Some Day My Prince Will Come

I used to love watching Disney Princess movies, more for the songs than anything else. But when I watch them again, now that my mind is not so impressionable (or so I believe), a little angry feminist screams at every detail along the way. The Princess’ apparent fragility and lack of control over their own destiny only aids in the conditioning of young minds what a woman should be. I just needed to wait by my window and some day a knight in shining armor would help me escape from the cruelty of the world. A waiting game I fear my 30 year old sister continues to play, living encased in fantasy and missing out on true opportunity for happiness. This is of course why the Princess and the Frog movie switched it up, making the woman independently pursuing a dream. From waiting to pursuit, it’s a step in the right direction I guess, still off target since happiness and love do not have to be pursued. But that’s for another rant.

This is what we all hope for: the One. To love you no matter what, stand by you no matter what. I want to meet the manipulative businessman who implanted this idea in my mind. The writers of fairy tales. Read the REAL versions of those fairy tales, like the true story of the Three Little Pigs where the Wolf only wanted to borrow a cup of sugar. The transition seems to be heading toward new perspectives on classic tales like Into the Woods and Wicked. Those original tales are excellent starting points, lessons that will expand and be amended with experience. But do some of these generic ideas continue to govern how we approach issues like relationships? Does that foundation never get remodeled?

Absence, An Origin Story (Reference)

I sort of went link crazy today and decided to go ahead and exemplify what cultural references might connect to this project.

Since I can't seem to find a clip of this anywhere... Here is the story Gabrielle, from Xena: The Warrior Princess, tells Iolaus as he lay dying ["Prometheus" Season 1, Episode 8]. Its better when the actress tells it of course, but I always found it a beautiful explanation for why we psychologically and spiritually seek companionship. Another origin story if you will.

• Gabrielle: Once, a long, long time ago, all people had four legs and two heads. And then, the Gods threw down thunderbolts, and split everyone into two. Each half then had two legs, and one head. But the separation left both sides with a desperate yearning to be reunited, because they shared the same soul. And ever since then, all people spend their lives searching for the other half of their soul.

This story is originally from Plato's "Symposium" [ref].