Parody

1. Click the titles to navigate Parody Visit to Duloc 2 History of Fairytales Fiona 1 Opening of the film Fiona 2 The Storybook Characters Farquaad Donkey and Shrek Meet Camera Angles Visit to Duloc 1

2. Parody • parody is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke affectionate fun at the work itself; • a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule.

3. Poetry Parodied The following is a well-known poem by G. W. Langford which not only preached at parents but threatened them with a reminder of the high mortality rate for young children: Speak gently to the little child! Its love be sure to gain; Teach it in accents soft and mild; It may not long remain.

4. LEWIS CARROLL’S PARODY • Carroll turned this into a song for the Duchess to sing to a piglet wrapped in baby clothes: Speak roughly to your little boy, And beat him when he sneezes. He only does it to annoy Because he knows it teases.

5. THE STORY OF SHREK:JEFFREY KATZEMBERG AT DISNEY • From 1975 to 1984 Jeffrey Katzenberg worked with Walt Disney in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. • But in 1984 when expected to become 2nd in command under Michael Eisner, he was passed over.

6. THE STORY OF SHREK:JEFFREY KATZEMBERG AT DISNEY

7. SHREK: REVENGE OF JEFFREY KATZEMBERG • To get his revenge on Disney, in 1994 Katzenberg joined Steven Spielberg and David Geffen to form “Dreamworks.” • And Dreamworks parodied all things Disney in their “Shrek” movies. • Shrek is a Yiddish word and also a German word. In both languages, it means “fear,” or “terror.”

8. PARODIES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS • Dreamworks used words, actions, behaviors, and visual effects in Shrek to parody such Disney icons as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Dumbo, the Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and Sleeping Beauty. • Earlier, Shrek says that ogres are layered, like onions. At the end of the movie, Shrek and Fiona ride off in an onion-shaped carriage.

9. PARODIES OF FOLK LITERATURE • Since much of Disney’s success was grounded in the recreation of folk literature, parodies can also be found of the Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Three Blind Mice and the Three Little Pigs. • For example, in the parody of the Three Bears, Mama is wearing a pink hair bow, and later there is a bear rug in Farquaad’s bedroom which is also wearing a pink hair bow.

10. PARODIES OF DISNEY STUDIOS • Dreamworks also parodied Disney Studios in Shrek by reproducing its parking lot (called “Lancelot”), its long winding lines of people, its turnstyles, and its sets, and its buildings. • For example, when people enter DuLac, the puppets are singing “Welcome to DuLac” in the same key and tempo as “It’s a Small World.”

11. PARODIES OF POPULAR CULTURE • In Shrek there are parodies of Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, and of The Matrix, and of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and of Men in Tights. • Since four of the Shrek illustrators studied at Notre Dame, there is also a parody of that university, in the buildings, and in the name “Farquaad,” which is an allusion to a distant quad at Notre Dame University. The full name is “University of Notre Dame DuLac.”

12. What do you think the purpose and audience are for Shrek?

14. History of fairytales • Fairytales were originally meant for adults; • They were invented during a time when people believed in things such as witches, ogres, giants and trolls; • Eventually they were altered to remove violence so they could be told to children; • Now they often include a “moral” or a lesson for children to remember;

15. Fairytales • When was the last time you heard a traditional fairytale? • In pairs write down as many fairytales as you can think of – you MUST be able to remember the story! • Compile the list as a whole class • Remember 5 key events from the fairytale you are given (tableaux)

16. We’re fairytale experts then! • What makes a fairytale? • What types of words are used? • What characters are typical? • What locations/places might appear? • What usually happens? • Any words or phrases you might expect? Create a fairytale mindmap

17. Traditional fairy tales

18. Writing task • Write at least a paragraph about traditional fairy tales. • You need to write about: • How Princes and ogres/giants are represented in traditional fairy stories • Explain what the ogre does in the story of Jack and Beanstalk • Talk about what the Prince does in Snow White and the seven dwarves • Pay particular attention to how they are REPRESENTED

20. The Opening While we watch the opening again, think about: • Why might viewers be surprised? • What does the beginning of the film suggest? • How will this fit in with “traditional” fairy stories? • How does the film parody Disney?

21. The Opening While we watch the opening again, think about: • Why might viewers be surprised? • What does the beginning of the film suggest? • How will this fit in with “traditional” fairy stories? • How does the film parody Disney?

22. Shrek’s character: The Beginning The film opens with a book containing a fairy story, making us think that is what we are about to experience. The camera angle and the action is almost identical to Sleeping Beauty. The music in the background is old fashioned, classical and traditional, we assume the film will be the same.

23. Shrek’s character: The Beginning The story contains typical fairy tale phrases such as “once upon a time” and “happily ever after”.

24. Shrek’s character: The Beginning The characters in the story are Princes, ogres, dragons and Princesses, just like traditional fairy tales.

