Latest news with #folklore
Irish Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Books in Brief: David Brennan's scintillating second novel feels ancient, magical and urgently new
Spit By David Brennan Epoque Press, £10.99 'I once inhabited the body of a dead dog for two weeks.' Few openings grab you like that of David Brennan's scintillating second novel, a lyrical lament soaked in folklore, fury and fierce longing. Narrated in part by a roguishly wise púca, it bears witness to a village steeped in grief and secrecy. Danny Mulcahy, its haunted not-quite-hero, drifts through this fever-dream world as a mysterious death unsettles the town, while Rosie, radiant and unknowable, performs rituals with jam jars and flowers. Brennan conjures a rural Ireland exploring the struggle for escape and redemption in places where people are bound. Crackling with dark humour and incantatory force, every line pulses with linguistic relish. Grotesque, glorious and gorgeously written, Spit feels ancient, magical and urgently new. Adam Wyeth [ From the archive: How To Write A Song by David Brennan Opens in new window ] In The Rhododendrons By Heather Christle Corsair, £20 In the Rhododendrons opens with the myth of Persephone. An appropriate beginning for this memoir, in which the author (of bestselling The Crying Book), follows the path of her mother's childhood through Richmond and Kew Gardens with Virginia Woolf 'as her guide'. It was in England, also, that Christie was sexually assaulted as a teenager, an event that paralleled both her mother's and Woolf's experiences. American born and bred, the author's outsider's eye looking in upon English culture proves interesting. The intrigue unfortunately largely stops here. Christle observes rather than inhabits her story, which means that while the reader is treated to frequent utterings of poets, scientists and other great thinkers, we remain distant from the subject who is at the heart of this memoir. Brigid O'Dea READ MORE Your Life is Manufactured: How We Make Things, Why It Matters and How We Can Do Better By Tim Minshall Faber, £20 Cambridge professor Tim Minshall's book sprang from a talk he gave to a group of schoolchildren. He plays the role of teacher throughout Your Life is Manufactured, educating his reader on the innards of the semi-invisible world of manufacturing. Intensely readable, the book is a conversation starter, shedding light on the fragile and far-reaching processes behind our one-click shopping habits. [ Reviews in brief: Stop Me If You've Heard This One; The Shape of Things Unseen; and Take Six Opens in new window ] Minshall encourages a greater sense of appreciation for the everyday objects we take for granted, optimistically suggesting that shopping local and investing in regenerative manufacturing is the future of sustainable consumerism. The book is unapologetically nerdy, though more technical details are smoothed over by humour and human insight. There's an accompanying website, as well as an epilogue detailing how the hardback itself is manufactured. Emily Formstone
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
The Dark Truth Behind Disney's Fairy Tale Endings — GeekTyrant
Disney gave us the happily-ever-afters we all grew up loving, but the original stories they were based on are far from magical. Many of these classic fairy tales, rooted in the works of the Brothers Grimm and other folklore, have endings that are haunting, violent, and downright depressing. From tragic deaths to brutal punishments, these tales weren't written for kids, they were cautionary stories with dark lessons. An infographic titled The True Endings of Disney's Tales reveals just how crazy these original conclusions really are. Check out the infographic and see just how twisted these stories were before Disney sprinkled on the pixie dust.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Fairytales continue to inspire those who dabble in 'the imagination business'
You may have been read fairytales as a child, but centuries ago the original stories were intended for adults. As tales of warning about sexuality, violence and death, the stories were far from suitable for younger minds. Jo Henwood, co-founder of the Australian Fairy Tale Society, gives the example of Charles Perrault's Little Red Riding Hood, written in 1697. She said it was about wolves, or gadabouts, luring Versailles girls off the path, where there was no woodcutter to rescue them. "The grandmother is killed and Red Riding Hood drinks her blood accidentally, thinking it's a bottle of wine. "The wolf, as grandmother, is in bed saying, 'Take off your cloak, Riding Hood, you won't be needing that anymore; take off your dress, Riding Hood, you won't be needing that anymore' and he's just luring her into bed." Henwood said the transition of fairytales to children's stories happened later, with the release of Grimms' Fairy Tales. "The French salon stories are absolutely adult stories, and they're very subversive, but when you get to the Grimms, that's when they transform from adult stories to children's stories," she said. The first edition of The Fairy Tales of The Brothers Grimm was published in 1812. "They collected folklore and, realising a new market, turned them into moral tales for middle-class Lutheran children, but there's a lot of misogyny and punishment that goes on," Henwood said. "At the beginning of the 19th century you get the invention of children, that they need to be tamed, and the Grimms are very much leading that change in society." Fast forward to the 21st century and fairytales are still finding an adult audience. The