We've been wanting to share German photographer, Laura Zalenga's fairy tale series, titled Grimm Compact. Created as an homage to tales printed by the Grimms, the photos show a key or iconic active moment from a fairy tale, frozen in the frame and, usually, zoomed in. It's a unique a wonderful way to distill a fairy tale down to a recognizable moment, without words and without much context, and it's one of the best series - whether illustrative or photographic - that we've seen, do this.
(Laura) is convinced that photography is a type of therapy that gives you the ability to heal yourself and others. "Till today that big Old Brothers Grimm fairy-tale book stands next to my bed. And quite obviously it inspired me. For this specific series I wanted to create an homage.. but there were already so many interpretations out there. I was thinking about what makes these stories unique and one big point is that they are rather simple but still - or because of that work so well, that Disney turned some of them into movies. Whenever we see a girl with a red coat we think of Little Red Riding Hood, whenever we see a single show some point out that it must be Cinderella. So I focused on these one or two elements in every one of these fairy-tales, that one scene that everyone remembers from the story. Actually that is a thought that I like for my photography in genera;l. We see one frame of a story and the rest is up to our minds." (Source)
Do we need to list the fairy tales for you? These are mostly canonical tales so we shouldn't... Enjoy!
You can learn more about Laura's process HERE and see more of her photography HERE.
There is a little news about the Broadway version of Frozen that's being developed to a new, and soon, deadline, but Disney has already staged a number of theatrical versions, including the Disney Parks Fairy Tale Theater version, which we were happily surprised to see used classic storytelling devices and techniques, and the Frozen on Ice skating spectacular. Now Disney Cruises are working on their own version and are close to setting sail with their new production.
This adaptation uses much larger traditional theatrical set and prop elements than the wonderfully spare Disney Parks one, including large marionettes and other puppets and multiple versions of one of the most basic theatrical props of all time: the movable door.
From the script to the set design, choreography and more, doors play a huge role in “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular,” our newest theatrical production premiering in November aboard the Disney Wonder.
Doors have great significance in fairy tales, from forbidden chambers, secrets and encouraging curiosity, to portals to new worlds or adventures and avenues of escape, in more ways than one. Even Red Riding Hood uses a door with great significance.
It was nice to see that doors were also one of the more subtle motifs used throughout Frozen (in addition to the obvious Love Is An Open Door song), and that helped give the story, instead of just the visuals, a fairy tale feel. In Frozen, doors are barred, slammed, struggled through, swung open to reveal cold emptiness and closed in malice, while characters teeter on the threshold, shut the world out and themselves in, crack them open making themselves vulnerable and keep them firmly closed as a barrier between them and others. Clued into this motif, it would be interesting to see how broadly this metaphor is explored and how that might link the tale back to its fairy tale roots.
Here's a little video celebrating Disney Cruise's significance of doors in their new show Frozen: A Musical Spectacular:
Aside: A note about something that has always bothered us: Love Is An Open Door, is song about the positive possibilities and freedom that love gives us, yet Hans is deceitful and while Anna is singing with all her heart, he - if he's true to his later-revealed character - is singing this with full-blown irony, as far as their relationship goes! In the same vein Let It Go, is touted as song about empowerment, not being shackled by the past yet Elsa is busy building herself a prison of ice that mirrors the palace she just fled and finishes by slamming the outer door, locking herself inside, showing, she hasn't "let it go" at all. It's not until the end that Elsa realizes how to be free of her outer and inner prisons and it's nothing to do with letting go. The doors speak the truth more clearly throughout the movie than the characters (and possibly the writers) ever realize.
Fairy Tale Bonus of the Day:
There is a less-than-professional recording of the Disneyland Fantasy Faire Royal Theater presentation of Frozen. We were fortunate enough to see it live, and can report that all the enthrallment that excellent storytelling involves, was present. With barely any props and extremely basic 'effects' each child - and many adults - saw magic happening in front of their eyes, and were more engrossed in the telling than we've seen at any Disney presentation, including many movie showings, in a long time. We loved the little touches like the refrain In the Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt) played as Anna is taken to the rock trolls as child. There are many smart 'notes' through this simple, but very effective, little play. For your enjoyment/study (note: things really get going around the 4 minute mark):
Editor's Note: This is one of those books I dearly wished I'd had time to review personally, with the use of folklore motifs and fairy tale-like echoes in the characters. Fortunately, partnering with Timeless Tales Magazine means we're able to begin building a "review posse" so Once Upon A Blog can post book reviews far more regularly (and Timeless Tales Magazine's Editor in Chief can get to know some new writers as well). Today, Caitlin gives you a glimpse as to why you might just be intrigued by The Rabbit Back Literature Society too.
Jacket description:
Only nine people have ever been chosen by renowned children’s author Laura White to join the RabbitBack Literature Society, an elite group of writers in the small town of RabbitBack. Now a tenth member has been selected: a young literature teacher named Ella.
Soon Ella discovers that the Society is not what it seems. What is its mysterious ritual known as "The Game"? What explains the strange disappearance that occurs at Laura White’s winter party? Why are the words inside books starting to rearrange themselves? Was there once another tenth member, before her? Slowly, as Ella explores the Society and its history, disturbing secrets that had been buried for years start to come to light. . . .
To put it simply, The RabbitBack Literature Society is not a fairy tale, nor does it claim to be. Instead, author Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen serves up an intriguing mystery woven with elements of folklore, which make the reader just as contemplative as the protagonist, Ella Milana.
The tale begins in the small town of RabbitBack, best known for its renowned author Laura White and the nine students she hand selects to groom into writers. When Ella becomes the Society’s tenth member, she finds herself drawn into a fantastical conspiracy shared only by the nine other members.
Upon Ella's induction to the RabbitBack Literature Society, however, Laura White disappears into thin air, like an enigmatic Snow Queen, leaving only flurries of snow behind. Willing search parties cannot find her and they refuse to venture into the forest. It's nearly impossible to discuss the folklore elements of this novel without spoilers, but suffice it to say, things are not what they seem. At first, I saw Laura White as an eccentric benefactor but I couldn't have anticipated the truth.
Many folktales use the wild mysterious forest as a contrast to the safety of town life. But this novel subverts that trope. Jaaskelainen’s woods are certainly mystical, but the town is also inexplicably touched by magic. From the garden gnomes in Ella’s front yard to the wild dogs who patrol, RabbitBack is not a normal town. What has returned to Martti Winter's garden? Why is Ingrid Katz burning books? How did Laura White disappear? What happened to the Society’s first tenth member?
What the forest takes, it doesn't give back and Ella comes to realize that "Under one reality there's always another. And another one under that." And so the reader is drawn into teasing out the mystery, just like Ella herself.
The RabbitBack Literature Society’s patented small town charm has a deliciously sinister undertone, thanks to the shadowy presence of the woods. For readers looking to add a touch of the Fae to their cozy mystery collection, this novel is sure to be a hit.
Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the book was provided by Thomas Dunne Books in exchange for an honest review.
Caitlin Postal is a marketing specialist who loves literature, history, and pop culture. When not writing, she can be found sewing costumes and donning medieval armor. You can find her on twitter: https://twitter.com/goingpostale.
