Carina Alessandro, Period 1, 9/17/21

 

• Literacy & Learning
• Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class

I found reading the versions of the Cinderella tale very interesting to compare and to analyze how one might have developed and evolved to become like another. They were all different yet had shared elements which I imagine reflected the social, geographical, and cultural differences and similarities. It was curious how so many stories abided by the plot devices of an unassuming girl being desirable when they wore an impressive dress(es) and royalty looking for small finger/feet sizes in a partner, unrelatedly of course, near covert incest.* From what I could tell, signifying evolutions where Donkeyskin’s addition of the last characteristic with a sprinkle of racism, then the later Catskin which removed those elements but had a frankly too-forgiving, saccharine ending. My favorite deviations were Folklore of the Sea Islands’ Cinderella as it seemed to (or it is my hope) make fun of the rich using the impoverished, with a man looking for a hypothetical person with small feet; Lin Lan for its uniquely witchy elements, and, my favorite The Princess in the Suit of Leather for being the least morally corrupt.

*honorable mentions: animal skin/bones, ring cakes, brutalizing female relatives who bullied the protagonist, and ladles 

• Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception. How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you? 

In English class we learned about folklore and how the world contributes to it today on the internet. I don’t think there will be archaeologists in the future with enough time to analyze everyone’s internet history, so it’s pretty special how, although much “lore” resides in virtual spaces, we are maintaining the tradition that much of what is to be remembered, in my opinion, will be what we share and develop the most. I’m unsure whether the ratio of increased inter connectivity and population growth from the past, which might affect things, but we definitely now have a heightened opportunity to contribute to culture and storytelling today. I mean, if its widespread enough, now your own contribution to folklore could become cited on knowyourmeme.com. It helps put into perspective how valuable it is to share and contribute to (be it comments or photoshop) art and stories. Even though it might not shape history it could surely shape how we remember it and, really, that’s what counts.

Cinderella was a perfect example of folklore becoming oral storytelling and history in action. It gives vast insight into what passed through cultural boundaries during its spread and how new ears and storytellers contribute to stories and records. Perhaps this even provides reflections on how the broader history to do with real rulers and kingdoms are affected based on cultural differences, or simply a version of “history” when told by common folk and others alike, not just the educated and scholars. These ideas can be applied in the modern real world so that we take into account how, where, and why different parts of a story are being told when considering all forms of gossip— the news, science fiction, history as we know it, and more. 

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