Heidi Anne Heiner's Blog, page 155

Grimms Still Frightening Adults

 

Oh my! The list is interesting although I think Westing Game is a far, far stretch for this list as much as I adore that book. I just gave my niece a copy this summer and reread part of it with her at bedtime. Not scary to us! I guess Neil Gaiman is too recent to include on the list instead. But for readers here, I think number 2 will be the most interesting pick.
From 10 Children's Books That Are (still) Frightening To Adults by Meredith Borders:

2. 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' by The Brothers Grimm A collection of stories by those macabre bros, including such classics as "Rapunzel," "Hansel and Gretel," "Cinderella," "Little Snow White," "Little Briar Rose" and other stories co-opted and cleaned up by Walt Disney.
Why it scares adults:
Although Disney films have turned the concept of fairy tales into innocuous love stories filled with singing birds and happy endings, the Grimm Brothers were all about bleak moral lessons and cruel punishments for the wicked. It's somewhat disturbing to consider that these stories in which children are eaten, princesses are comatose, and hearts are devoured were written for kids.

Just imagine if Wilhelm Grimm hadn't edited the tales over the years as they saw their young audience grow...
   

Fairy Tale Advertising: Clinica Dempere

Wow, this is one of the most disturbing ad campaigns in a while. And the media is jumping on it for that reason. I imagine Disney will try, also, since they are very protective of their characters and this was certainly not sanctioned by the Mouse House. I'm sure Ariel's likeness was carefully vetted by a legal team, but yikes, there is no doubt that Disney's Little Mermaid is invoked in all our minds.
From The Little Mermaid gets a little nip and tuck by Danielle Cox:

A plastic surgery center in Venezuela thought Ariel needed some work and decided she should go under the knife.

Clinica Dempere is taking fairy tale characters and making some major appearance changes for advertising purposes. Their campaign tag, 'We Make Fairy Tales Come True,' features the innocent before and not so innocent after pictures of the characters.

The Evil Witch also has major work done. After years of having an old face with the trademark pointy, witch nose, she comes out as a young, sexy vixen, with a perfect nose. There is no sexual discrimination in their campaign, the Frog Prince is part of their makeovers. He goes in as a frog and comes out as stunning prince....which is similar to the fairy tale, but the story doesn't involve the nip and tuck.

The Little Mermaid may be the most shocking of all of the makeovers. Ariel goes in as a sweet, young, fresh faced, mermaid princess and comes out as sexy, busty, older woman. She also looks as if she has had botox injected into her lips and chiseled cheek bones. All innocence is gone.

I am disturbed by the sexualization of Ariel, of course, but that has become rather standard by artists around the web. I find the surgery tables in the ads to be even more disturbing, invoking images of Dr. Frankenstein in my mind. The characters' desperation to get there and the joy after the procedure. Wow. And the Frog Prince one is even more confusing since the kissed frog isn't transformed but requires surgery. That is even more disturbing that the Grimms version when he thrown against the wall. At least the witch is more generic in nature.

Fairy Tale Films and Women

   
I hope you didn't miss this interesting article which quotes some people regularly referenced here at SurLaLune.

From Are new raft of fairy tale films and TV shows fair to their female characters? By Gretchen Van Benthuysen:

Dr. Jack Zipes, a retired University of Minnesota professor and author of more than a dozen books, including “The Enchanted Screen: The Unknown History of Fairy-Tale Films” and “Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk & Fairy Tales,” says the message films such as “Mirror Mirror” and “Snow White and the Huntsman” deliver is that women must compromise their femininity to succeed.

“‘To become a true woman, you first must become a man,” he says. “In ‘Mirror Mirror,’ Snow White trains to use a sword to defeat the queen. In ‘The Huntsman’ she must become a warrior.”

Even in the animated film “Brave,” released in June, Princess Merida splits open her dress as she relies on her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. “She uses a bow and arrow and wants to become a man, subliminally,” Zipes adds.

and

“No strategy for survival is solely masculine or feminine,” says Kate Bernheimer, editor of “My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me: Forty New Fairy Tales,” who sees things differently. “Many old fairy tales feature women and girls surviving using a multitude of strategies. Fairy tales are possibility spaces, but clichés are locked boxes."

“I’m less interested in Snow White’s misogynistic feelings. I’m not interested in the mother figure in terms of survival. Fairy tales create rather than prevent potential for victims,” she explains. “They offer radical solutions to very bad problems, very real problems.

“The Snow White character is a survivor who wins in the end,” Bernheimer says. “How she survives is a magnetic story for artists and audiences regardless of the way the details around her are used, for better or worse. She is a strong heroine and the story has a sublime ending. “

The beauty of a fairy tale, she says, is it’s open to any interpretation.

Kristen Stewart Not Officially Out Yet

Okay, I'm late on posting this but since I wrote about it earlier this week, I must post the update, too. Universal has released a statement about Kristen Stewart's future as Snow White, pretty much saying that nothing is official yet. Pretty much the media storm has been fierce and they had to say something, of course.

