tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post4316745542881435946..comments2024-03-28T04:36:56.831-04:00Comments on House Unseen. Life Unscripted.: Not a Fairy TaleDwija {House Unseen}http://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-35119113619911841582011-06-08T17:07:50.324-04:002011-06-08T17:07:50.324-04:00Thank you so much for reading, Marc. Glad to know...Thank you so much for reading, Marc. Glad to know my perspective was clear :)Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-84670322429047437052011-06-08T16:15:55.029-04:002011-06-08T16:15:55.029-04:00Hi,
I think you made your position on the type of...Hi,<br /><br />I think you made your position on the type of Fairy Tales you were talking about clear, and I was never under the impression that you are a feminist, whatever that means... <br /><br />I have no problem with feminism rightly understood. Simcha Fisher has a good article on her blog about that. <br /><br />I was arguing against the modern university's tendency to take things that are timeless and good, and bend them to fit their own ideological vision. <br /><br />I have been reading your blog for a long time, and as a young father of three in California I find it absolutely inspiring! <br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />--MarcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-71202153735386558722011-06-08T15:30:25.019-04:002011-06-08T15:30:25.019-04:00I appreciate your thoughtful comments, Marc. It&#...I appreciate your thoughtful comments, Marc. It's even more apparent now thaT I should have specified, as you say, Disneyfied fairy tales!<br /><br />Because these are the versions that the majority of parents and their children are watching, maybe even sometimes reading, I wrongly focused my attention there without being clear about the viewpoint.<br /><br />Also, I hope it's obvious that I am not a feminist by any stretch of the modern imagination. I believe so strongly in the sacrament of marriage as well as the holiness of family that the Disneyfied versions of these stories (again, the ones that are most popular in our society today) tend to promote an attitude contrary to the values I seek to uphold.Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-42717717543642340022011-06-08T14:51:31.112-04:002011-06-08T14:51:31.112-04:00Two more points:
1.) A good alternate view on Fair...Two more points:<br />1.) A good alternate view on Fairy Tales would be the Chapter in G.k> Chesterton's book "Orthodoxy" called "The Ethics of Elfland." I realize that this post was more a critique of Disneyfied Fairy Tales though.<br /><br />2.) And not to harp on Beauty and the Beast, but Belle's father is portrayed as a good man, who, through no fault of his own, happens to be down on his luck financially. He is neither absent, nor stupid. <br /><br />--MarcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-86980213954514248572011-06-08T14:47:35.229-04:002011-06-08T14:47:35.229-04:00@ Jackie-- That is probably one of the most amazin...@ Jackie-- That is probably one of the most amazing mis-readings of Beauty and The Beast I have ever seen. <br /><br />G.K. Chesterton said, in his book Orthodoxy, that the lesson of Beauty and the Beast (I paraphrase) is that a thing must first be loved before it becomes lovable. <br /><br />But even regardless of the Chesterton quote (which I love) a simple reading of the story shows that Belle has no intention of marrying the Beast for his money (she refuses his proposals at first), and her father had no intention of giving her to the Beast despite his serious poverty. To further argue against your (or your professor's interpretation) is the author's contrast of Belle's selflessness against her sisters' selfishness. Finally, in the end it is revealed that the Beast truly loves Belle, for herself, and that she truly loves the Beast for himself, and that her love transforms his outer appearance to reflect his inner beauty. <br /><br />Much scarier than fairy tales are the interpretations of fairy tales by feminist "scholars." <br /><br />I don't mean to be rude, and I realize that many people have been swayed by these kind of professors, but this kind of mis-reading really irritates me. <br /><br />I have two young daughters and I would be happy if they turned out to have Belle's selfless love of others, and her strength of will that would not allow her to marry a Beast simply for his money, but a will that could be tamed by true love. <br /><br />--MarcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-24651131374965279242011-06-06T23:40:21.409-04:002011-06-06T23:40:21.409-04:00No. Way! Me too!!! That