I was reading a reimagining of a classic tale and wondered how it would change the meaning and cultural significance of it if some of the genders were switched.
So here’s this week’s challenge: take a well-known myth, parable, fable, or story and change the gender of a main character, a favorite character, or all the characters. How does this change the story for you? How does its meaning change? Does it give you a greater understanding of the world around you? Is this a new story that you now want to continue to share?
7 responses so far ↓
1 mel // Mar 21, 2007 at 10:06 am
God is now a woman. I still don’t believe — though the regret and loss I feel is significantly more poignant.
2 John // Mar 21, 2007 at 11:14 am
Not to copy Mel, but the first thing that popped to mind was the central Christian myth, with Jesus as a woman. I’m going to ponder this one today.
3 Amber // Mar 21, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I’m clearly on a different wavelength.
I thought first of The Taming of the Shrew. (Well, if I’m being honest, I thought of Ten Things I Hate About You.) If the main characters’ genders are swapped, it becomes a remarkably different story. Or maybe not at all, but I find it even more frustrating.
4 Elise // Mar 22, 2007 at 11:17 am
My first thought was Sleeping Beauty. I.e., if a beautiful man went to live with and take care of (i.e. chores) seven old dwarf women. In the end he is rescued by a princess.
Hmmm…not quite as charming a story, methinks.
5 Miko // Mar 22, 2007 at 2:10 pm
My first thought was Romeo & Julien. It would make the priest who married them that much cooler.
6 Elise // Mar 22, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Miko - LOL. You should sell that idea. Would make a great Hollywood spoof on classic Shakespeare. I’d watch for your name in the credits at independent film festivals and tell every one that I know the gal who came up with the brilliant ideas.
In fact, a whole series of short spoofs on classic stories, altering the gender, would be quite entertaining and thought-provoking to watch, IMO.
7 Miko // Mar 23, 2007 at 6:50 pm
hehe, I really can’t imagine that that was an original thought, but I’ll talk to Hollywood the next time I see it. The classic is, of course, Adam and Steve.
What would happen if we change the gender of some of the more imaginatively-birthed gods/goddesses? Instead of jumping from a male Zeus’ forehead, how would it change if a female Zeus’ forehead was involved? Would it make it that much of a stranger genesis for Athena?
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