The Grimms’ Fairy Tales with Dr. Albrecht Classen

No other collection of fairy tales has enjoyed such a popularity all over the world as the one by the Brothers Grimm. They were not newly composed by these two philologists, but collected from oral and written sources. Since the first anthology was published in 1812, the Grimms’ Fairy Tales have enjoyed a global success. This begs the question why they are so much loved, and why they continue to be so important both in the Old and in the New World, both in Germany and in China, for instance. In addition, these fairy tales have made their way into all the modern media, whether film or comic strips, video game or music. Obviously, the Grimms had understood some fundamental need people all over the world face and which fairy tales can satisfy to some extent. This presentation, which will be very interactive, addresses both a young and an older audience. We will learn much about the Grimm’s sources, their political and literary interests in writing these fairy tales, and study representative pieces regarding their reflections of political, cultural, ethical, religious issues. There are also clearly gender and racial aspects hidden in these tales, so this presentation can be geared to many different audiences.

This program is cohosted by Mohave Community College – Bullhead City – Hargrove Library. This is an in-person event.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Dr. Albrecht Classen is a university distinguished professor of German Studies at the University of Arizona – where he teaches and researches the European Middle Ages, the early modern age, and modern German-speaking lands, focusing on literature, the visual arts, politics, philosophy, and religion. He has published more than 115 scholarly books, such as On the Forest in Medieval Literature(2015) and Toleration and Tolerance in Medieval Literature(2018). He has given lectures all over the state of Arizona, the nation, and globally. Over the last 30 years, he has received numerous teaching, research, and service awards, and has been repeatedly nominated for the Dan Shilling Public Humanities Scholar Award.