Abstract

This study is concerned with the use of artifacts and clothing within fairy tales.  Three classic tales  (Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and Cinderella have been analyzed with reference to one particular artifact or item of clothing.   The roles of women within these tales and the effect the artifacts have on both their characters and role has been explored.  The narrative theories of Propp, Todorov and Levi-Strauss are used to define the use of the artifacts within the narrative and further explore the status of women within these tales. In Little Red Riding Hood analysis is given to the significance of the red hood both culturally and historically.  The theme of maturity and independence are addressed and Todorov’s theory of narrative equilibrium is applied.  The hood appears to function in many ways as both a catalyst to the events and as a key part of Riding Hood’s characterization.  In Cinderella, Propp’s theory of character functions is applied with particular reference to the glass slipper.  The historical and cultural use of footwear is explored both within folklore and in more general terms as an indicator of social standing.  In Snow white, The mirror is explored using Levi-Strauss’ theory of binary opposition and exploring themes such as youth versus age and good versus evil.


Word Count 213

Artifact, A Book within a Box.

Fold-out book with padded and beaded cover, with matching box.

My artifact is a folded book within a box.  As Fairy tales moved from spoken to written tales in the 18^th century, I based my illustration on the costumes, fabric and artifacts of that time.   I have not illustrated a specific tale or character, but used the theme of youth versus age. 

I have used book-making techniques learned in my Yr1 project ‘Me, Myself, I’ to produce a covered box and book.   I used second-hand fabric and trimmings to make my artifact.  This tied in with the idea of re-modeling and trimming clothing, a practice commonly used before the mechanization of textile production, when fabric was a treasured and scarce commodity.  

As part of my second year illustrative practice, we have been looking at self -promotion.  Booklets, zines and presentation all form part of the self-promotional strategies we have explored.  I wanted my artifact to have an opulent feel to it, and to present the book as if it were an item of jewelery, which is why I have used padding and beading.

I have found the reading and research for this project both informative and interesting.  It has provided me with ideas for future projects.  I have learned much during the actual process of making my artifact, and plan to explore book-making more in the future.

Word Count 217

Harvard Referencing

BOOKS

Bettelheim, B (1991) The Uses of Enchantment, The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales London Penguin Books.

Branston, G & Stafford, R (1996) The Media Student’s Book, New York Routledge


Briggs, R. (1996) Witches and Neighbours, London Fontana Press


Carter, A cited in Zipes, J (ed) (1993) The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood London Routledge


Delamare F & Guineau B (2002) Colour – Making and using Dyes and Pigments, London Thames & Hudson 


Opie, I & P (1974) The Classic fairy Tales,  London Oxford University press 


Wanning-Harries, E (2001) Twice Upon A Time, Women Writers & The History Of The Fairy Tale, Princeton Princeton University Press



Warner, M (1995) From the Beast to the Blond, on Fairy Tales and their Tellers, London Vintage


Zipes, J (ed) (1993) The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood London Routledge


Ed unknown, (1846) The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments, London, Samuel Bagster and Sons


ARTICLES FROM JOURNALS

Vol 2 No 62 Sept3 1881Published by: American Association for the Advancement of Science  Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2900533  (Article on magic mirrors)

MAGAZINES


No author cited Making a Pointe Selvedge Magazine Issue 13 page 30 - 31.


No author cited  Miscellany , Hundreds of textile terms are woven into our everyday language Selvedge Magazine Issue 28 ,May June 2009 page 13.


Prichard, S. (2010) The Hidden Histories in Quilts Selvedge Magazine Issue 33, March April 2010, page 52-54.


No author cited Crimes of Fashion, The Seamy Side of Textiles Selvedge Magazine Issue 42, September October 2011 page 53 – 58.


De Bonneville, F The Art of Fine Linen Selvedge Magazine Issue 43, November December 2011, page 32 - 33.


WEBSITES

1.     http://www.josephrupp.com/bfindex2.html [accessed on 10 February 2012]

2.     http://www.ancient-mythology.com/greek/ [accessed on 20 March  2012]

3.     www.surlalunefairytales.com/  [accessed on 5 December 2012]

ILLUSTRATIONS:


Cinderella
Fig 1.  little girl with bound feet, Virtual Museum of San Francisco available at http://www.sfmuseum.org/chin/foot.html [accessed 15 February 2012] article written Nov 1997 photograph by Isiah W Taber, San Francisco

Fig 2.  Lotus shoe and Plaster foot last from Harvard Museum, showing foot wrappings available at   http://www.peabody.harvard.edu/node/522.  Peabody museum of Archeology and Ethnology (2012)  [accessed 10 March  201]

Snow White

Fig 1.  Desborough Mirror, Anglo Saxon artefact kept in British Museum available at  http://www.artfund.org/artwork/515/celtic-desborough-mirror  [accessed 20 March 2012]

Fig 2.  The Queen’s mirror in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves  available at http://alookatdisney.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/snow-white-seven-dwarfs.html  [accessed 29 March 2012]

Fig 3.Vanitas, Engraving by Jerimias Falck  (1610 – 1677) after Bernardo Strozzi  (1581 – 1644) found at  http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/work/223.2007/  [accessed on 10^thMarch 2012]

Red Riding Hood

Fig 1.  Religious painting by William Blake  available at http://www.apocalyptic-theories.com/gallery/whoreofbabylon/blakebabyl.html [accessed on 17 March 2012] 

Fig 2.  Illustration of Little Red Riding Hood by American Illustrator Margaret Ely Webb available at http://polarbearstale.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/margaret-ely-webb.html [accessed 29th March 2012]