My experience with folklore has been defined through works of fiction

inspired by the tales that have been passed down for generations. From Disney’s rich history of animated fairytales to mythological figures standing side-by-side with the superheroes that filled the pages of my books and shaped the light of my television I found myself obsessed with.

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This website was created for a research project for 

FOLKLORE & EXPRESSIVE CULTURE (ANTH 452).

 

A research project that will use the writings of several scholars to

unpack & analyze the impact of the iconic Big Bad Wolf. Writings like “Wall All Live in Faletown: Bill Willingham’s Fables -- A Fairy-Tale Epic for the 21st Century” by Jason Marc Harris will paint the picture of the Big Bad Wolf in modern stories. Stories like Fables & The Wolf Among Us (pictured above) where the Big Bad Wolf becomes a reluctant hero as the protagonist. We’ll talk about other stories of course this project, but Harris’ analysis of the 14-year saga of Fable characters trying to survive in the modern world provides the best example of how compelling stories can be made with folklore characters after their first stories end. Fables is also an example of how connecting multiple mythologies leads to a richer story for characters like the Big Bad Wolf. A connected universe of fiction media is the closest we get to modern folklore with an impact. And iconic characters like Bigby Wolf (pictured above) are engaging focal points for these connected stories.

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Throughout this project, we aim to answer these key Questions:

-- How does the choice of protagonist change a story? Why are villainous archetypes chosen for protagonists in modern stories?

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-- Why are fairy tale characters still relevant in countless modern stories?

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-- How does folklore carry over to comic books, animation, and film?

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--Who defines folklore of the modern day?