Blog Entry 7

Kenyan Folk and Fairy tales 

            The class rhythmically chanted, “come story come” and Dr. Ochieng’ K K’Olewe began another magnificent Kenyan folk or fairy tale. Dr. Ochieng kept the class engaged, and wanting more, like the best story tellers tend to do. Not only did Dr. Ochieng recite interesting Kenyan folk and fairy tales, he also taught about the culture, and the importance of storytelling.

            In Kenya, folk and fairy tale stories are culturally intertwined. These stories will relate to religion, music, history, or even geography. Folk and fairy tales have become a part of people’s social ecology. In Kenya, and many other places people thrive off of storytelling. Weather one is dramatically conveying a story, or one is closely listening, these Kenyan folk and fairy tales are sure to be interesting, and teach a lesson.  

            African Stories always have meaningful lessons or a moral. Many African stories also include songs. Songs are included to engage in participation from the audience, create a dramatic effect, re-emphasize main points, and create episodes or parts to a story. Another common trend in African stories is the setting. The setting is majority of the time at night.

            One of the most unique and important aspects of storytelling is that it is done orally, it is not written down. One has the freedom to change details. Dr. Ochieng said, “You own the story, and invite others to participate.” The theme, or lesson of these stories still must be the outcome. This is different from the folk and fairy tales we read in class because these stories are written by the authors, and not up for debate, or imagination. Once a story is written it is those exact words, from the one author. African storytelling is free to manipulate and change in creative ways.

            Dr. Ochieng told incredible Kenyan stories about why things are the way they are, affirmation of identity, or even origin. His stories were witty, entertaining, and meaningful. My favorite story that Dr. Ochieng told was the one with the stranger looking for a place to stay while traveling to visit relatives. A song was intertwined in this story, and lesson in the end was to simply be kind to people, and strangers. Kenyan folk and fairy tales have proved to be an important aspect to that culture, and many alike. Hopefully this type of storytelling will continue forever.

Photo Source: Google Images 

Blog Entry 6

Rags to Riches 

            While watching both Disney’s, “Cinderella,” and the film, “Pretty Woman” one can clearly see a young woman experiencing a journey as some may describe as “rags to riches” or going from a really tough point to the top happiness point, with money involved. In both these films the women reached success in similar yet different ways involving money, magic, and a charming young man. The reality of this picture perfect ending is not very likely, but is entertaining and hopeful.

            In Disney’s “Cinderella,” Cinderella is orphaned to her cruel step mother, and accompanied by her evil step sisters. She is forced to do all house hold chores, and follow her step mother, and sisters every command. She is saddened when she is not allowed to go to the ball due to her step sisters ruining her beautiful gown that the house mice made for her. She is crying when her magical fairy godmother appears, and uses magic to help Cinderella go to the ball. The fairy godmother gives Cinderella a carriage, with white horses, a beautiful new gown, and glass slippers. Cinderella rushes to the ball, and the charming prince falls in love with her. They dance together until the clock strikes midnight, and Cinderella must quickly leave prior to the prince seeing her change back into her regular self. Yet, as Cinderella runs down the steps of the castle, her glass slipper falls off, and the prince sets out to find the girl whose foot will fit, and they will marry, and live happily ever after. Cinderella’s step sisters try and fit into the slipper, but there feet do not fit. Finally, Cinderella fits into the slipper, and also shows that she still has the second slipper to farther prove that she was the girl from the ball that the prince fell in love with. They marry, and live happily ever after.

            In Disney’s version Cinderella experiences the perfect “rags to riches scenario. She goes from losing her parents, living with an evil step mother and step sisters, and being forced to do terrible household work, and simply just being bullied, to finding love within the prince, who also comes with safety, money, and happiness. She goes from an extremely low point, to an extremely high point thanks to magic in the fairy godmother, who granted her the things she needed the night she met the prince. Also thanks to a charming prince, who chose Cinderella, and loves her. In reality, this is very unlikely to happen. Magic is not real in the case of fairy godmothers turning a pumpkin into a carriage with one flick of a wand. Also, women in hard situations from their childhood, like Cinderella will most likely never  have the opportunity to experience something like going to a ball. This story is just not realistic at all, but it does portray the perfect scenario of rags to riches through magic, and marriage.

            The movie, “Pretty Woman” is a modern update of the classic “Cinderella” story. Vivian, a prostitute, and a wealthy businessman, Edward fall in love with one another, creating an unlikely pair. Edward is on a business trip in L.A, he decides to pick up a hooker one night, in an attempt to get directions. Instantly Vivian’s personality vibes with Edwards, and the connection begins to form. Edward soon hires Vivian to stay with him for the weekend. They grow closer, discovering there are going to be many difficulties to make their relationship work, considering they come from two strangely similar, yet different worlds.

