Fairy Tale questions and Teacups and China Cabinets

[aimeekitty]

a few fairy tale related questions for the ether today:

(1) does anyone know of any movies (or documentaries) that give a pretty good feeling of the actual culture around the time period Arabian Nights, Sinbad, Aladdin, etc...? It doesn't have to be a movie based on those tales, but just something that gives a feeling of that time and culture.

(2) If you were "the Beast" (from Beauty and the Beast the fairy tale) and you were originally human, and cursed to live as a beast for 100 years or something.... trapped in a castle... WOULD YOU:
(a) Try to live as human-like and civilized as you could given your limitations
(b) Screw it, live as a beast
(c) Try to live as a human most of the time, but go run in the forest as a beast periodically.

~~~~~~~~~~


Yesterday morning before I went into work, I spent some time putting my china away.

China Cabinet




Ya'll know that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite. The plate in the back is from my wedding china (Waterford) and the two champagne glasses are from "Cinderella's Royal Table" at Disney Florida (at the top of the castle!) My husband and I went there on our honeymoon. The tatted lace doilies were made by my grandmother.


I don't have a lot of teacups aside from my wedding ones, but every once in a while I'll buy one from some anime series I love or from a happy memory. Somewhere I have an Ouran High School Host Club set... but I guess it must still be packed up somewhere. I'd like to get one from Kuroshitsuji (not because Black Butler is amazing, but more that black teacups are awesome), and one that reminds me of Marie Antoinette, too.

This one is from Maria-sama ga Miteru


probably my favorites of all... Oscar and Andre cups from Rose of Versailles. hydrangea kanzashi behind.


part of my wedding china cups and a music box, etc...


some of my grandmother's hankies


The secretary (it has secret drawers! <3 )
The leather books are my husband's.


kitsune mask from our kyoto trip, family photos, Tarzan and Princess Mononoke statues and various costuming awards.




.... It's really windy/rainy today! I keep looking out at my backyard and seeing the baby plants all blown around and worrying for them... but I'm sure they must be fine. Been battling with aphids on my roses lately, too. >:| Don't touch my babies! They must grow to be big giant man-eating roses!

I am glad about the rain though, I'm hoping if we get a good amount of rain, it will help the sakura bloom in van nuys.

Comments

[adichappo.livejournal.com]

I don't know any answers for #1, but as for #2 - definatly "c" - why not have the best of both worlds? ^_^

and I love the Dancing Mushroom statue in your cabinet! so cute!

[bwaains.livejournal.com]

No idea on question 1, but for question 2 I'd probably try to live civilized and as time went on and nothing was getting better I'd probably get depressed and forget the past and start being more feral. Short answer: Start with A, transition to B over time.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

that's what I think, truly, most people would end up doing.

But quite frequently in the fairy tales, the beast is shown as this creature who LOOKS scary, and often has a hard time using utensils... but is gentle and wears fancy clothes. So then the underlying metaphor is a bit strange, because it's kinda supposed to be "love turns a scary-man into a creature that a young girl could love." You know, like that girls are kinda scared of guys for a while, but then they grow up and the beast becomes a man that they love. that sort of thing. but if the beast is all refined, doesn't that defeat the purpose of the metaphor?

besides... character-wise alone... I tend to think if he's been there a long time, he'd be like "man, this sucks, screw this" and let his clothes get all screwed up and run around in the forest.

[calalillith.livejournal.com]

*grinning at man-eating roses*

It's bucketing down in the Bay Area too -- be interesting to see just how long it lasts. I'm sure your plants will be okay, though, they've been in the ground for a couple of weeks now, right..?

I think that the Beast's reaction would depend on the type of person they were before.. I'm going between different kinds of people having similar reactions, for some reason. Personally.. I think I'd hang out in the castle until I couldn't bear it anymore, then splitting to run in the woods o,0

[taraljc.livejournal.com]

I don't know of any specific documentaries, but the Wiki entry on the Islamic Golden Age might be a good place to start? According to the entry on 1001 Arabian Nights that's when the stories were first compiled. Also, it looks like Aladdin wasn't originally part of the compilation--it was added by a French dood.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

