When reading Hans Christen Anderson’s version of the popular Little Mermaid story, it made me realize different ways people can react and decide to depict the unknown. Obviously, Anderson’s older version is much different than the modern version that Disney produced, being much darker and less fantastical. I find it interesting how before, the unknown, (the ocean and sea) was depicted as alien-like and dark, something that the main character wanted to escape from, in contrast to the land as something to be desired. According to the text, the youngest daughter has a fascination with the land, especially the sun (as said on page 109).
While this fascination with the land and sun and desire to escape from the depths of the ocean remains consistent across both versions, I find it interesting how differently both creators depict the ocean, representing the unknown. Previously, it is described as sort of alien, strange, and not something to be admired. The unknown is seen as a dark and bad thing because since so much of the ocean is and was unexplored, it was completely up to human’s minds and preexisting notions of what the depths would look like. However, in modern versions, they portray the ocean, still as unknown, however not in a negative way. Instead of it being dark and scary, it is fantastical and magical, both depictions being based off of something unknown. The unknown can either be scary and dark, or bright and whimsical. This reminded me of the previous reading on Barnum and freak shows. Both depictions lure in specific audiences but for different reasons. Back then, audiences wanted to gawk at “freaks”, nowadays children want to see their favorite Disney mermaid in admiration at places like Disneyland.
Good point here: “When reading Hans Christen Anderson’s version of the popular Little Mermaid story, it made me realize different ways people can react and decide to depict the unknown.” I’d like to see you dive into the text to show us where and how the text makes the ocean into the unknown or is it land that is the unknown? . I think you are on something, but I’d like to see you do more close rea
Megan, I like how you frame the ocean as “the unknown” and show how tone flips between Andersen and Disney. I Disney shifts the axis: the ocean becomes vibrant and communal (“Under the Sea”), so the unknown is rebranded as exciting possibility rather than existential risk. I think Andersen cautions with sacrifice and sorrow while Disney invites safe wonder and wish-fulfillment. Put differently, Andersen touches on moral/spiritual unknowns. Disney packages geographic/cultural unknowns as adventure. i very much enjoyed your response Megan
Megan you have a really interesting insight about how this perspective change has occurred with the development of society, and people’s individual needs with what comes from fiction. In a more ancient time, they took this dark approach to life; things were often really treacherous and they viewed the unknown as something to only expect more destruction out of. However, as you point out, when it comes to the way children view the world, they don’t really recognize the same fear that adults do when it comes to topics they don’t understand. It forced this change to appeal to them, making it this fantasy and exciting world because that’s what they expect to come of the world around them.
Hi Megan!
This was such a great post, I love how you talked about the different ways the unknown can and is depicted. I think it is really interesting to see, especially in our talks about mermaids! Coming from someone who has the biggest fear of the ocean, this class and our conversations about the unknown have definitely changed it. Great post!