I was looking up stuff about fairytales today, because I just watched Pan's Labyrinth (and can I just say, oooooooooooh), but was completely sidetracked by this: Optimizing Bi-modal Signal / Noise Reduction: A Fairy Tale, by Maj. Dan Ward, USAF. (Opens as a pdf.) Best title ever. This is what Sam Carter would be reading to her kids.
(Also, apparently in the original version of Rapunzel, she gave away the fact that the prince was visiting her by asking the witch why her (Rapunzel's) clothes were getting tighter - i.e. she was pregnant. That Rapunzel... not a very bright girl - but then I suppose she was locked in a tower all her life. The prince, on the other hand, has no excuse for his droit du seigneur behaviour.)
To completely disprove all my rantings the other day, I had a lovely meal out with my parents and A on Friday. My mum was fired up about recent doings at her work (and I'd tell you about it, but I don't know how interested you'd all be about political shenanigans in the world of UK mental health user-led research), my dad was happy and interested and helpful because he's getting a new car, and A was on form and relaxed, and gets my sense of humour with just a glance, when the parentals are just too daft. So I should stop and think before I rant.
I'm still about 50% unprepared for Christmas in a week. This may mean shopping this weekend. Oh noes!!!
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redial_the_gaterecap discussion tonight.*uses new icon for no reason other than it's new*
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I'll read the story at work, but I never did figure out why Rapunzel didn't just save herself. You know, slice that big braid off, tie it to the bed post and climb on down. Having you hair pulled hurts - having it pulled because some dude is climbing it? Owie.
It's a lovely movie, isn't it? I wish I'd gone to see it at the cinema, because it must have been quite spectacular on the big screen. I can see why it would be one of those films that stays in your mind. There's a lot to think about.
I loved both the stories that were going on - the real one and the fantastical one - they were both gripping in their own way.
The lullaby at the end though, I bought it off Itunes and it just makes me slightly weepy every time I hear it.
That series doesn't sound familiar, no. I'll have a look for it - I like that sort of thing, definitely.
Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears
Silver Birch, Blood Moon
Black Heart, Ivory Bones
The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm
The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest
The authors are like a Who's Who of the Sci Fi and Fantasy world.
On a side note, I just discovered Ellen Datlow has edited a book called Off Limits: Tales of Alien Sex. OMG. I have been out of bookstores way way too long! How hysterical!
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Briar-Rose-Jane-Yolen/dp/0765342308/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197986485&sr=8-1) which provides more information about the series: "Windling's Fairy Tale series has produced several excellent fantasy novels inspired by classic fairy tales."
/mega literary gush
thanks for letting me play. If you pick up one to read, let me know. I would be thrilled to pick it up and read it too (ie virtual bookclub)
I love Jane Yolen SO MUCH. She does so many books like that - taking Fairy Tales and then turning them into different stories with the same core but...Briar Rose was so much more real.
Pan's Labyrinth was one of those really, really good movies that part of me wishes I'd never seen. The gore was a bit too much for me at times, but the story was so good and the characters so intense.
YAY to breathing and good dinners and redial!
(also, wow, I've, um, optimized bimodal signal/noise reduction. I should read that...)
Yeah, the violent parts were so very violent - not because they're any worse than your average Hollywood stuff, but because they seemed to really feel it. It wasn't violence without consequence. Particularly the bit with the leg. Aaaaah. *flails*
I want to watch it again, myself, because I spent a lot of time reading the subtitles - I want to rewatch it now I have an idea of the story.
It was a great story, too.
Pan's Labyrinth is...wow. Just...wow. It's so beautiful, and haunting, and tightly woven. (And Spanish, which doesn't hurt it at all in my opinion).
Rapunzel--well, look at what kind of a mother she had, demanding veggies from witches' gardens and letting her hair grow to be that long in the first place. Obviously not a sensible woman. Of course, the men in the story don't come off much better. The father is a weak-willed sneak, and the prince is obviously not smart enough to *suggest* that Rapunzel cut off her own hair and climb down--he kinda likes her in that tower, you see.
Oh, you could make a brilliant story about how Rapunzel's so completely addle-patted and silly, and the prince is kinda just stringing her along, and it's only later that he realizes he's actually fallen for her, but then he gets his eyes scratched out and she learns some harsh lessons about life, and they can get back together as decent human beings!
You know, apparently the director himself wrote the English subtitles, because he'd had trouble before with translators. Interesting. I like the care that shows.
Yeah, I suspect the prince liked having the little lady in the tower. Either that or he was equally as dumb. No one comes off well, in that story. Heh, but I like your retelling idea. :)
Me, too. And translating is HARD WORK. So more power to him.
Fairy Tales as re-told by fandom. *snerk*
Ooooh... I'm tempted to issue a challenge or a meme or something.... Like the reel_sg1 ficathon...
*tries to smack sense into self*
*grins*
I've managed to do some of mine in my lunchtime today, and hopefully will do the last of it on the way home / tomorrow lunchtime. *haz previously undiscovered l33t shopping skillz*