Naomi Fraser
I'm a Casual Academic at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Although I completed my PhD in 2018 on science fiction and fantasy literature, I also enjoy poetry and detective fiction.
Location Newcastle, Australia
Activity
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Naomi Fraser replied to Helen Thomas
Thank you for this contribution Helen. I didn't know that bit of history but it is really interesting.
There is also a theory that "Blue Beard" was a revenge story aimed at Perrault's rival, Nicholas Boileau who Perrault knew was impotent. Jack Zipes has theorised in his book "Why Fairy Tales Stick", that Blue Beard also has a lack and ultimately had very...
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Naomi Fraser replied to Jessica Maleszka
@JessicaMaleszka marrying a rich husband didn't bring true happiness, but inheriting his wealth goes some way to healing the trauma of the ordeal when she uses it "to marry herself to a very worthy gentleman, who made her forget the ill time she has passed with Blue Beard".
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Naomi Fraser replied to Josh Walkling
Agreed, Angela Carter's version really builds on that, I'll be interested to hear your thoughts about her story "The Bloody Chamber" when we get to it in the next module.
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Naomi Fraser replied to Josh Walkling
@JoshWalkling imagine it being acted out as entertainment by various members of the family. I think the repetition would be more effective as a performative element rather than just read.
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Naomi Fraser replied to veronique woodhead
@JanetP I'm not aware of any earlier versions where the wife doesn't get rescued by her brothers. But in patriarchal societies, if a woman was discarded by a husband for whatever reason, she would return to either the home of her parents or a close male relative.
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Naomi Fraser replied to Jeff H
@JeffH That is a great question. If it were simply a test of obedience, acquiescence and/or loyalty then, once passed, the couple can live happily every after. If on the other hand, there was always murderous intent then perhaps Bluebeard would be looking for another "just" reason to kill his wife. How do you think the story would end if she hadn't...
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Naomi Fraser replied to Jessica Maleszka
@JessicaMaleszka I agree, if you can smell the stench of all those decaying bodies as you approach the room then surely you would think twice about opening the door? Or perhaps it would spur you on? Depends on the strength of one's stomach I guess.
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Naomi Fraser replied to Samantha Beverley
I like this interpretation @SamanthaBeverley I don't think you're reading into it something that isn't there. I think it is interesting to consider that some features (such as being curious and hysterical) interfere with agency. If she kept a cool head, wasn't a slave, as you say, to curiosity then the outcome probably would have been different.
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That sounds like a really interesting article @JessicaMaleszka Did the authors indicate why they thought Anderson subscribed to ableist ideologies?
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Naomi Fraser replied to Ruthy RICHARDS-LEVI
They do kind of have a chance at redemption, the fairy says to them, "it will not be in your power to return to your former state, until you own your faults". Presumably, this means that even as statues they had the opportunity to find redemption. Although it is a rather magical feature of the story, for how can statues admit to faults?
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Naomi Fraser replied to Isaac Leckman
Thank you for the suggestion @IsaacLeckman - we will consider that for future runs of this course.
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Naomi Fraser replied to Shae Coultas
Hi @ShaeCoultas that's an interesting point, could you expand on what you think is added to the message of selflessness?
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@SamanthaBeverley what was the essay called? I'd love to read it!
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Naomi Fraser replied to Lyn S.
@LynS. I agree!
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Naomi Fraser replied to Anita Young
This is an interesting observation @AnitaYoung . I am intrigued by your statement that the emphasis on wealth and riches interferes with the telling of the story. Could you expand on that?
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Thank you for sharing @AmyCallister . Do you mean you find this story more hard-line than other versions of LRRH or other fairy tales?
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Excellent observation, @CassandraDorian Perrault often included verse morals at the end of his tales. I think it is quite jarring to finish with the detached verse of the moral.
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Naomi Fraser made a comment
Fascinating to read different versions in the comments. Thank you everyone for sharing your recollections!
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Naomi Fraser replied to April Chu
Hi @AprilChu , I personally don't consider Harry Potter as fairy tale. Partially because it is in a long form (a series of novels) whereas fairy tales tend to be short stories (or even shorter forms). However, that is not to say that novels such as Harry Potter doesn't draw on the fairy tale form or themes. For instance, the strong moral message that has...
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Naomi Fraser replied to Pene Rowe
Hi Pene, that is a fascinating and complex question. Unfortunately it is beyond the scope of this course, but definitely worth keeping in the back of your mind as we continue in the course. Perhaps something Caroline mentions may speak to this question. Personally, I suspect stories that survive are the memorable ones (but memorable for what reasons?) but they...
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Naomi Fraser replied to Nicole Holycross
Hi Nicole, thanks for your question. One of the first books in the field is by John Burrows and called "Computation into Criticism: A Study of Jane Austen's Novels and and Experiment in Method". The field has come a long way since then, try searching the terms "stylometry" and/or "computational stylistics".
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It's good to have you here Jessica, I hope you enjoy the course!
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Naomi Fraser made a comment
Hi everyone, my name is Naomi and I am the facilitator for this course. Welcome! It is great to see so much interest and enthusiam in the comments below. If you haven't already, please introduce yourself.
