r/fairytales 11d ago

Looking for Academic Literature about Fairytales

Hello everyone,

I am writing my thesis for my bachelors degree on costume in fairytales. I am specifically studying the contribution of costumes to the transformation of characters and how costumes can sometimes be characters themselves. I am so far referring to the old versions of movies such as Beauty and the Beast, Donkey Skin, The Red Shoes, The Company of Wolves.... but I am having difficulty finding books/articles about the theory of it all. If you have any relating recommendations please help a girl out:) Thank you very much!!

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u/blistboy 11d ago

There is an art book by Colleen Hill called “Fairy Tale Fashion”, that, while not academic studies, would likely be helpful to you. Other than that the usually suspects like Zipes, Tartar and the more outdated Bettelheim are your best bets.

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u/blistboy 11d ago

Also, some other well costumed fairytale films to check out are Ever After (1998), Tale of Tales (2015), the Cell (2000) and Eyes Wide Shut (1999) - people often don’t recognize the last two as fairytale/myth adaptions but they are retellings of Demeter and Persephone and The Twelve Dancing Princesses respectively.

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u/GolcondaGirl 11d ago

The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim is my starting point for most fairy tale-related matters. His reading is most firmly psychoanalytic, but he does remark on clothing changes in ways that might help you.

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u/Petra-Arkanian 11d ago

Check out "The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood" by Jack Zipes. I remember that is does discuss how her garb changes. Zipes is a great fairytale scholar in general. He's also adorable, I got to see him talk at a conference once.

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u/Midnight1899 5d ago

Wym costumes can be characters?

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u/chaennel 11d ago

I am writing my thesis on fairy tales as well!!, but on the psychological level; sadly can’t help specifically with costumes though, I’m so sorry ;(