Australian Fairy Tale Society joins like-minded people in conversations about the stories and their meanings, with regular book clubs and an annual conference. Henwood said the great thing about the society was that people pointed out differences in perspective and that was where creativity could spring from, coming up with something new, fresh and authentic. Author Kate Forsyth, who has penned more than 40 books blending historical fiction with fairytales, writes for children and adults. Her 2014 novel Bitter Greens, for adult readers, is an adaptation of Rapunzel and she said the fairytale's tower represented "a universal experience all of us share". "Rapunzel is a story about liberation, about the human soul that is held in stasis, is tied back and must find strength in order to escape," Forsyth said. "Our tower can be different things. It might be an unhappy marriage, it might be a job that is a toxic environment, it might be our own doubt and fear. "The tower is different for every human; that we need to escape it, is universal." However, Forsyth particularly enjoys writing for children. "They haven't lost their sense of wonder and it's wonderful to give them the gift of enchantment that can change their lives," she said. Forsyth said children in harm's way needed books that gave them hope to change their world. Australian fantasy author Isobelle Carmody, who started writing at nine and also has more than 40 books to her name, said reading could be empowering. "I was an unhappy teenager," she said. "My dad was killed in a car accident, I lived in a rough neighbourhood, I didn't get along with my mum. "So reading took me away to other places where people like me might make a difference in my world. "I wanted to be in a world where animals could talk to you, where love would last forever, where fighting for justice mattered." When retired English teacher Robyn De Mayo joined monthly meetings at the Illawarra Fairy Tale Ring, a branch of the national society, she brought her knowledge of history and storytelling with her. "I have an extensive collection of books. Whereas others have beautiful versions, I have the critical responses," she laughed. For De Mayo, fairytales are still relevant, with a modern spin. "I'm interested in how stories resonate over thousands of years and how we deal with them today, particularly the feminist aspect of taking the female characters and empowering them, of activating sometimes quite passive characters like Rapunzel," she said. Visual artist and children's author and illustrator Helen McCosker, from Thirroul, south of Sydney, started the Illawarra Fairy Tale Ring in 2022 to research stories for her art practice. Once…, her latest, sold-out show, took six years to complete and consisted of assemblages in wooden boxes, inspired by her lifelong love of fairytales. "Each assemblage has a potted story of the fairytale it was based on," McCosker said. McCosker said fairytales presented people with age-old human values that appealed to the imagination. She calls it the imagination business. "It [reading fairytales] widens our knowledge of various tales, how old they are, how there are so many versions of them, so that's been really fantastic.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
The mysterious Lake District animal that was born to 'fleece tourists'
A whole host of folklore tales and fascinating stories revolve around Windermere, the Lake District's largest lake. One of the most intriguing tales is the story behind the legendary Tizzie-Whizie. It was allegedly first spotted by a Bowness boatman all the way back in 1900. He regaled tourists in the town's Stag's Head Hotel about his thrilling encounter with the extraordinary creature. Shy, water-loving creatures, Tizzie-Whizies are reputed to have the body of a hedgehog, the tail of a squirrel or fox and a pair of bee-like wings. But the real truth might just be the work of incredible marketing from an ingenious Cumbrian. How the legend came to be: After the "sighting", it is said that the boatman headed to the pub, naturally. According to legend, as he started his third pint, six tourists from London flocked inside. He looked at them, raised his right eyebrow, and took a deep puff from his pipe. The night crawled on, and he mustered up the energy to talk to the young crowd. They loved his local accent and a young lady asked, 'So you've been here a long time, you absolutely must tell us about some of the regional myths and legends. "I love that stuff. I've bought hundreds of books and gone on fairy hunts throughout England.' Tourists loved the story and even agreed to go on 'Tizzie Whizie Hunts' (Getty) (Image: Getty) The Boatman took another long draw from his pipe and looked around the room. A painting of a hedgehog hung on the wall and several flies banged into the cobwebbed lamp. He told them of the Tizzie Whizie. They loved his story and so the boatman used to conduct Tizzie Whizie hunts, charging of course. Recommended reading: American tourist continues to wind up Lake District locals Tourist slams Lake District cave for just being a cave Tourist says famously small Lake District pub is too cramped The evasive Tizzie Whizie would invariably finish under one of the piers and one of the tourists engaged in the hunt would be 'accidentally' pushed into the lake. Sometimes the boatmen would say that it had escaped to Belle Isle and if any of the hunt followers wished they could be taken across the lake to look for it. When asked why they couldn't see it flying across the lake, the reply was 'because it was a very good underwater swimmer'.