From Universal Denies Dropping Kristen Stewart From Next 'Snow White' Film:

Universal Pictures has denied a report stating that the studio had dropped the actress from the project in the aftermath of her infidelities with the original "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders.

"We are extremely proud of 'Snow White and the Huntsman' and we're currently exploring all options to continue the franchise," Donna Langely, the co-chairman of Universal Pictures, said in a statement to TheWrap. "Any reports that Kristen Stewart has been dropped are false."

The Hollywood Reporter cited unnamed sources on Tuesday saying Universal dropped Stewart from the next film in the franchise.

Universal has been planning a sequel to this summer's film, which was a modest success at the box office, with a production budget of $170 million and a global gross of roughly $389 million.

THe Hollywood Reporter has followed up with another article, 10 Million Reasons Why Kristen Stewart's Exclusion From 'Snow White' Makes Business Sense (Analysis):

But given the fair but not outstanding box-office performance of the original film, Stewart was not assured of a role in the sequel even before there was any hint of scandal. By leaving her out of the equation, Universal could save as much as $10 million out of the gate. Sources tell THR that is roughly the amount Stewart’s initial contract stipulated that she would be paid for the second film -- twice what she received for the first Snow White, which has grossed $389 million at the global box office since opening in June. She also would receive 5 percent of the film’s backend (defined as the money the studio recoups once its costs for making and marketing the film have been covered).

The studio also is likely to save $1 million or more by replacing departing A-list screenwriter David Koepp, who commands more than $2 million a script. Koepp had been brought aboard to write a Snow White and the Huntsman sequel, but, as THR reported Tuesday, he is being settled out of his contract because plans changed to focus on the Huntsman.

A decision to accelerate a Huntsman spinoff was foreshadowed even before the original movie opened, in an April speech by Universal president and COO Ron Meyer. At a conference hosted by UCLA’s Anderson School of Business, Meyer said that the then-upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman did not appear to lend itself to a sequel but the studio believed it could do more movies based on the character of the Huntsman -- if the original was successful. Still, Universal was proceeding according to its original plan to do two Snow White movies and then turn to the Huntsman, and around the time of Meyer's speech, Koepp was hired to write a sequel that included the Snow White character.

The article is much longer and interesting but it comes down to Hollywood is willing to pay for what will fill theatre seats so probably everyone is waiting to see what the backlash on the Stewart/Sanders affair will be, including the take on the Breaking Dawn 2 receipts when it releases later this year. As well as the take on DVD sales when Snow White is released on September 11th.

And all of this over a movie that has been moderately successful. If it had been a huge success, however, the return of everyone would be more a guarantee since no one wants to mess with a successful formula. But the film's failure to hit blockbuster status means it is open to much more flexibility in its possible sequel.

At this point, I will be more surprised if any Snow White related film gets made. I'm betting the studio is rather sad Charlize Theron's queen was killed off in the first one although nothing is permanent in Hollywood, is it?

No More Kristen Stewart as Snow White

Well then. This is rather surprising, even from Hollywood, even considering the latest developments with Kristen Stewart and the director Rupert Sanders. I've been wondering how the affair would affect the sequel which had been greenlighted in June once the first movie earned a certain amount at the box office.

From Universal reconceives the follow-up to focus on Chris Hemsworth's character as writer David Koepp exits.

Universal has decided to shelf its planned Snow White and the Huntsman sequel and is instead focusing on a solo Huntsman movie starring Chris Hemsworth. Kristen Stewart will not be invited to return if the follow-up goes forward.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the sequel to June's Snow White, which starred Stewart, Hemsworth and Charlize Theron, is being reconceived as a spinoff movie. It's unclear whether director Rupert Sanders will return, though one source with ties to the production says he will. However, screenwriter David Koepp, who had been hired to pen the continuation of the original film, is being settled out of his rich contract, according to sources, as the project is being transformed into something other than the movie that Koepp had been hired to write.

"The studio is currently exploring options to continue the franchise," a Universal spokeswoman says.

The move comes in the wake of Stewart, 22, and the married Sanders, 41, apologizing publicly for a romantic affair after compromising photos of the duo were published in July. (Stewart was dating her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson.) While it might have been awkward for Stewart and Sanders to reunite for a sequel, it is not clear why the decision to move forward without Stewart was made.

I know that Hemsworth has a steadily rising star and that Sanders is closely attached to the movie franchise but dropping a star is rather shocking and disappointing-- and I didn't even care for Stewart in the role. It is also disappointing considering the ambiguity of the ending of the first one, purposeful in setting up the plans for a sequel at the time.

A fansite for the movie, The Enchanting Beauty, perhaps says it best:

Snow White and the Huntsman ended on a note that left us wanting more regarding the relationship dynamics between Snow White, the Huntsman and the Prince along with the dwarves.

With Universal indicating that this relationship dynamic is now lost and Snow White is no longer a part of the story, we feel the story has lost what made it special and different in Hollywood... a "medieval-styled film with a strong female lead."

Now, SWATH will become another "male dominated franchise" as most all of Hollywood films are today and that is unfortunate. Its uniqueness has been lost.

