The Fate of a Fairy Tale

Amid the onslaught of technology and the era of social media, the existence of "fairy tales" is getting dimmer. Life is reluctant to die and doesn't want to be, maybe that's the fate of fairy tales today. Choking amidst the hustle and bustle of modern culture.

With the pretext of providing convenience in all aspects, technology nimbly poison the brain and indoctrinate humans. The sophistication and practicality offered to provide an addictive effect for its users, including children. The interest in online games and features in devices is higher than imagining great stories of fairy tale characters.

Now fairy tales are like losing ears and eyes that are loyal to hearing and reading. The culture of storytelling, which has long been a hallmark, is losing its soul. The gadgets and their antics are so nimble taking over the mindset of the children about fairy tales, becoming just an empty delusion.

In the past, small children were busy sitting in the courtyard only to hear the great stories of the characters in their favorite fairy tales, or to faithfully wait for their mothers to tell stories before going to sleep. Now, children prefer to sit in the corner of the room looking at the gadgets. It's fun surfing in cyberspace and training the thumb muscles to numb.

By some educational and historical literate people or groups, fairy tales are presented in a more interesting form. Currently, many fairy tales have been transformed into animation and video. The goal is to attract attention and arouse children's interest in fairy tales.

Unfortunately, the emergence of tales on YouTube, such as the presence of clean water in the middle of a flood, is not visible and is washed away in the swift current. The number of fairy tale videos produced is not comparable to the onslaught of romance videos and adult stories. To make matters worse, these stories are more engaging to children.

Look at the History of Fairy Tales

In its history, fairy tales have always appeared and developed in various parts of the world. The culture of storytelling is a powerful medium for telling moral values. Tend to be non-judgmental, illustrative, and able to change a person without instructions or instructions.

1,001 fairy tales at night, become one of the global fairy tales. Thomas Geider in Alfu Lela Ulela: The Thousand and One Nights in Swahili-Speaking East Africa, states that this fairy tale has developed in Persia since the 10th century. Then penetrate all national and cultural boundaries. India, Greece, Jews, Iran, and Turkey also bear witness to the greatness of the story of Scheherazade and the rulers of the Arabian peninsula to China.

Fairy tales are never silent. Keep moving and developing. Fairy tales are told, spread, and develop. One version in one place can mean the same as a version in another. Not only teaches thought to the listener, fairy tales also represent the intelligence of the speaker.

An associate professor in Durham University's Department of Anthropology, Jamie Tehrani, in 2013 conducted research and found 58 different stories for the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Conveyed in many versions, but the moral values ​​that are contained remain the same, "obey your mother's advice". Even though this fairy tale, Tehrani found that fairy tales have been told since the bronze age, 6,000 years ago.

Likewise with many other fairy tales. The packaging varies, but the meaning is the same. No matter which part of the world the fairy tales come from, it always keeps its own strength. The alignment of storytelling ideas from various places shows the quality of human reasoning in using reason in shaping a cultured and civilized society.

Between Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends

Even though they both convey moral messages, between fairy tales, myths and legends have their respective magnetic powers. Myths with magical touches, legends with historical power, while fairy tales are also entertainment. The moral messages in fairy tales attract many children because they are packed with stories that are evocative, light, and easily accepted in the world of children.

Bringing back fairy tales in the midst of siege of technology and information is still a common homework. The challenge is no longer filing fairy tales, but how to package them. So that it does not appear to be pushy with patronizing moral messages.

My country, with its cultural diversity, certainly displays its own characteristics in presenting fairy tales. Local wisdom and the strength of the traditions that have developed have created a strong synergy in shaping the soul of the nation. These values ​​should not be drowned out by popular culture, moreover just telling stories just to exist.