Analysing the change of the old fairytale of Red Riding Hood to modern stories in relation to modern society and

its needs.

Time Machine CG Arts and Animation Year 1

April 22, 2012

Anastasios-Odyssefs Ntinopoulos

Chris Hunt

Contents

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

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 in relation with modern society and its needs in terms of storytelling. This study will focus on the fairytale 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 at the 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 originally intended for children audience, they were written for adult audience. With the establishment of the 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 of the changes that has been made to the original fairytale through the years. Other films associated with the original story of the Red Riding Hood will be discussed in order to compare the different versions. I will contrast the different versions of the fairytales in order to show the culture differences of the time they were published and how this affects modern culture. This assignment 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 show how the different periods of time change the version of the story and how this is achieved by each periods characteristics. Main Body: A fairy tale is a type of a short story that typically features folkloric fantasy characters and creatures. 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 with fairies. 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 writer who 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 a moral meaning with their content. Fairy tales were preserved through the generations rather than written down. They were preserved by being told to the newer generations. Thats how fairy tales were preserved through history. Until the time they were written and published in books. Little Red Riding Hood or else known as Little Red Cap was a European fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The figure of the Big Bad Wolf has been used in many versions of other stories and fairytales and most times its usage is symbolic. The story of the Little Red

Riding Hood was first published by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps pass in 1697 Red Riding Hood.

Figure 2:Kinder- und Hausmrchen cover 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 numerous adaptations. The tales story is about a young girl called Little Red Riding Hood. Her name was because 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 her but he is afraid to do it in public so he tricks the girl. After learning the destination of the girl the wolf tricks the girl to go and pick some flowers for her sick grandmother. While the girl has been tricked by the wolf and picks up flowers for her grandmother the wolf goes to the house of her grandmother and eats her. The wolf dresses like her grandmother and waits for the young girl to come and eat her. When the girl arrives to the house he sees her grandmother (the wolf 4

dressed like her grandmother) and questions her. In the end the wolf attacks the girl and swallows her as he did with her grandmother. While the wolf is sleeping on the bed a lumberjack arrives at the house. When the lumberjack finds out what the wolf has done, he takes the scissors he opens his belly and he saves Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. Then they put stones in his belly, the close it and they throw him in the river where he drowns. Thats the 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. This story 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 of Grandmother. In this version of the story the little girl that is presumably the Little Red Riding Hood and is unknowingly cannibalistic. This version of the Little Red Riding Hood existed before the one we know and the one that was published in books for children. The fairytale has many similarities to other fairytales. Especially the theme and the motif of the wolf has many similarities with the Grimm Brothers German fairytale The Wolf and the Seven Young Kid and the Russian fairytale Peter and the Wolf. Also the wolf theme appears in a big number of fables in the ancients Greek fable teller Aesop. The oldest tale we found was an Aesopic fable that dated from about the sixth century BC, so the last common ancestor of all these tales certainly 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 6th century BC their meaning and their usage (of course manipulated and adopted in the each circumstance individually) is used in every days life art form, literature, and even entertainment (movies). They have been written from 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 Riding Hood. 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 the Little Red Riding Hood. The ending hides moral meanings. Perraults moral points it out rather clearly, though, doesnt it? Its not about being aware of the wild animals in the forest, its the men 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 5

ones I mentioned. The earlier versions of the story subject female virginity and lust from the wolf. 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 17th century in French poet and literature were developed. French lyric poetry, and, in the later seventeenth century, an unparalleled burst of creativity. (Kay, 2006:17) Also classicism in the architecture was visible in the 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 troubadour painters style depicted Red Riding Hood in one of his paintings in the 18th century.

Figure 6: Fleurys Franois Richards painting.

Painting is not an imitation of reality. It is a symbol, a figurative language which presents the image 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, cited in Bazaine, 2002:56) I agree with Fleurys Francois Richards statement although different meanings by different artists can be given for their work. His version of Red Riding Hood depicts her in a sinister way with an ambiguity of serving the wolf. Different meanings and definitions of the specific painting can be given. Really important to take in mind is that the time this painting was done there was the beginning of the movement of Romanticism in Europe. The movement of romanticism played a significant role in the area of arts. Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in Europe the 18th century. Romanticisms basic characteristic was the emotion expression, the love of nature, the exoticism 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 the Red 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 very symbolic. At the end of the eighteenth century, an idea of childhood as innately innocent and morally superior to adulthood began to be expressed in the cultural products of the Romantic literary and cultural movement. (Mfire, 2010:26) It can be agreed that the idea of childhood in the time of Romanticism has significantly changed and was depicted in a more free and not conventional way. Another painting from the Spanish romantic painter Francisco Jos de Goya y Lucientes who was born in Spain and was an inspiration for further artists. His paintings depicts the wide fantasy and the expression of the supernatural. Especially with the painting: Saturn Devouring One of His Children. 6

