for August 29, 2001
Grimm-ly Fiendish
by Your Diva, Robin Pastorio-Newman
A parable, hinting at your New Brunswick future, to begin
September 15th and continuing through a 20th anniversary
celebration of live music at the Court Tavern. Contact
fancypants@altrok.com for your reward. Contact Your Diva if your
name is Elliot Lurie, and you want your long overdue
hero's welcome.
Someone once asked Walt Disney about his favorite bit of
Disney animation. This was before
Walt was dead and cryogenically frozen. Walt said it was Cinderella
getting her dress. You know - fizz, pop, whoosh! The gawky teen is
dressed for the ball,
hair in a French twist, and the mice - who've been up all night
sewing - don't even think to complain.
I love fairy tales, but I love the Grimm versions. They're
bloody and full of gratuitous dismemberings. Quentin Tarantino's got
nothing on the Brothers Grimm. Disney took these gross old stories
and sanitized them, which is a shame. Americans love violence!
Americans would love the Harvey Keitel version of "Snow White".
Picture this: Harvey and a couple of
pals
are driving the Jag through the woods and find seven dwarves in
funeral suits and RayBans standing around a chick in a glass coffin.
Shootout ensues.
Even twentieth century fairy tails sugar coat real life -
like "The Little Prince". Have you read this? Of course you have.
This kid leaves his asteroid, travels to Earth, talks to a bunch
of animals, answers no questions and leaves a trail of admirers.
Ridiculous? Sure. It's a beautiful, poetic
story but if someone
appeared from outer space, he wouldn't wander the Sahara for long.
What are the more realistic possibilities? Picture him as a jaded
rock star, with an entourage and hysterical booking agent. The Artist
Formerly Known As the Little Prince. Or he ends up a specimen in
someone's trunk, a rapidly thawing block of ice. Either way, he's
fairy tale monster chow. And Americans love him.
©2001 Robin Pastorio-Newman