Lifelong Learning- Coburn

Meisha Lohmann adjunct lecturer in the English and General Literature and Rhetoric department at Binghamton University presents a presentation on early written iterations of famous fairy tales.

Most classic fairy tales exist in countless iterations. Their origins in oral literature make it impossible to know exactly how many versions exist, or where they each originated. We can often find, however, the first time a writer chose to record these tales on paper. Classics such as “Sleeping Beauty,” “Cinderella,” and “Little Red Riding Hood” were preserved in print several times in the 16th through the 19th centuries by various authors, such as Charles Perrault and the Grimm brothers. Many of these early versions are more overtly violent and sexual than the more modern versions we encounter today. Taking a closer look at these early versions can both give us a glimpse into the past, as well as provide some insight into the messages these tales might still inadvertently endorse today.

**This talk will engage with issues of sexuality and violence that may not be suitable for all ages.**