thanks man!

[withinity.livejournal.com]

If I were a beast, I would try to preserve my human intelligence and compassion. But I wouldn't try to hand on to the physical aspects of humanity if I were physically not one.

That secretary looks just like one my mother has, really exactly the same!

[etherealtb.livejournal.com]

It's not a bit accurate, but IMHO the best costumes and design for that era is the 1940 version of The Thief of Bagdad. In fact, I'd wager that most of the costumes & design in movies since (especially in the 40's & 50's) were influenced by or directly stolen from TToB

The pics in these links don't do the movie justice, as some are in B&W, but will give you an idea:

http://thethunderchild.com/Movies/Fantasies/ThiefofBagdad/BagdadSynopsis.html

http://thethunderchild.com/Movies/Fantasies/ThiefofBagdad/MakingBagdad.html

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

thanks! :D I'll check it out.

unfortunately I don't know enough to know what is accurate and what isn't. It's not like I can go read a book about it either.

[etherealtb.livejournal.com]

You'll love the movie! It's a lot of fun and has some fab costumes, my fav being this one:

http://somecamerunning.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/28/bagdad_mgm.jpg

[bluejeans07.livejournal.com]

So much rain, yaaaay!!!

I wonder if you could still get those ladybugs in a box from gardening stores to battle the aphids. :O

[bluejeans07.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Also... hmm. I'd probably do the last thing, of trying to be human and then maybe being a beast during nights and weekends. I imagine that's a part you can't really suppress about yourself since it's been brought out of you so to release it once in awhile in secret probably shouldn't be bad.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I'm totally going to buy some ladybugs when it stops raining. I'd rather do that than keep pinching them off and spraying.

[singingraisin.livejournal.com]

Afraid I don't know much about (1), but as far as (2) goes, I think I'd probably do a for a bit and then c. If there was still any hope at all of getting turned back, I'd want to hang on to as much human as possible.

I think the underlying metaphor in those stories is simply about looking past appearances. Rather than "love turns a scary-man into a creature that a young girl could love", I think it's more "damn bitches, don't be so shallow!" In which case it's sort of imperative that the beast is all refined and shit.

[pogo101.livejournal.com]

If I were the Beast I'd lawyer up and sue all these unauthorized furry porn artists. I want my slice, dammit.

[sakurae.livejournal.com]

Everything looks lovely :D How lucky to have heirlooms to inherit from your grandmother!

[dreamling]

C!

Barely can I keep myself in check and not go running off into the woods to howl at the moon for fun most months anyway.

[junemermaid.livejournal.com]

You're lucky to have all those heirlooms from your grandmum, when mine passed everything stayed where it was because my grandfather got remarried and his new wife wanted all the nicknacks lol. It's okay tho, I don't have a house yet so I have no place to put the giant grandfather clock I've wanted since I was 5 X_X

Also as for 2 I'd guess c. I'd be a lazy slob, so I'm not sure how civilized that would be, but no pooping on the ground for me.

[harlyharlekin.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh soo beautiful!
And I also love Belle <3

Hm...for me c

[earthminor.livejournal.com]

C. :)

[mamamantras.livejournal.com]

I'd do C and have a bit of both worlds. Who doesn;t like a good romp in the wood?

[lenity.livejournal.com]

I so love the vintage furniture you have! That secretary is so amazing! I'm slowly piecing together pretty furniture for my home. ::sigh::

To answer your questions, I'd definitely be a C for #2.

And I would have to think about #1. Can't think of anything while at work! :D

[chevy49girl.livejournal.com]

1) The Thief of Bagdad with Douglas Faibanks.

2) I would say C. I agree the best of both worlds. You can never fully hide your true self, you can also be civilized when need be. Kind of like a "bad Boy" lol!

[minuberry.livejournal.com]

Not so sure about #1.. I have seen a lot of period drama/movies but they are mostly related to the region the drama is from T_T
But for #2, C!! 100% C!! XD Why not enjoy some free time roaming the forest? I mean as beast (and the prince) you own the whole place.. right?

And I love your China sets! They are so pretty!