Have you ever heard of the classic fairy tale, Donkey Skin by Charles Perrault? In episode 8 of Fairy Tale Flip @donnaleefields and Vanessa Y Rogers dive deep into the context of this French fairy tale found in some versions Tales of Mother Goose and discuss the famous author Charles Perrault. We explore why he wrote the first books meant for children, as well as the origins of the tale and connections to older tales such as The Golden Ass, Oedipus, and the story of the princess St. Dymphna who is now the patron saint of mental health. We discuss themes of grief, beauty, incest, empowerment, nature and natural order and its similarities and differences to Cinderella. It is a fascinating discussion on a half-forgotten fairy tale that was once very well known. Don't miss this incredible episode!
Donkey Skin 1970 French Musical: https://archive.org/details/donkey-skin
The Full Story Here: https://youtu.be/HLU845NA0vk?si=xKAPnVGjpX1SHntl
Timeline:
- 📜 Synopsis of 'Donkey Skin' (01:40)
- Discussion on the origins and publication history of the tale. (17:50)
- Mention of the tale's themes, including: incest (41:30) and empowerment (5:30)
- 🧵 Themes and Analysis (05:10 - 19:57)
- Discussion on the themes of grief (7:35) , empowerment, and natural order (13:50) in 'Donkey Skin'.
- Comparison of the tale's themes with modern perspectives on grief and incest.
- Analysis of the symbolic elements in the story, such as the dresses (14:00) and the donkey (15:30).
- 📚 Charles Perrault and His Works (19:58 - 28:27)
- Background on Charles Perrault (19:55) and his contributions to fairy tales (29:14).
- Comparison between Perrault's approach and that of the Grimm Brothers (20:00).
- Discussion on the moralistic nature of Perrault's tales (21:00).
- 👑 Symbolism and Modern Connections (28:28 - 38:30)
- Discussion on the symbolism of beauty and physical appearance in 'Donkey Skin'. (31:45)
- Analysis of the impact of modern beauty standards and plastic surgery on teenagers. (33:45)
- Comparison of 'Donkey Skin' with other fairy tales like Cinderella. (47:45)
- 🔍 Historical and Cultural Context (38:31 - 48:59)
- Discussion on the historical context of incest in royalty and mythology.
- Mention of the story of Saint Dymphna and its similarities to 'Donkey Skin'. (44:45)
- Analysis of the cultural differences in the perception of incest.
- 🎥 Media Adaptations and Audience Engagement (49:00 - 58:16)
- The French musical adaptation of 'Donkey Skin'. (26:20)
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