real life (unrealistic)

·         If there’s an extreme contrast between good and evil

·         If it displays timelessness

·         If there are no detailed descriptions

·         If there’s only one story line

·         If there’s Isolation of the hero character

·         If there’s repetition of the motif

·         If there’s a major plot/ lots of action

If the story you’re reading contains any of the above you are most likely dealing with a fairytale.

Here are some signs of what a fairytale is not:

·         If it involves Gods

·         If there’s any acknowledgement of time

·         If it contains a miracle

Using sleeping beauty as an example I will go show how I proved it’s a fairytale.

·         It begins with a crab telling sleeping beauty’s mother she will be having a baby girl.

o   Hold the crazy train animals can’t talk

·         The story concludes with “they lived happily to the end of their days”

o   Peachy isn’t it

·         If it still is unclear whether this is a fairytale let’s think of the isolation sleeping beauty experiences when she sleeps for 100 years, she’s also an only child

o   That’s quite a long time all alone

Sleeping beauty is without question a fairytale and I figured it out by only asking myself 3 questions.

Saturday, August 29, 2015


From the Brothers Grimm to Walt Disney doesn’t sound like your everyday first year seminar. When I found out I had to take a survey to choose a first year seminar I already had my preconceptions of what we might learn from my experience in a freshman seminar class in high school. It was lots of boring information so when I saw all the options McDaniel offered I thought wow most of these topics interest me. Then I saw the Disney seminar and decided I wanted to be in this seminar. So much that I went back on my survey and rated everything else extremely low and gave the Grimm to Disney my highest vote. Fortunately for me I did end up getting this seminar. YAY!

            In this seminar I’m hoping to become friends with everyone I know we are here for our education but college is also a time to grow as a person and I’m hoping to branch away from my shy tendencies. Aside from personal growth I’m excited to learn the original stories and more about the culture from which they stem.

            My favorite fairy tale by far is Cinderella. That was my go to movie when I was younger and then I grew up and learned the original story and thought it was funny that the step sisters cut their feet in order to get into the glass slipper. I can relate to having large feet. I also connected to the story because I have 2 sisters (mine aren’t mean though) and let’s not forget about the mice I LOVE them.

Monday, August 24, 2015

My peer mentor, Mandy made this nametag for my door and I love it.