Throughout the Shrek movie series, Shrek is surrounded by characters from classic fairy tales. These characters help the movies build a plot.
“[Shrek discovers Snow White on the Kitchen table.]
Shrek: Oh, no no no no. Dead broad off the table!
Dwarf: Well where are we supposed to put her? The bed is taken.
Shrek: Huh?
[Shrek rushes over to find Big Bad Wolf in the bed]”
Its weird to have Snow White and The Big Bad Wolf in the same story, but also funny because we know that in the classic fairy tales they were not in the same story. Foster says that we want strangeness but we also want familiarity too.(Foster 63) Characters from classic stories make creating a plot for a writer easier. Fairy tales that everyone know make other stories make sense.
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Shrek is such a good example of how allusion can be used purely as a vehicle for comedy. All of the fairytale allusions, especially in the first film, only work comedically if you "get" the allusions made and know the fairytales; therefore, as I noted before, "the deflection of expectation" usually makes us laugh (240), but probably doesn't serve any deeper meaning--TJones
ReplyDeleteYou're correct that the use of fairy tale allusions in Shrek make the story simultaneously familiar yet new (b/c of the ogre aspects). I think, however, that it may serve a deeper meaning. Pinochio appears in all of the Shrek films and reveals more and more of his insecurities to the point that he admits to wearing women's underwear. This delves deeper into his "real" fairy tale struggle to determine his identity. Shrek also works on a Foster-ian level as a quest. In each movie, what Shrek thinks he is after is not the actual greater goal he achieves. As a movie sequence, Shrek moves from being a lonely persecuted bachelor that is uncomfortable with the idea of love, friendship and family to a loving father and husband who is content with the trials and triumphs of love, friendship and family life.
ReplyDeleteK. Walker
I really agreed with the Shrek series being looked at as quests.
ReplyDeleteAlso Hoodwinked would be a great example as well, because its based around a fairy tale world with classic fairy tale characters like lil Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gredal.
ReplyDeleteThats a good one too. Almost the same thing.
ReplyDelete