A Wave of the Magic Wand: Fairy Godmothers in Contemporary American Media

Jeana Jorgensen

A Wave of the Magic Wand: Fairy Godmothers in Contemporary American Media

Jeana Jorgensen

IU Bloomington

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The increased personification of fairy godmothers in contemporary American media corresponds to an aspect of the American worldview that emphasizes “magical” quick fixes and solutions. The two fairy-tale pastiche works informing this study are a novel, The Fairy Godmother , by fantasy author Mercedes Lackey, and a movie, Shrek 2. Both of these works feature fairy godmother characters that depart from canonical folktale and fairy-tale depictions. Associated with fate and wisdom, fairy godmothers act much as folklorists do by rewarding traditional behavior with gifts. Recent fairy godmother roles are hybrid and multivocal, illuminating ideologies and power structures in both society and story.

Original language	American English
Journal	Marvels & Tales
State	Published - Oct 1 2007

Keywords

american media
fairy godmothers
shrek 2

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Cite this

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