The study examines the changing images and the modern role and self-understanding of women through analyzing motifs in Charles Perrault’s Cinderella or The Little Glass Slipper and in the short video clip Tinderella, written and conceptualized by Emily Axford.
Cinderella was chosen because of the high number of gender-related aspects it contains. A comparison with Tinderella seems useful since it constitutes an example of a woman with a rather modern lifestyle. To give an overview about the debate on the exploiting effect of fairy tales, I like to introduce scholarly work concerning the topic by the authors Marcia R. Lieberman (Someday My Prince Will Come) and Linda T. Parsons (Ella Evolving: Cinderella Stories and the Construction of Gender-Appropriate Behavior).
The expected result would be a clear demonstration of changing gender identity and sexual self-determination. The examination of this topic is important since we are confronted with the current debate on gender identity and gender-related education. Our society recently discusses whether we need gendered roles and have to make a differentiation between sexes with regard to several social issues. Therefore, it is interesting to examine a possible influence on the origins of gender theories and their progress.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Theoretical Framework
2.1. Marcia R. Lieberman: ‘’Someday My Prince Will Come’’
2.2. Linda T. Parsons: ‘’ Ella Evolving: Cinderella Stories and the Construction of Gender-Appropriate Behavior’’
3 Analysis
3.1. Portrayal in Charles Perrault’s ‘’Cinderella or The Little Glass Slipper’’
3.2. Portrayal in Emily Axford’s ‘’Tinderella: A Modern Fairy Tale’’
4 Conclusion
5 Works Cited
Research Objectives and Themes
The work investigates the evolution of female identity and self-image as portrayed in fairy tales, specifically contrasting the traditional, passive role of women in Charles Perrault's "Cinderella" with the modern, autonomous protagonist in Emily Axford’s "Tinderella".
- Analysis of gender-related motifs and patriarchal structures in classic fairy tales.
- Examination of feminist scholarly perspectives on female acculturation through children's literature.
- Comparison of "Cinderella" as a text of passive moral instruction versus "Tinderella" as a modern re-vision.
- Exploration of how contemporary media, such as dating apps, reflects changes in self-determination and social agency.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. Portrayal in Emily Axford’s ‘’Tinderella: A Modern Fairy Tale’’
The comedy short video clip ‘’Tinderella: A Modern Fairy Tale’’ written and narrated by Emily Axford and presented by entertainment website CollegeHumor depicts a contemporary version of Cinderella who must not wait for a fairy godmother to decide on her fortune but takes the initiative herself. The name is altered to demonstrate the channel Tinderella uses to communicate: Tinder. Tinder is a app for a mobile device that simplifies the dating world. You have to upload some pictures and write some sentences about your persona after you sign in. The app detects your location and checks your preferences and thereupon, shows you people which are possibly interesting for you. Swiping the display to the left signifies that you are not interested whereas swiping to the right means you want to chat with the person. If the person you choose also likes you, you are informed and invited to chat (cf.: The Shocking Truth About Tinder, 2015).
The two-minute clip starts with the introduction that ‘’there was once a beautiful girl’’ (Tinderella: A Modern Fairy Tale 2014: 00:00:04) that lets us know that the protagonist has an appealing appearance. Further it is said, that she swipes all day to find her prince (00:00:07) what refers to her activities at Tinder, swiping to the left and to the right to find someone she is attracted to. Hence, one can see that it is her own power that lets her choose the possibly appropriate partner which deviates from the patriarchal system. The men she chooses, her prince named Princeton, is described as being not too selective in terms of dating, but Tinderella is said to be ‘’out of his league’’ (00:00:21).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the enduring cultural significance of fairy tales and presents the research goal of analyzing evolving female self-images in literature and media.
2 Theoretical Framework: This chapter outlines scholarly critiques by Marcia R. Lieberman and Linda T. Parsons regarding how fairy tales reinforce patriarchal norms and gender-specific roles.
3 Analysis: This chapter conducts a comparative study of the passive heroine in Perrault’s "Cinderella" and the self-determined protagonist in Axford’s "Tinderella".
4 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the research findings, noting that while modern adaptions reflect a shift toward female independence, beauty ideals and superficial social pressures remain persistent concerns.
5 Works Cited: This section provides the bibliography of all academic sources and media references used within the text.
Keywords
Fairy Tales, Cinderella, Tinderella, Gender Identity, Women's Empowerment, Feminist Criticism, Patriarchal Structures, Media Analysis, Social Construction, Female Self-Image, Literary Analysis, Modern Re-visions, Gender Roles, Romantic Myths, Cultural Norms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on how the portrayal of women’s identity and self-image has evolved from classical fairy tales to contemporary modern media adaptions.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The themes include gender roles, patriarchal influence in children’s literature, the psychological impact of fairy tales, and the modern representation of autonomy and dating.
What is the central research question?
The paper examines how societal developments and evolving values are reflected in the shifting depictions of women's social status and self-perception within fairy tales.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author utilizes a comparative, analytical approach, synthesizing feminist literary theory with media analysis to examine narrative motifs.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body critiques traditional patriarchal narratives, introduces theoretical frameworks regarding female acculturation, and analyzes specific versions of the Cinderella story.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Cinderella, Tinderella, Gender Identity, Feminist Criticism, Patriarchal Structures, and Media Analysis.
How does Tinderella differ from the traditional Cinderella in terms of agency?
Unlike the traditional Cinderella, who waits passively for rescue by a fairy godmother and a prince, Tinderella uses modern technology to take active control of her own dating life and choices.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the impact of beauty ideals?
The author concludes that while female autonomy has increased in modern media representations, women are still significantly influenced by persistent, deep-seated pressures regarding body image and beauty ideals.
- Quote paper
- Vanessa Haldner (Author), 2016, A Change of Women’s Identity from Cinderella to Tinderella, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/379199