is awesome. The Screwtape ...No. Way! Me too!!! That is awesome. The Screwtape Letters takes God's plan, the devil's plan, and our fallible human nature, and irons out the whole thing in an enthralling storyline. Even if Lewis hadn't used letters as the format it STILL would have been the best ever. Love it, love it, love it. You ROCK, Dweej! :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17065921843809619618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-52773680231833127532011-06-06T22:10:46.094-04:002011-06-06T22:10:46.094-04:00Bra-VO! So well done Dweej! What a great perspec...Bra-VO! So well done Dweej! What a great perspective you have...BettyShmettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09302469548166009408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-1141259344998700572011-06-06T14:02:48.292-04:002011-06-06T14:02:48.292-04:00Wow, this was a great post. I'm not a big fan...Wow, this was a great post. I'm not a big fan of the whole "poor little princess" franchise. In fact, my husband and I want to actively discourage our daughter about the helpless fairy tale women. But then again, we just bought the book Cinderella and I love reading it to her!Rach (DonutsMama)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14029074046922966097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-40137066021903575562011-06-06T09:48:10.256-04:002011-06-06T09:48:10.256-04:00EDEN! The Screwtape Letters is literally my favori...EDEN! The Screwtape Letters is literally my favorite book of all time. Literally. I could read it once a week for the rest of my life and only feel like a better person each time. <br /><br />See? Now THAT is a story.Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-72908330278742376792011-06-06T09:46:20.450-04:002011-06-06T09:46:20.450-04:00Omgosh great example, Dweej! SO true! Yes C.S. Lew...Omgosh great example, Dweej! SO true! Yes C.S. Lewis is one of my very, very favorites. Have you ever read the Screwtape Letters? Creepily awesome.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17065921843809619618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-90608221308333435612011-06-06T09:05:39.784-04:002011-06-06T09:05:39.784-04:00I think C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein have already...I think C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein have already done an amazing job of that! I do love things that are magical, I just like for them to point in the right direction :)Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-73761009443506344622011-06-06T08:37:29.929-04:002011-06-06T08:37:29.929-04:00Here's an idea: Write some new "fairy tal...Here's an idea: Write some new "fairy tales" for children that are more reality than "fairy tale." I suppose then it wouldn't be a fairy tale, huh?Minnesota Prairie Rootshttp://mnprairieroots.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-36086534202148232442011-06-05T22:49:49.579-04:002011-06-05T22:49:49.579-04:00@Paula- yes! that's the spirit! Ann of Green G...@Paula- yes! that's the spirit! Ann of Green Gables. She was my 'princess' growing up :)Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-6894641300561441602011-06-05T22:35:30.012-04:002011-06-05T22:35:30.012-04:00You're brilliant! I love this! Disney movies (...You're brilliant! I love this! Disney movies (though I am a HUGE Disney fan) have such a distorted approach to their story lines.Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13034271381748240025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-82605182234352425662011-06-05T22:32:47.656-04:002011-06-05T22:32:47.656-04:00Charlotte's Web...now THAT'S my kind of fa...Charlotte's Web...now THAT'S my kind of fairy tale! Fern was an in your face, get it done little girl, and Charlotte...well, what a spider!<br /><br />Who needs princesses when you can have Fern and Charlotte to look up to!Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02647220453777040327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-19689834001992276732011-06-05T21:29:05.098-04:002011-06-05T21:29:05.098-04:00I'm sure a lot of step mothers feel the way yo...I'm sure a lot of step mothers feel the way you do. As if parenting a mixed family isn't hard enough, right?<br /><br />You are such a fantastic mom, Daenel. I know she feels lucky to have you!Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-59297268845111040522011-06-05T21:26:24.460-04:002011-06-05T21:26:24.460-04:00As a stepmother who totally adores her stepdaughte...As a stepmother who totally adores her stepdaughter, I HATE fairy tales! I also HATE that whole "step" thing...Daenel T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08864314251750387383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-69447365315612392662011-06-05T21:03:34.336-04:002011-06-05T21:03:34.336-04:00Kat, you know we are kindred spirits, right?Kat, you know we are kindred spirits, right?Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-72297512014279289082011-06-05T20:52:05.384-04:002011-06-05T20:52:05.384-04:00Haha, I feel the same way. Why are mother's a...Haha, I feel the same way. Why are mother's always dead? I love the whole "wake-up-and-get-over-yourself attitude. And where the heck is my woodland creatures when the bathroom needs cleaning, eh? :Dhmmmmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392788527804780788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-61003447242538699722011-06-05T19:18:35.955-04:002011-06-05T19:18:35.955-04:00I really like this and I've thought the same t...I really like this and I've thought the same thing! I REALLY wish Disney would cut it with the buffoon men...it kinda drives me nuts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-88707168466277782112011-06-05T17:15:54.859-04:002011-06-05T17:15:54.859-04:00@Jakie- thank you for your well thought-out respon...@Jakie- thank you for your well thought-out response! I really appreciate your background and experience on this topic.<br /><br />I definitely am a PROPONENT of marriage. Clearly! I'm celebrating my 31st birthday and my 11 year anniversary this month. It hasn't been a "fairy tale" but it's been so good and so worth it. Perhaps that's my concern. I value and appreciate the real institution of marriage so much that I think the ideals put forth in these stories make a bit of a mockery of what ought to be.<br /><br />Certainly there are good qualities to be found in all of the characters in those stories. Sometimes it's just hard for me to get past the parent-bashing (particularly the father bashing) :)Dwija {House Unseen}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17887429052179249473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-12875874331867674272011-06-05T17:01:20.206-04:002011-06-05T17:01:20.206-04:00Visiting from Catholic Mothers Online. you had me...Visiting from Catholic Mothers Online. you had me at "I like my Sacraments Catholic and my beer cold"!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-26312327241198343382011-06-05T17:00:15.132-04:002011-06-05T17:00:15.132-04:00I LOVE this post. "My life is not at all like...I LOVE this post. "My life is not at all like a fairy tale. Thank God." Great!<br /><br />About the step mother thing:<br /><br />I took a class on Feminism and Fairy tales in college (best class ever!). One of the theories behind the step mom thing was that psychologically, children feel like they can't be mad at their moms. So they create a "fake mom" to be mad at. (Have your kids ever yelled: "you're not my real mom!!" at you? I know I did when I was mad, and then pretend that I was really a princess who had been adopted). So stories use "step-moms" to fill the evil mother role since its unsettling to have an actual evil mother. <br /><br />There are sexist undertones to many fairy tales. Beauty and the Beast? "Marry a guy if he's rich even if he's a beast." And I'm not kidding...that tale was popularized by a woman who ran a boarding school for girls as a way to convince them to marry old ugly men.<br /><br />But Mulan kicks ass. And Belle is smart. Cinderella works hard. Just because they get married at the end doesn't mean they are a silly bimbo. (not saying that you are saying that). I want to teach my kids that these women didn't getting married isn't the way out of a bad situation. I want to teach them that if you are your own person in a good place in life and ready to commit, then marriage is awesome. I think it's a fine line in the fairy tales. Is marriage the rescue from a bad situation, or the result of leaving it?Jackiehttp://blueberriesforme.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-84124233950749835082011-06-05T16:18:33.214-04:002011-06-05T16:18:33.214-04:00Oops. Straightjacket with a "t". :)Oops. Straightjacket with a "t". :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17065921843809619618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378450001604002654.post-34627566984096434682011-06-05T16:17:55.916-04:002011-06-05T16:17:55.916-04:00Ahhh, well said Dweej. Well said! It was a hard le...Ahhh, well said Dweej. Well said! It was a hard lesson to learn but I thank God I did. Otherwise I'd be in a straighjacket by now!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17065921843809619618noreply@blogger.com