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Archive Number 3591

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 17:10:33 EST
From: Mary Clark
Subject: Re: An abused Story


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In a message dated 1/19/04 2:34:18 PM, lshiponi@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
<< This posting has a somewhat political nature to it. It can also expose =
you to an act that might abuse the story of Snow white for you. If you =
choose to stay innocent, please do not read any further.>>

Limor,

I am so sorry for such sadness. I do not know all the particulars involved
except what you written in the email. Story's do have a political nature to
them. The personal is political, we all have an effect one or the other in
this world.

<< I'll leave the analysis to you (I've done mine). For me, the story of =
"Snow White" is abused forever. I wonder what the German ambassador will =
feel like after he sees that "work". >>

I understand why some might view the story of "Snow White" as abused in this
way, however, I don't. It is an interpretation, one person's view. Snow
White can be interpreted in many ways. One thing I have learned about telling my
stories (fairy, folk, personal or original) - once the story is known - folks
will interpret them as they will. I'm ok with that because then I get a chance
to see another's point of view. Sometime's another's perspective though can
make me gasp.

As an example, recently a woman showed me a letter detailing the reasons for
her divorce, for one reason or another the person began to write using her
story using the "Wizard of Oz". It was a brutal piece. I'll never forget it -
it made me reexamine the "Wizard of Oz" as a story - the wizard is a much more
fully dimensional character for me now than he was then. The original story
is more fully alive - has more breadth. And yet, I don't feel the same about
the story as I did before, knowing more about her story changed my perception
of how I saw "The Wizard of Oz" myself. I like it less. Still, I am glad
for the breadth of my understanding and I don't think the story or characters
abused. I believe they were used to help the person understand thier own story.


Among other things art helps us explore our lives and communicate what we
think we know to others. Sometimes at the time of art creation, the artist
does not fully realize what they have created. Artists and viewers of art each
have responsibilties, yet we are human.

Limor, I hesitated to respond to your email because I am not fully versed in
the situation you described or in the cultures represented - I thought I might
inadvertently speak upon something that was not meant in your email. I hope
I have not inadvertently offended.

I thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on this topic.

- Mary

*****
Mary K. Clark
Exploring Stories ~ Weaving Tales

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