Is the Nanny State telling tales?

[Simon]

I didn't realise I was noted for setting up strawmen . I suggest you look at what I said originally (Msg #43) and make your own mind up.

You aren't really, I suppose. You are mostly very fair-minded and honest in your arguments, IMO, IIMSS. But nonetheless that was a sort of one at least. You expressed surprise that people thought that etc. was always etc. But is there any evidence that anyone actually does think like that? It would indeed be an untenable position to take!

[french frank]

You expressed surprise that people thought that etc. was always etc. But is there any evidence that anyone actually does think like that? It would indeed be an untenable position to take!

I think I might be able to construct a reasonable sort of algebraic-type equation from your Msg #52 demonstrating that you were saying that yourself

[John Skelton]

Closer to the original topic

A study by anthropologists has explored the origins of folk tales and traced the relationship between variants of the stories recounted by cultures around the world.

The researchers adopted techniques used by biologists to create the taxonomic tree of life, which shows how every species comes from a common ancestor.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6142964/Fairy-tales-have-ancient-origin.html

[doversoul1]

I wondered why whoever wrote this article thought this was news until I noticed that the author was a science reporter. It probably never occurred to him that people actually studied stories and had being doing so for decades. It’s obviously the science term that got him interested. Bless him.

There is a link in this article that is more relevant (sorry, John. I don’t mean your link is irrelevant. It’s a matter of speaking relatively)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/4125664/Traditional-fairytales-not-PC-enough-for-parents.html

From 2009. This must be a kind of the rite of passage to parents.

Incidentally, I’ve read it somewhere that Perrault (re)wrote all those tales about princes and princesses to teach courtly manners to the French bourgeoisie. Sounds rather probable.

[John Skelton]

I wondered why whoever wrote this article thought this was news until I noticed that the author was a science reporter. It probably never occurred to him that people actually studied stories and had being doing so for decades. It’s obviously the science term that got him interested. Bless him.

Propp's Morphology of the Folktale is a constant companion of mine . Is the speculation about the transmission of folktales relatively recent?

[doversoul1]

Propp's Morphology of the Folktale is a constant companion of mine . Is the speculation about the transmission of folktales relatively recent?

We don’t know very much about the processes of transmission of these stories from culture to culture, but it is possible that they may being passed along trade routes or with the movement of people.”

I’d have thought this was the given unless there are proofs that some stories developed completely independently despite the resemblance and similarities to other stories. On the other hand, I suppose you’ll have to draw a line as to what you regard as links or resemblance. You could find any amount of reference to Socrates and Buddha in Star Wars if you had the mind to find then.

People did move, not just for trade: there were lost travelers, shipwrecked sailors, and of course slaves. Even if they lost everything they possessed, they still had stories of their own lands, and unlike musicians and singers, storytelling didn't need traning. As there were no iplayers and Sky Art, I imagine storytellers were highly valued. We all know at least one.

I have no definite information but I am sure there are fair numbers of studies about mapping of folktales around the world.

It’s those mass produced fairytale books that really should be, well, not quite but almost, banned. They are an equivalent to ringtone-ised Bach. (Sorry, Caliban, No personal offence meant)

[Mary Chambers]

It’s those mass produced fairytale books that really should be, well, not quite but almost, banned.

And the Disney versions should be completely banned, for polluting the brains of children

[Flosshilde]

There is a link in this article that is more relevant (sorry, John. I don’t mean your link is irrelevant. It’s a matter of speaking relatively)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/4125664/Traditional-fairytales-not-PC-enough-for-parents.html

From 2009. This must be a kind of the rite of passage to parents.

Interesting quote from a mother -

'Sarah Pilkinton, 36, a mother-of-three from Sevenoaks, Kent, told researchers: "I loved the old fairy stories when I was growing up. I still read my children some of the classics like Sleeping Beauty and Goldilocks, but I must admit I've not read them The Gingerbread Man or Hansel and Gretel.

"They are both a bit scary and I remember having difficulty sleeping after being read those ones when I was little." '

She either thinks that she didn't suffer any long-term harm, in which case why doesn't she read the stories to her children, or she did suffer harm - I wonder what help she is getting for it?

Honestly, these humans are so illogical, said Mr Spock.

[scottycelt]

Honestly, these humans are so illogical, said Mr Spock.

Not just Mr Spock ...