            Vivian also went through a rags to riches, more modern fairy tale. Vivian begins as a poor prostitute, who cannot pay her rent, and did not like her job. She even at one point in the film confesses to Edward that she cried the first time she was picked up by a man. Then she became numb to the entire experience. She obviously craved more, and has aspirations with her life. When Vivian met Edward, she saw what it felt like to live comfortably, and more happily. Edward not only bought her beautiful clothing, took her to events like fancy dinners, and horse races, and stood up for her when people were mean because of her past. But, Edward also loved her very deeply. Vivian and Edward struggled to understand and see how their love could work, but in the end realized how much they met to one another, and lived happily ever after, rescuing one another.  

            Vivian, like Cinderella went from a low point, to a high point. Or some may say, “rags to riches.” As nice, and romantic as this story is, again it is not realistic. It is more likely to happen then Disney’s “Cinderella” because there is not magic involved, and is based on real life situations. While a rich businessman could meet a prostitute, and they could fall in love in real life, the odds of this happening are unlikely. Those types of people live in very different world. People usually are more concerned with social status, and who they are seen with, then actually expanding to new people, no matter how different they may be from one another. 

            In conclusion, Cinderella, and Vivian both experienced the “rags to riches” fairy tale precisely. In Cinderella, magic, and marriage played a huge part in helping her reach the “riches,” and her happy ending. In “Pretty Woman,” a charming man, friends, money, and love helped Vivian reach the “riches,” and her happy ending.

Photo sources: google images 

Blog Entry 5

"Sonne" Music Clip Reflection

                The music clip “Sonne” by Rammstein compares there song to the fairy tale story, “Snow White.” I believe this music clip has many allegorical lessons, and ideas that are up for individual interpretation, and created so people will have to think. I believe this music clip is telling the story of what people, and friends/family go through with the struggles of addiction today.

            Snow White arrives at the dwarf’s house uninvited. I believe this represents how addictions are never planned, and can affect any one, at any time. The tone of the song is also very deep, scary, and aggressive; much like using drugs. In one moment in the music clip, Snow White takes food from a dwarf, and aggressively throws the food back toward the dwarf. I believe this represents a friend offering help to someone who is struggling with addiction, and being yelled at, or mistreated by this individual.

            As the music video continues, it shows Snow White spanking a dwarf repeatedly, I think this represents family and friends being punished by the actions of the addicted person. It is draining, and painful when dealing with addiction for friends and family as well. The next scene, shows a dwarf brushing Snow Whites hair. I believe this represents people trying to help someone who is struggling with addiction.

            Throughout the music video, the dwarfs are in the mine digging gold. Later in the music clip, Snow White is depicted snorting gold, like cocaine. I believe this represents how some people struggling with addiction will sometimes take from friends, and family to get drugs. So the dwarfs work, was used to fuel her addiction. Prior to Snow Whites death, the dwarfs are all hugging Snow White in one scene. Snow White’s facial expression is smiling, and happy representing how drugs may trick your mind into feeling good. The dwarfs are hugging Snow White and look very sad, and worried like friends, and family dealing with someone who is addicted to drugs would be.

            The dwarfs come home from the mines, and find Snow White dead in the bathtub, and there is a needle next to the tub. This represents the sad truth that many people experience of finding items used by people who are addicted in there house. I believe the counting throughout the music video represents the stages of addiction, and how quickly it can get worse. Lastly, the apple is depicted falling onto Snow Whites coffin, and waking her from death. I believe this represents hope, and is giving the message to not give up on your loved ones struggling with addiction no matter how painful it is.

            Throughout the entire music video, it is obviously a representation of the story “Snow White.” The similarities include, the dwarfs taking Snow White in, the symbol of the apple, and her dying in a glass coffin. The differences include, the images of Snow White doing drugs, and no parent figure, or step parent is mentioned.

            I personally do not like Snow White at all. I find the story line to be degrading towards women. The story, and film about Snow White is a demonstration of female stereotypes prior to the second wave of the feminist movement in the 1960's. Men were considered the pillar, and women were considered housewives. Snow white has no characteristics as a character, and is profoundly boring. Besides doing house work, Snow White waits for her Prince to save her. Even in the Disney film, Snow White sings a song titled, “Someday my Prince Will Come.” The Evil Queen is more of a feminist than Snow White. The Queen has power, does not live by the help of a man, and is self-confident. The story line, and film depict these traits as evil.

            Overall, Snow White is my least favorite set of stories we have discussed, and I really do not like the film because I believe it is sending the wrong messages to its audience. 

Sources: google images