This Snow White changes history and shares household chores with the dwarfs

They keep it they do not make politically correct stories, but very incorrect ones: «We do not censor ourselves. The editor does not tell us that some things cannot be discussed. We write about what we want to write and put our fingers in everything we can,” says Pablo Macías, partner and partner Bethlehem Gaudes in the publishing house Cuatro Tuercas. He explains that it was 12 years ago when, as parents, they started saving classic stories for their daughter. Disturbed, they felt a revision was needed.

“The click was to see the Disney version Cinderella -exactly-. My daughter was three years old and I remembered that movie in a different way. By putting her as an adult, you start to question things, because beyond the classics, the problem is the model to come. The one with princesses, with women-in-waiting, brave princes, romantic love as salvation, beauty above all… A series of things we did not agree with”. From that point of departure, the collection began twice in time where all that classic imaginary of children’s stories is subjected to a new critical review.

Both of them are aware of the apprehensions that this type of adaptation causes. Even more so, with the recent announcement that profane language in Roald Dahl’s work will be revised. For this reason, they clarify that they are focused on works in the public domain. “We are reworking classic stories that come from that oral tradition and that have been processed a thousand times – the editor justifies. Even Roald Dahl himself revised the classics in a wonderful book, Stories in verses for naughty children. Another thing is a work that is not in the public domain, authored by a person and censored. I don’t agree with that.”

In his desire to open discussions and co-educate, in these stories, classic characters take unexpected paths into their own hands. That is the case Snow White. Belén explains it: «The Disney classic says that this girl is left to live with seven dwarfs in exchange for doing all the housework, and they are a disaster. We are changing the model of masculinity. We love to empower girls, let them be feisty and awesome, okay. But what about the male model? The seven dwarfs are capable of taking care of themselves. They don’t need their mother, sister, Snow White, or anyone else to do something that they are functionally, as humans, capable of doing on their own, which is cleaning, cooking, washing dishes.” They don’t stop there: “We also separated the question romantic love and, specifically, we focused on consent. In most classic stories, kissing a sleeping, dead, or fainting princess is not only permissible, but also a beautiful thing. How can love do anything… Then, years go by and our mouths are filled with that “just yes, yes”, but you learn that model from the beginning ».

In his Three piglets there is a little pig “who also builds houses”. IN pinocchio, “Everyone lies except the child, because that is the reality”. IN Rapunzel, “She is considering whether or not to cut her hair, while the prince listens to her knitting.” And in Cinderella, the protagonist ditches his glass shoes to go dancing and opts for much more comfortable shoes. Should they replace traditional ones? “We think that if you want to have and train a critical spirit, you can have both versions and then keep the one you want,” concludes Belén Gaudes.