Russian Illustrated “Bluebeard” – Y’Know, For Kids!
And just so that you don’t think Russian children’s books are all sunshine and rainbows, here’s an illustrated version of the French tale Bluebeard from the Soviet era. For all the full images, click here.
We often talk of how Disney films teach children outmoded lessons about gender – both boys and girls receive terrible lessons about how to construct their identity. Cinderella, for instance, teaches us that “if you’re beautiful enough, you may be able to escape your terrible living conditions by getting a wealthy man to fall for you.” The Little Mermaid says, “it’s okay to abandon your family, drastically change your body, and give up your strongest talent in order to get your man. Once he sees your pretty face, only a witch’s spell could draw his eyes away from you.”
Perhaps it’s good to have a children’s book that tells the story of misogyny straight-up, without wrapping it up with singing animal sidekicks and happy marriages. Beautiful illustrations, creepy tale.
February 13th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
I’ve had THIS book. That second image you have there? For years, I’ve tried to figure out whether that was a childhood nightmare or not. Now it’s all so clear. Gggghastly. :)
February 13th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
@Marina – I had it too, and it was really upsetting! I can’t believe this book was intended for preschoolers. WTF.
February 16th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
I like a world where people can freely choose to be whoever they want to be, or feel they are… are we formatting our youth to play roles by the toys, game, behaviors, and norms we feed them? You bet! When someone comes along that defies the “accepted norms”, they are instantly shunned (like a leper, Old Testament style).
I like The Little Mermaid reference, in your assessment of the message it sends. I do think many people give up their dream, far too often. The scenario applies to anyone really. Be interesting to see if Disney out an element of reality in one of their works, but I don’t think it would be a smashing hit (you know people, they want to see the warm fuzzy ending).
To quote someone, who would clearly understand this, “Well they should be disturbed/ because there’s a story that ought to be heard…”. Simply put, stories of reality aren’t always happy; that doesn’t make them any less significant (maybe even more relevant).
February 16th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
I had this book as well, and heard the story many times when I was little, but never thought the thing scary. It was just a dark fairy tale; the creepiness factor was sort of satisfying I recall. Now of course I do find it ew…awful and never read it to my kids.
February 27th, 2012 at 4:43 am
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