AP/GER 1791 6.00

The Fairy Tale: From Grimm to Disney

This class examines the genre of the fairy tale and draws on examples from the 16th century to the present, with special emphasis on the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm. We will investigate how fairy tales have functioned as vehicles for exploring the human condition and rites of passage, for social and political critique, for entertainment, education, and propaganda. We will discuss some of the most popular fairy tales, encounter lesser-known stories, and look at the many ways in which fairy tales have been adapted across time, across cultures, and in a wide range of media, including literature, live action and animated film, advertising, television, comics, music, dance, visual arts and digital media. We will analyze our chosen texts through a range of theoretical approaches, drawn from literary, cultural, film, and media studies. The course is offered entirely in English; no knowledge of German is required. The course counts towards the fulfillment of the General Education requirement in Humanities.