Fairy Tales for Families?

Fairy tales are either described as being more for adults (violent content) or for children (squeaky-clean content). At least, this binary has been so for over a century. 

The distinction was different when the Brothers Grimm began catering fairy tales to children; child-friendly once meant more violent. The violence (i.e. pecking the stepsisters' eyes out in Cinderella) would scare children into obedience and other positive virtues. However, such violence would today be considered more for adults. 

People have constructed the children's/adult binary to describe the target audiences of fairy tales. Perhaps the binary has been constructed for stories, in general. Our modern culture suggests adults and children cannot share the same forms of entertainment, thus widely perceiving family films as "just for kids."

This article is about fairy tales for families. Before I discuss the topic, I must clarify the difference between stories for children and stories for families.

Children's Stories

Children's stories are strictly for children; adult presence is not expected. Parents and caregivers might read the stories or watch the shows with their kids, but they are engaging in it for the kids and not necessarily for themselves. Yet, children's shows try to be tolerable by, for example, excluding "baby talk."

Stories for young children (ages 2-6) usually teach basic educational content (Sesame Street) or simple lessons (Bluey). Educational content and straightforward lessons are also present, though more complex, in stories for primary-age children (ages 6-9). Stories for older children (ages 9-12), though, delve into the complexity often found in novels and blockbuster films. 

As it applies to fairy tales, children's stories usually have some kind of repetition in their plots. For example, there's the Beast's multiple marriage requests in Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's Beauty and the Beast, the three balls in the Grimm Brothers' Cinderella, Jack's three trips up the beanstalk, and the refusals of the hen's housemates to help with the chores in The Little Red Hen.

Family Stories

Family-oriented stories are still suitable for children, but they feature adult jokes and/or mature themes that make it more enjoyable with age. The storylines are easy for children to follow but complex enough to engage teenagers and adults. 

Books, especially not novels, cannot be for entire families because reading is an exercise that must grow with age. However, plenty of adults enjoy children's books; several children's novels eventually become wholesome family films. Disney's Tuck Everlasting, though originally written for children, delves into themes about the meaning of life, ones that resonate with all ages. 

Family-Oriented Fairy Tales

When applied to fairy tales, then, a family-oriented version touches on mature themes while remaining appropriate for children. However, Charles Perrault's Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, though not solely for children, lack mature themes. They do lack the repetition found in some Grimm tales, helping these stories age better. 

The same can be said about Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty; people consider these family movies, but adult themes are also lacking. Besides, these stories are rather simplistic, making them seem more like children's films on the surface.

The Disney fairy tale has only delved into mature topics and more complex storylines since the Renaissance era (1989-1999). The Little Mermaid is about a father letting go of his daughter, for instance, and Beauty and the Beast is about a woman resisting sexism and finding intimacy. 

When The Little Mermaid premiered, half of the viewers were teens and adults. Beauty and the Beast was a hit among childless dating couples. Since then, Disney has continued to prove fairy tales could appeal equally to children and adults by inserting mature themes. The Princess and the Frog is about a young woman working to open a restaurant. Tangled is about a gaslit young woman overcoming trauma. Even if adult themes were lacking, as in Aladdin and Frozen, the complex storylines ensured widespread appeal. 

Conclusion

For a fairy tale to appeal to a wide audience, it can have adult themes but needs a lack of repetition and a complex storyline with well-developed characters. Children should still be able to follow it, but they will discover new things in the stories as they grow up. 

How do you think a fairy tale could target the general population?

Is Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" Problematic? (Christian Perspective)

Image source: https://wallpapers.com/wallpapers/beauty-and-the-beast-stained-window-6ka0ttbc4drnjuc1.html.

The classic Disney animated Beauty and the Beast is one of the most famous love stories around. In fact, it appears among the AFI's Top 100 Passions list. However, is Beauty and the Beast really a fulfilling love story? Or does it glorify abuse?

Controversial Romance

Belle and Beast's relationship is quite controversial because the Beast initially captures Belle. Plenty of people have argued Belle does not have Stockholm Syndrome, but some have argued their relationship is unhealthy in other ways; for example, it convinces young girls they can change abusive partners through nurturing care. 

I have read articles explaining how dysfunctional the relationship is. However, none of them are written from a Christian perspective. As a Christian, I find it crucial to watch films with Biblical values.

Anna Menta is one of many who, in her 2017 Elite Daily article, argues Beauty and the Beast is merely a film that glorifies abuse. Even after Belle nurses the Beast, as Menta writes, "He gives her morsels of confusing kindness-such as the library-that in theory, make it seem like he's treating her right, but maintains total control over her freedom."

