have an urge to write an essay in defense of modern retellings of fairytales- not sure where i'll start, but i've been coming across a few (video) essays made me think, and i wanted to share my thoughts on the other end as someone who did in fact grow up with these modern retellings and find agency in them
i do like reading all these differing perspectives- the problem is trying to unlearn the reactive "anyone whose opinion differs from mine shouldn't be talked to" behavior that's been cultivated in the modern internet age, letting it process, and hopefully encouraging productive discussion on the topics i'm interested in. perhaps i'll write something in the doodles page
I'd also argue that modern retellings of fairy tales are what make them accessible. Even the older Disney princess movies are modern retellings. I can see the perspective by some that retellings are lazy though. It's complicated, because there's this expectation that it needs to respect its source material & that simultaneously it needs to do something new to be worth writing in the first place.
I saw this video about that one shitty webtoon about the Greek olympians & I recall it making some compelling points. If you're interested, I could try to find it for you.
@vashti, hahaha, coincidentally, the video about that hades/persephone webtoon was exactly what got me started on this train of thought- if it's the video i'm thinking of! your comment about the song of achilles made me think about a rant i made to an old friend a couple of years ago- i've been meaning to get started on madeline miller's circe too!
i feel that not only do modern retellings of fairy tales make them accessible, they also give us insight into how social norms and general culture was like in the time it was written- which, although many people seem to take into account for historical media, don't seem to take into account for more contemporary media!
it's a very interesting topic indeed- having to balance the line between being respectful and understanding of the original source, but also breathing new life into it (that's why it's a retelling, rather than a rehashing of existing stories)
i do like reading all these differing perspectives- the problem is trying to unlearn the reactive "anyone whose opinion differs from mine shouldn't be talked to" behavior that's been cultivated in the modern internet age, letting it process, and hopefully encouraging productive discussion on the topics i'm interested in. perhaps i'll write something in the doodles page
There's this really popular niche of Greek mythology retellings that you should look into. Think, Song of Achilles. My sister is really into them.
I'd also argue that modern retellings of fairy tales are what make them accessible. Even the older Disney princess movies are modern retellings. I can see the perspective by some that retellings are lazy though. It's complicated, because there's this expectation that it needs to respect its source material & that simultaneously it needs to do something new to be worth writing in the first place.
I saw this video about that one shitty webtoon about the Greek olympians & I recall it making some compelling points. If you're interested, I could try to find it for you.
@vashti, hahaha, coincidentally, the video about that hades/persephone webtoon was exactly what got me started on this train of thought- if it's the video i'm thinking of! your comment about the song of achilles made me think about a rant i made to an old friend a couple of years ago- i've been meaning to get started on madeline miller's circe too!
i feel that not only do modern retellings of fairy tales make them accessible, they also give us insight into how social norms and general culture was like in the time it was written- which, although many people seem to take into account for historical media, don't seem to take into account for more contemporary media!
it's a very interesting topic indeed- having to balance the line between being respectful and understanding of the original source, but also breathing new life into it (that's why it's a retelling, rather than a rehashing of existing stories)