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Madame Tussauds Unveils 13 New Taylor Swift Figures in Historic Global Launch
Madame Tussauds Hong Kong's new Taylor Swift wax figure will celebrate the folklore era, as part of the global entertainment brand's biggest launch to date HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 23 July 2025 - In news that's sure to make every Swiftie's wildest dreams come true, global entertainment brand Madame Tussauds today unveils its biggest figure launch to date, creating not one, but 13 brand new Taylor Swift wax figures. The figures, launching in 13 cities across four continents, will make guests feel as if they've stepped on stage at Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. @madametussaudshongkong #madametussaudshongkong #ThePeak This simultaneous multi-figure launch is the most ambitious in Madame Tussauds' 250-year history, reflecting Taylor Swift's standing as one of the most influential and enduring artists of the 21st century. The trailblazing star recently wrapped her record-breaking Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour – selling-out 149 dates across five continents – and now Madame Tussauds marks this legacy by immortalising iconic moments from the historic tour for fans around the world. Laura Sheard, Global Brand Director at Madame Tussauds, said: 'Taylor Swift is a generational icon and a cultural powerhouse. Madame Tussauds has a centuries-old legacy of holding a mirror up to the world of fame, immortalising the profiles that are making an imprint on the day's culture. Taylor Swift's influence spans music, fashion, film, activism and even the economy. The phenomenal success of her record-smashing tour is the perfect moment for Madame Tussauds to immortalise with 13 figures – Taylor's lucky number – across four continents to ensure we're reaching as many fans as possible. We just know they are going to love it as much as we do.' A team of more than 40 highly skilled Madame Tussauds artists has been working tirelessly for 14 months on the exciting project, which features each of the 13 figures dressed in a unique fan-favourite look from Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. Images and footage released today reveal the Madame Tussauds Hong Kong figure celebrates the folklore era in show-stopping style. Featuring dramatic split sleeves and leaf detailing embellishment, the new figure is dressed in a flowing green Alberta Ferretti dress, specially created by the designer for Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. The look is finished with green lace up boots and bespoke microphone created by Rebel Stage Gear UK, the specialist customisation company behind the original microphones Taylor used during Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. Danielle Cullen, Madame Tussauds' Senior Figure Stylist said: 'This is the most ambitious project in Madame Tussauds' 250-year history which only feels right to reflect the stratospheric status of Taylor Swift. We're honoured to have worked closely with fashion houses like Roberto Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood, Versace, Christian Louboutin, Alberta Ferretti and Etro to recreate some of the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour's most iconic looks – many of which will have special significance to the cities the 13 new figures will call home. It feels a fitting celebration to give Swifties the chance to commemorate moments from this once-in-a-generation tour in a way that only Madame Tussauds can.' Today's launch marks the biggest undertaking by Madame Tussauds since unveiling seven Harry Styles figures in 2023 and eight Lady Gaga figures in 2011. Rolling out across the world-famous entertainment brand's global estate, the new figures will appear in the Amsterdam, Berlin, Blackpool, Budapest, Hollywood, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, London, Nashville, New York, Orlando and Sydney attractions, with a touring figure kicking off its residency in Shanghai. Following today's iconic unveiling, fans will be able to visit Madame Tussauds Hong Kong's new Taylor Swift wax figure at the attraction from 24 July 2025. Keep an eye out on Madame Tussauds' social channels for more news on this historic launch. Madame Tussauds Hong Kong Social Media Accounts Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Twitter: Xiaohongshu: Douyin: Weibo: WeChat: (Search "香港杜莎夫人蜡像馆") Hashtag: #madametussaudshongkong #ThePeak The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Madame Tussauds Madame Tussauds has been inviting people to walk the red carpet and get closer to the revered for over 250 years. With 22 attractions in the world's top destination cities, we are dedicated to giving millions of visitors the opportunity to mingle with the mighty from A-listers to music legends, heroes of sport, to world leaders. Today, we continue to partner with the global icons of a generation to create astonishing lifelike figures from sittings and offer exciting and interactive experiences to ensure guests have never felt closer to fame. About Merlin Entertainments Merlin Entertainments is a world leader in branded entertainment destinations, offering a diverse portfolio of resort theme parks, city-centre gateway attractions and LEGOLAND® Resorts which span across the UK, US, Western Europe, China and Asia Pacific. Dedicated to creating experiences that inspire joy and connection, Merlin welcomes more than 62 million guests annually to its diverse global estate in over 20 countries. An expert in bringing world-famous entertainment brands to life, Merlin works with partners including the LEGO® Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Peppa Pig, DreamWorks and Ferrari to create destinations where guests can immerse themselves in a wide array of brand-driven worlds, rides and uplifting learning experiences. See for more information.