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 be obviously seen in his painting Saturn Devouring One of His Children. Francisco Goya elaborated on Black paintings with haunting theme reflective of the artist's fear of insanity, and his 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 Red Riding Hood but it is important to see the representation of the son which gives us a wide explanation for Fleurys Franois Richards painting of Red Riding Hood. Symbolism and the idea of the supernatural beyond means especially in Francisco Goyas painting can be observed in both paintings. Fairy tales through the period of industrial revolution were more accessible to the public. The industrial revolution transformed society. Up to the seventeenth century the idea of childhood did not exist. With the industrial revolution the perception of the people for children changed and people were seeing children as innocent identities who had to be safeguarded from the evil society. Fairytales were published and were changed in order to be adopted for children. Later in the 20th century the fairytale story of the Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 was a ground-breaking film for fairy tales. Many fairy tales were based on movies that came out. Company of Wolves (1984) directed by Neil Jordan was a movie based on the classic fairy tale of Red Riding Hood.

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

The movie Company of Wolves tells the familiar story of Red Riding Hood in a darker and more horrific or psychological way aimed for adults. A new genre in the film making was established with fairy tale stories transformed into movies especially in darker and more horrific and psychological content for adults. The movie has many symbolisms and produces many motifs to the audience. Although it has the basics of the story of Red Riding Hood it shows the young girl and her challenges with the wolves of taking her virginity and transforming her from a girl to a women. The movie recounts the ambiguous sequence of events and feelings concerning a girls first sexual encounter.(Orenstein, 2003:166). The movie is great and it shows 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 Riding Hood. Another example of using the original fairy tales story is in the modern film industry is Little Red Riding Hood directed by Catherine Hardwicke.

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 the same. Instead of the bad wolf there is a werewolf which kills people from the village of the Red Riding Hood. The story is not the same, it has been manipulated and changed in order to be adopted in moderns audiences needs. Many modern movies has been produced and been published to the audience with the motif of Red Riding Hood. Each movie is individually changed in its needs but the basic story remains the same. Conclusion: Fairytales and especially Little Red Riding Hood has remained through the years. Although fairytales and specific Little Red Riding Hood have remained through the years there have been made many changes. From the first publish of the fairytale by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps pass in 1697 and later from the Grimm Brothers in their book for children Kinder- und Hausmrchen (Children's and Household Tales) in 1812 before the tale was published its story wasnt for children, although it had a moral meaning it was presumably and unknowingly cannibalistic. We can see through the years that fairytales have many associations with ancient fables and how they remained through the years by oral transition to the newer generations. Fairytales and especially Little Red Riding Hoods fairytale in 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 more sinister that the one we have been taught. Furthermore we can see Romanticisms association in fairytales and storytelling by extinguishing the art of Little Red Riding Hood of this time from artists and their paintings. We can see how the supernatural and the expression of the emotions are being depicted in the fairytales and in the art paintings of Little Red Riding Hood. The ambiguity of Little Red Riding Hood can be observed. Industrial revolution contributes to the spread of the fairytales for the children and we can see how its changed and has been adopted for children the story that used to talk about female virginity and wasnt intended to be for 9

children. From new movies in modern culture that have involved and have the basic motif of Little Red Riding Hood in their story we can observe that in modern culture the fairytale has been used in different meanings. A genre has been made in the film industry specific for fairy tale based movies. Also in our modern culture fairy tales plays their significant role in each use they have been put. Even if that is 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-andfables-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/s1600/4 11px-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] http://cdn2.all-art.org/neoclasscism/nazarenes/richard4.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/TVtc0BhasI/AAAAAAAAldA/H92IDASrVek/s1600/Red_riding_hood_poster.jpg (Accessed: 22/4/2012)

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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 University Press. (Accessed: 21/4/2012) Catherine, Orenstein (2003). Little Red Riding Hood Uncloaked: Sex, Morality, and the Evolution of a Fairy Tale New York: Basic Books (Accessed: 21/4/2012)

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