So that's all folks. I doubt the sequel will even reference fairy tales--if it gets made since that is rather shakey at this point, too.

New Book: Dust Girl: The American Fairy Trilogy Book 1 by Sarah Zettel

Dust Girl: The American Fairy Trilogy Book 1 by Sarah Zettel was released in late June and has been on my list to share. There is an abundance of faerie inspired novels right now but this one particularly stands out in its setting.

Book description:

This new trilogy will capture the hearts of readers who adore Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series. Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she's never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone, when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in "the golden hills of the west" (California). Along the way she meets Jack a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company—there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there's also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very aware of the role this half-mortal, half-fae teenage girl plays in their fate.

I have to admit that the Dust Bowl is one of my LEAST favorite settings to read in all of fiction. (Blame it on The Grapes of Wrath which I know is a brilliant book but I am quite unwilling to reread in this lifetime. I would reread Wuthering Heights first and someone would have to pay me well to do that. To pay for the antidepressants, at the minimum.) But this intrigues me and makes me want to overcome my unfair aversion to the setting.

It's different. It's fae. It is very well reviewed. I am fascinated. On to my wishlist it goes...

Happy Birthday, Georgette Heyer!

Thursday, August 16th is Georgette Heyer's birthday. One of the grand dames of Regency Romance and romance in general, she never retold a fairy tale outright, but she has inspired many who have over the years.

In honor of that birthday, the publisher of her ebooks has temporarily dropped the price of the books to $2.99 for this week only. They usually range from $7.99 to $9.99 so this is getting two or three books for the price of one. Also included in the sale is Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester. I bought most of these books in paper--including Kloester's book--years ago. I recommend Georgette Heyer's Regency World as a fun reference book to the Regency period which also lets you know about some of Heyer's quirks vs. the reality of the Regency. My sister and mother both borrowed and enjoyed the book although they are not avid Heyer fans. Heyer remains one of my own comfort reads when my brain is tired and full and I've already zoomed through my other comfort reads. I'm thrilled to get some more for my Kindle at a great price. I owned all but three of these already thanks to previous sales, but picked up the titles that were released this past year which I didn't own yet.

Georgette Heyer's Regency World
Romances
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Historical Fiction
         
Mysteries
     
     
     

Some of my personal favorites are The Nonesuch, Sylvester, Venetia, and Frederica.

And if Heyer is interesting to you, you might be interested in these books which are not included in the sale which are also not available in ebook format at this time:

 

Get Well Soon, Jane Dyer!

Because I just read that illustrator Jane Dyer is recovering from a violent attack by a teenager, I wanted to wish her well and share a post from last year. Here it is:

Today is the last day for highlighting the illustrators in the Fairy Tale Art: Illustrations from Children's Books exhibit. Jane Dyer is our eighth and final illustrator. There isn't much biographical information about her on the web--most searches come up with oodles of information on a different Jane Dyer, a politician instead. Nevertheless, Dyer has been illustrating beautiful books for many years.  I have just a smallish list of them all at the end of this post. For now, I will offer her beautiful work from the exhibit...


From Child of Faerie, Child of Earth


From Child of Faerie, Child of Earth


From Child of Faerie, Child of Earth


From Child of Faerie, Child of Earth

From Cinderella's Dress

From Cinderella's Dress

From Cinderella's Dress

From Cinderella's Dress

Featured books:

 
Other books from the illustrator:

   
     
   
     
 

The noncover images are property of the exhibition website.

Bargain Ebook: Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Act fast if you want this book for $3.06 because it was dropped to price match a one day deal on Barnes and Noble yesterday. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George was the experiment book I picked as part of the gifts to my niece last Christmas--she gets classics and surefire recents and usually one experiment (meaning I haven't read it yet)--and it ended up being one of her favorites. I get the burden/joy of choosing books for her since she never has a wishlist except for a few popular authors and reads voraciously anyway.

Book description:

Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celia’s favorite days. That’s because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing to itself. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one - other than Celia, that is - takes time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and reportedly killed, it’s up to Celia with her secret knowledge of the Castle’s many twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom.

Bargain Ebook: How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalesier

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalesier has been on my watch list for a while and it has been discounted to $1.99 in ebook format through August 23rd. I've not read it but whenever I see the title, I always ponder what kind of fairy I would like to have and the one I'd probably get stuck with. I'd want a book fairy--the next book I find to read would always perfectly fit my mood and taste of the moment.

Book description:

If you lived in a world where everyone had a personal fairy, what kind would you want?

A clothes-shopping fairy (The perfect outfit will always be on sale!)

A loose-change fairy (Pretty self-explanatory.)

A never-getting-caught fairy (You can get away with anything. . . .)

Unfortunately for Charlie, she’s stuck with a parking fairy-if she’s in the car, the driver will find the perfect parking spot. Tired of being treated like a personal parking pass, Charlie devises a plan to ditch her fairy for a more useful model. At first, teaming up with her archenemy (who has an all-the-boys-like-you fairy) seems like a good idea. But Charlie soon learns there are consequences for messing with fairies-and she will have to resort to extraordinary measures to set things right again.