CoP3 Updated Proposal/Plan

I want to look at and study Fairy Tales holistically, with focus on how these tales affect the younger audiences in particular. Not sure if this is too broad of a research question, but I can already start to visualise how its going to be in my head, so I think it'd be achievable.


Possible Essay Structure;
Title (needs checking): Once Upon a Time: An exploration of the impact of fairy tales on young audiences.

Introduction:

• Purpose of study
• My personal thoughts on fairy tales?

Main Body (haven't decided the order yet):

• What are fairytales: history and purpose (should this go in intro instead?)
• Benefits; Research related to fairytales and children’s development*
• Fairy tales communicate strong, unconscious messages to children in terms they can grasp and even carry into adulthood.
• Detriments; Outdated content:
• Gender Roles (& role models)*
• Fairy tales and feminism
• The effect on young people's self-images
• Are we more risk averse to ‘scaring’ children now?*
• Original vs Contemporary - original tales don't always end happy; why has it changed?
• Relationships of parents and children in selected fairytale.
• Adaptations – illustrative adaptations – children’s books.*
• Movie adaptations: Retellings/re-invented fairy tales (Disney’s Princess and the Frog for example, teaches/encourages children (even myself to be honest) to work hard) 
• Why do people remake/re-invent fairy tales? The need for adaptations. Why they still matter.

Conclusion

*My research will focus primarily on the classic fairy tales written by the Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Andersen. I will use these as examples to expand points and explanations.

Practical: (I have two ideas as of now, but leaning more towards idea 2)

1. My initial practical idea was to re-illustrate children’s fairy tales, by putting a modern twist on them so that they would be relevant and reflect the morals held in society today, as it has been identified that some fairytales may be outdated and therefore are not as meaningful as they used to be. The idea is not completely original as this has been done many times before (like the examples here). However, I think most of these have been created with older audiences in mind. I don't think I have seen something that still renders the same reality in them, but with a more child friendly approach.
2. I think people today find that the main issue is the nature of the gender roles in fairy tales (also then affecting who children choose as their role models and how they think they're expected to behave). I came up with the idea of retelling the stories of real people (or maybe just one person) in a fairy tale setting - What happens if we put real people (ones that have achieved recognition in our society) and re-telling their stories in these well known and familiar fairy tale lands? Not only would they enjoy the fairy tale elements, but they'd also learn about these people, who have made such big achievements and difference in our world. more info here.