Rewritten…and Ruined
Wikimedia Commons
Among the first apps I downloaded on my iPad (again, shout-out to BubbeGiraffe for guiding PC in the right direction) was MeeGenius for Peach. I loved the idea of my nearly-four year old being able to access stories at times when no one was available to read to him. MeeGenius has many of the classics available with word highlighting and easy playback. Yippee!!
Except…
Somehow in this age of helicopter parenting, the end of the story has been softened. Changed. Destroyed.
Down the chimney came the wolf, only to find the pig seated at a table with a full meal for two. The pig shared the food with his new friend the wolf, and showed him how to enjoy many other delicious foods.
Um…what?!?
I seem to recall a very different outcome for both the wolf and the first two pigs. In the original version, after the house of straw (Pig #1) and the house of sticks (Pig#2), the respective pig was eaten by the wolf. Unable to blow down the house of bricks (Pig #3), the wolf did indeed come down the chimney. Right into a pot of boiling water and, thereby, becomes the main course for dinner.
Too violent? The Disnified version has the wolf come down the very same chimney, but with radically different results. He burns his tuches on the scalding water and runs out of the third pig’s home while they join in a rousing chorus of “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”
Somehow the story loses its punch with the wolf being seated at, rather than being served on, the table.
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How stupid can PC get?
I must say that I am in complete agreement.
No way you’r kidding! they changed the endings! Not sure why I’m so shocked !
—
Daniela
http://isreview1.blogspot.com
Nope. Not kidding.
Damn Disney. First they rid Disneyland of wenches now this….
While you are probably being sarcastic, I completely agree. It was sooooo very stupid to get rid of the wenches in “Pirates of the Carribbean.” It was far more plausible to believe that the pirates were chasing the women for the obvious reason than to have them chase women who are holding platters of food!
This rewriting is so wrong on so many levels – where’s the moral of the story – the denial of what would be real feelings of fear and outrage – the triumph of good over evil. It’s not like the story is encouraging folks to go out and kill wolves for the heck of it! ‘Ruined’ is right!
Exactly. The dénouement is lifeless without the poetic justice of the wolf meeting his end in a boiling cauldron. Though there is value in this new ending, it is NOT what this tale meant to teach.
I watched the Shalom Sesame version of Megillat Esther and felt the same way…
Mine still hasn’t arrived so I am unable to comment.
However, Poppyseed’s class read a version of the Megillat Esther that had Vashti unable to attend the King’s party because she had an upset stomach.
Which completely undermines the lesson that it is OK to say no when we are in a situation that doesn’t make us feel comfortable.
The rewritten (sanitized) version of old tales means that the parents don’t have to spend the time talking with their kids about the story. Unfortunately, that’s just what some parents want –and that’s just sad.
Of course, one might argue that by having the iPad read to my kid that I’m doing the same thing…
It totally loses the punch! Can’t help but laugh. Adults today! Sigh.
I know….crazy.
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