Yes, I see how kindness can be used to mask manipulation, but I think that more clearly defines the live-action film than the animated one. In the cartoon, the Beast develops feelings towards Belle's kindness and, thus, desires to be like her; that's why he gives her the library. In the 2017 live-action remake, though, the Beast hands over the library to get Belle to stop quoting books-and she falls for it anyway. 

Image source: https://wallpapers.com/wallpapers/cartoon-disney-princess-belle-9ovok98aiva8bhoq.html.

Belle's Dreams Fulfilled?

I have also read arguments claiming Belle never got the adventure she wanted; instead, she got a man. If you pay attention to the bookshop scene during the opening number, though, Belle clearly describes her favorite book as being about "far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise." She ended up reversing a magic spell at a mysterious castle and meeting a cursed prince. This being said, the Beast gave Belle the adventure she wanted. 

Some people, especially in our individualistic culture, also view Belle's choice to take her father's place at the Beast's castle as problematic. However, sacrificial love is encouraged in scripture. John 15:13 reads, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (Holy Bible, English Standard Version). By the end of the animated film, the Beast learns to exhibit sacrificial love himself. 

Alongside escaping her provincial village, Belle wanted to be accepted for who she is. She refused to change herself to please men, but she was still lonely and desperate for love. Prolonged loneliness can be toxic and is discouraged by scripture. After God created Adam, He says in Genesis 2:18, "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Holy Bible, English Standard Version). The Beast learned to treat Belle the way for her inner qualities rather than her beauty, thus giving her the community she needed. 

Image source: https://wallpapers.com/picture/beauty-and-the-beast-pictures-ic32pmwxps4ka46c.html.

Evaluating Belle and Beast's Relationship

While women should never try to change abusive partners, it is also possible for abusers to repent. Micah 7:19 reads, "He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" (Holy Bible, English Standard Version). This being said, God forgives all sinners who repent.

Besides, Belle never tries or intends to change the Beast in the animated film. The only moment I could see the possibility is when Belle nurses the Beast. However, the Beast has already started to change by then. I also read an online comment pointing out that Belle held the Beast accountable for his actions rather than trying to change him. In the remake, though, Belle used book quotes to change the Beast.

Belle certainly never tried to change Gaston, who displayed much more red flags than the Beast (telling her not to read, showing up uninvited, forcing her into marriage, etc.) Gaston is much less predatory in the remake; I think the creators maybe didn't want to show kids woman abuse. However, kids need to know that the world is not always safe place; women still face sexism today. Parents need to talk about the issue with their children as well as explaining the difference between repentant and nonrepentant sinners. 

There are certainly cases in which victims of abuse believe they can change their partners (who may refuse to repent). However, blaming Beauty and the Beast for this attitude ignores the trope's prevalence in other media. For instance, it occurs in Adventure Time and The Simpsons. 

The Real Problem

I understand why Beauty and the Beast has been accused of romanticizing violence, though. As with all other Disney princess stories, it is heavily marketed to girls in their early childhood years, a time when they cannot yet separate fantasy from reality. I doubt they can understand the difference between changing yourself with outside guidance and directly changing someone else. Hence, a child under six might read the film as being about a woman changing a man, which can later hinder their ability to overcome abuse. 

Parents should definitely talk about Belle and the Beast's relationship with their children when watching the film. However, it needs to happen at the right time; children below first grade might be too young to understand the complex relationship dynamics. If children do end up watching the film before age six (because it's so common), parents need to limit their exposure to it and tell them it's "pretend." 

Even if Belle and the Beast's relationship is problematic, that's why children must distinguish a fairy tale from real life. What works in a fantasy romance will probably not work in real life. Besides, movies in general are not meant to model behavior; they are meant to challenge our views about things. Movies can teach kids about issues such as sexism, but parents should discuss it with them for best results. 

Conclusion

Disney's Beauty and the Beast can be problematic if misused as a babysitter, but it does encourage Biblical values such as forgiveness and sacrifice. Parents might need to clarify the story to children at first, but they can eventually view it as an allegory of sacrificial love rather than a model for real life. 

Do you think Beauty and the Beast is problematic?

RESOURCES:

Holy Bible. English Standard Version, Crossway, 2016. 

Menta, Anna. "The 'Beauty and the Beast' Love Story Doesn't Hold Up to Emma Watson's Feminism." Entertainment, Elite Daily, 17 Mar. 2017, https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/film/beauty-and-the-beasts-abusive-relationship-emma-watson/1828119.