My goodness, I was just thinking how specific The Wizard of Oz is as a fairy tale to the US. It resonates so much and allows us to reflect on the worship of the charlatan-as-leader. Thanks so much for this powerful research and writing!
Yes, the Wizard of Oz is relevant today and had in its original purpose the subtext of politics and feminism back in 1900. The US president at the time was William McKinley, another power grabber for the monied class whom Baum satirized in Oz books. It's interesting how American history is repeating itself.
My goodness, you have researched all this in such depth! Very useful for the 21st century awareness of story, tale, fairy tale etc. Perhaps we need to think about the thematic and traditional forms our story takes, often I'm thinking, they're in the unconscious spooling of our stories.
Yes, Linda Joy, I think you're right that the archetypal patterns arise without conscious thought while creating feminine stories. But the more writers and creatives are aware of the feminine fairy tale's basic, enduring themes, the more effective their work can be, connecting with readers on a deeper level. At least that's what I'm hoping as my book delves into more detailed sections on plot, characters, stages of the journey, etc.
Thanks for your comment on my research, but in my work as a storyteller over the many years, I came to learn most of it. All the old time, professional storytellers referred to the Motif Index as a storyteller's phone book, looking up tales and their variations by ATU index numbers. I've spent hours pouring over the six-volume set in reference libraries!
Actually, I'd assumed that most literate women knew about the Jungian work on feminine fairy tales, such as Pinkola Estes and Von Franz, among others, because of my participation in the storytelling community and with fellow librarians who tell and promote folk literature. When I discovered how little IS known, that's when I became motivated to write this book for women and creatives.
Thanks so much for your encouragement and support! xo
My goodness, I was just thinking how specific The Wizard of Oz is as a fairy tale to the US. It resonates so much and allows us to reflect on the worship of the charlatan-as-leader. Thanks so much for this powerful research and writing!
Yes, the Wizard of Oz is relevant today and had in its original purpose the subtext of politics and feminism back in 1900. The US president at the time was William McKinley, another power grabber for the monied class whom Baum satirized in Oz books. It's interesting how American history is repeating itself.
My goodness, you have researched all this in such depth! Very useful for the 21st century awareness of story, tale, fairy tale etc. Perhaps we need to think about the thematic and traditional forms our story takes, often I'm thinking, they're in the unconscious spooling of our stories.
Yes, Linda Joy, I think you're right that the archetypal patterns arise without conscious thought while creating feminine stories. But the more writers and creatives are aware of the feminine fairy tale's basic, enduring themes, the more effective their work can be, connecting with readers on a deeper level. At least that's what I'm hoping as my book delves into more detailed sections on plot, characters, stages of the journey, etc.
Thanks for your comment on my research, but in my work as a storyteller over the many years, I came to learn most of it. All the old time, professional storytellers referred to the Motif Index as a storyteller's phone book, looking up tales and their variations by ATU index numbers. I've spent hours pouring over the six-volume set in reference libraries!
Actually, I'd assumed that most literate women knew about the Jungian work on feminine fairy tales, such as Pinkola Estes and Von Franz, among others, because of my participation in the storytelling community and with fellow librarians who tell and promote folk literature. When I discovered how little IS known, that's when I became motivated to write this book for women and creatives.
Thanks so much for your encouragement and support! xo