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Explore the mythical character who brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto children's eyes at night, from folklore to modern interpretations and adaptations.
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The Sandman is a mythical character in Western folklore who brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto the eyes of children while they sleep at night. The grit or 'sleep' in one's eyes upon waking is supposed to be the result of the Sandman's work the previous evening.
The Sandman by Margaret Thomson Janvier The rosy clouds float overhead, The sun is going down; And now the sandman's gentle tread Comes stealing through the town. "White sand, white sand," he softly cries, And as he shakes his hand, Straightway there lies on babies' eyes His gift of shining sand. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. From sunny beaches far away - Yes, in another land - He gathers up at break of day His stone of shining sand. No tempests beat that shore remote, No ships may sail that way; His little boat alone may float Within that lovely bay. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. He smiles to see the eyelids close Above the happy eyes; And every child right well he knows, - Oh, he is very wise! But if, as he goes through the land, A naughty baby cries, His other hand takes dull gray sand To close the wakeful eyes. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. So when you hear the sandman's song Sound through the twilight sweet, Be sure you do not keep him long A-waiting in the street. Lie softly down, dear little head, Rest quiet, busy hands, Till, by your bed his good-night said, He strews the shining sands. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.
E.T.A. Hoffmann wrote an inverse depiction of the lovable character in a story called Der Sandmann , which showed how sinister such a character could be made. According to the protagonist's nurse, he threw sand in the eyes of children who wouldn't sleep, with the result of those eyes falling out and being collected by the Sandman, who then takes the eyes to his iron nest on the moon, and uses them to feed his children. E. T. A Hoffman (1776-1822) - German Romantic author of horror fiction.
The following excerpt is from an English translation of the story: Most curious to know more of this Sandman and his particular connection with children, I at last asked the old woman who looked after my youngest sister what sort of man he was. 'Eh, Natty,' said she, 'don't you know that yet? He is a wicked man, who comes to children when they won't go to bed, and throws a handful of sand into their eyes, so that they start out bleeding from their heads. He puts their eyes in a bag and carries them to the crescent moon to feed his own children, who sit in the nest up there. They have crooked beaks like owls so that they can pick up the eyes of naughty human children.
The Sandman - from folklore to popular culture The Sandman is a popular character in folklore referenced in popular culture over several centuries. Some noteworthy examples include: ·Films, including The Sandman (1991), The Sandman (2000). ·Cartoons, including The Real Ghostbusters and The Powerpuff Girls . ·Popular music including Mr. Sandman popularised by the Chordettes , Enter Sandman by Metallica and Sandman by Enya ·A recurring video game character in Nintendo's Punch-Out!! series
The Sandman is a comic book series written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics . It chronicles the adventures of Dream of The Endless, who rules over the world of dreams, in 75 issues. It was published from 1989 to 1996. The series features a character created by Morpheus ("the Sandman") called the Corinthian, who steals the eyes of his victims, similarly to Hoffman's Sandman Neil Gaiman - author of fantasy and science fiction.
The Sandman (1992) 35mm, 10 min, colour, puppet animation Director Paul Berry Production Company Batty Berry Mackinnon Productions Producers Colin Batty Paul Berry Ian Mackinnon From the story by E.T.A. Hoffman Animator Paul Berry
The Sandman is a highly stylised puppet-animation, a beautifully crafted, but ultimately horrible interpretation of an old European folktale. Its rich film language that gives the rather simple storyline depth and a truly nightmarish edge. Director Paul Berry creates a darkly atmospheric film that evokes and preys on our childhood fears and nightmares. The film's look is dark and menacing: gothic architecture and minimal sets decorate a landscape of blacks, greys and browns. The music and eerie sound effects add to the sinister atmosphere. The Sandman himself is a mass of blues and yellows, with a twisted face and fierce, beaklike nose.
Reflecting influences include: Nosferatu (Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens, Germany, 1922), while the use of music, sound and camera is clearly inspired by Hitchcock's Psycho (US, 1960) and Vertigo (US, 1958). Even though the look of The Sandman is often compared to that of A Nightmare Before Christmas (US, 1993), it appeared a year earlier, and was made before Berry met that film's director, Henry Selick. The film took three years to make, and was self-funded by the filmmakers and done cheaply with a tiny crew in their spare time. The Sandman was nominated for an Oscar in 1992, and won the Best Short Film award at Annecy in 1993.
If it hadn't been for Mona Lisa Descending the Stairs, there's a very strong chance that The Sandman would have won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film--it was that striking and groundbreaking. Paul Berry created a stop motion world very similar to his later projects such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach. While the animation is not quite as fluid here in this early film, you can clearly see that it led to these very successful Disney films. Sadly, Berry died at age 40 and his output was quite limited. So what did I like about this film? Well, the character designs were amazing and the sets had a strange and twisted quality that was both charming and creepy. As for the story, I am probably in the minority here, it was really good up until the surprise ending. I thought it was too creepy and disturbing and knocked the film from a 9 to an 8--this is certainly NOT a film to show to young and impressionable kids. Of course, for an older crowd, they'll probably love the sick finale. Watch it and see for yourself. This is an exceptional and brilliant film. Review of Paul Berry's film, The Sandman
Discuss • What is the film about? • Where do you think the ideas from the film came from? • Does the film, or parts of it, remind you of anything else? • What does this film tell you about us? • How do you feel about the film?
Critical Evaluation of Literature: Media Details of task set: It has been commented that director, Paul Berry's puppet-animation, The Sandman contains "rich film language that gives the rather simple story line depth and a truly nightmarish edge". Discuss the techniques Berry uses that you feel are most effective in creating a darkly atmospheric film. What aspects need to be discussed in this essay?
intertextual references camera angles/movement sound techniques? lighting setting/puppet design parallel editing What aspects need to be discussed in this essay? introduction plot summary Sandman context ironic bedtime story conclusion
