Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Fallen Princess


I came across these set of pictures via Disney Princesses, Deconstructed Love Isn't Enough - on raising a family in a colorstruck world very interesting article and thought provoking. In this article I found a link to a series of photographs from photographer Dina Goldstein the artist writes about her project, The Fallen Princess:

These works place Fairy Tale characters in modern day scenarios. In all of the images the Princess is placed in an environment that articulates her conflict. The '...happily ever after' is replaced with a realistic outcome and addresses current issues.

The project was inspired by my observation of three-year-old girls, who were developing an interest in Disney's Fairy tales. As a new mother I have been able to get a close up look at the phenomenon of young girls fascinated with Princesses and their desire to dress up like them. The Disney versions almost always have sad beginning, with an overbearing female villain, and the end is predictably a happy one. The Prince usually saves the day and makes the victimized young beauty into a Princess.

As a young girl, growing up abroad, I was not exposed to Fairy tales. These new discoveries lead to my fascination with the origins of Fairy tales. I explored the original brothers Grimm's stories and found that they have very dark and sometimes gruesome aspects, many of which were changed by Disney. I began to imagine Disney's perfect Princesses juxtaposed with real issues that were affecting women around me, such as illness, addiction and self-image issues.


What are your thoughts on the project and on the whole Princess issue?

7 comments:

Maia said...

This series is SO AWESOME! You know my views, so I won't beat a dead horse ;)

Soojung Jo said...

I got a chance to glimpse the article briefly today. Thanks for the striking photos. I am reposting on my blog :)

A Beautiful Mess said...

thanks for posting! I always liked Maia's reference to the "princess mafia".

Powerful photos

Anonymous said...

I found this series fascinating!

Maithri said...

Profoundly powerful photographs my friend,

Warmest love, M

Renee said...

Yoli I love fairy talesand all of the characters in it. Yet, I don't know if I have ever seen the evil component to be an out and out man, except maybe Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.

Otherwise they are a wolf or a dragon, etc.

The women are always women though, the ugly stepmother, the bad queen, etc.

I love little girls and boys dressing up though and having fun and there are the modern princess, like the princess (I've blanked on the name). Oh yeah the paper bag princess who is her own hero.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, rapunzel really hit me.

Love Renee xoxoo

Jeanne said...

Fabulous is everything that you share.
Love Jeanne