25. But then…

26. Shrek’s character: The Beginning Suddenly the book is torn up by a dirty great big GREEN hand! The viewer starts to think this might NOT be such a traditional story; it’s almost like the makers are “ripping up the rule book”.

27. Shrek’s character: The Beginning The music changes abruptly to modern music An ugly green ogre appears from an outhouse, traditional fairy stories are banished to only “toilet reading”!? The message to the audience: SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG!

28. Shrek’s character: The Beginning His habitat is not inhospitable or ugly: it is very domesticated and “homely”. Activity: How many things in this long shot can you spot which you would not expect to see in a traditional ogre’s swamp?

29. Shrek’s character: The Beginning The ogre also seems pretty civilised, doing daily cleansing rituals, this is making him appear like a human being.

30. Shrek’s character: The Beginning How is Shrek being presented as a human and not as an animal in this shot?

31. Shrek’s character: The Beginning He is now painting, not just a human thing, but a cultured, refined, educated human trait. Message to the audience: this is NOT going to be a traditional fairy story!

32. Write a paragraph about the opening of the film Cover these points: • How is it different to a conventional fairy tale? • How does the story parody Disney? • Why are the viewers surprised? • What does such an opening suggest? You could use some of these phrases: • The film Shrek opens with… • Viewers are surprised because… • The beginning of the film suggests that…

34. The Storybook Characters While we watch the part with Shrek and the storybook characters again, think about: • What Shrek threatens to do to them • What he does to frighten them • How the storybook characters react to him • What this suggests about Shrek • Why the viewers might be confused about Shrek

35. The Storybook Characters While we watch the part with Shrek and the storybook characters again, think about: • What Shrek threatens to do to them • What he does to frighten them • How the storybook characters react to him • What this suggests about Shrek • Why the viewers might be confused about Shrek

36. Shrek’s Character: A Terrifying Ogre? The storybook characters call Shrek an “it” and a “thing” They are clearly very scared whispering he will “grind your bones for it’s bread” The audience is now confused: this seems totally different to the character we have just been introduced to

37. Shrek’s Character: A Terrifying Ogre? Notice the high angle shot that makes the characters look small and powerless The reaction of the storybook characters to Shrek’s arrival shows him as a terrifying beast

38. Shrek’s Character: A Terrifying Ogre? Shrek tries to scare them by saying he will “shave your liver and make jelly from your eyes!” In this shot, Shrek fills the camera. This emphasises his size.

39. Shrek’s Character: A Terrifying Ogre? The storybook characters run away screaming because Shrek is SO scary Message to the audience: maybe this ogre is evil and nasty

40. How is Shrek shown as a typical ogre with the storybook characters? Cover these points: • What Shrek threatens to do to them • What Shrek does to frighten them • How the storybook chracters react • How the camera shows Shrek as intimidating and the characters as small • What this suggests about Shrek You could use these phrases: • When the storybook characters arrive… • Shrek seems like a traditional ogre because…

41. Shrek’s Characters One of the main ways the makers of Shrek turn the Disney genre on its head is the depiction of two of the main characters: Lord Farquaad and Shrek. While the traditional fairytale prince is tall, brave, handsome and kind, Farquaad is short, evil and cowardly. Shrek, the ogre is, on the other hand, brave, kind and funny: the opposite to traditional fairytales. Write a short paragraph putting this in your own words.

43. Donkey and Shrek Meet Watch the part where Shrek and Donkey meet again. Pay attention to: • How donkey responds to Shrek • Why donkey laughs at Shrek • How does donkey irritate Shrek? • What Donkey’s behaviour suggests about Shrek’s apparent appearance as a “terrifying ogre”?

44. Shrek’s Character: Meeting Donkey Shrek roars at donkey and tries to intimidate him, just like he did with the storybook characters earlier But Donkey isn’t scared and just ridicules Shrek about his bad breath!

45. Shrek’s Character: Meeting Donkey Shrek then just walks away. Why is this? Shouldn’t he “shave [Donkey’s] liver and make jelly from [his] eyes”? We are starting to question Shrek’s depiction as an evil character

46. Shrek’s Character: Meeting Donkey Shrek assumes Donkey hasn’t realised just how terrified he must be so actually TELLS Donkey he is an ogre and suggests it should “bother” him

47. Shrek’s Character: Meeting Donkey Shrek fails to stop Donkey, even though he is clearly irritated by him

48. Shrek’s Character: Meeting Donkey Shrek’s inability to stop Donkey bouncing on his chair or appearing at the window suggests he isn’t such a terrifying ogre after all

49. Write a about what we learn of Shrek when he meets Donkey Cover these points: • How does Donkey respond to Shrek? • How Donkey repeatedly irritates Shrek • What Donkey’s behaviour suggests about this ogre • How does Shreks reaction to being tormented show about his character? You could use these phrases: • When Donkey approaches, Shrek roars at him and tries to intimidate him. Donkey is not frightened and… • We become sure that the character of Shrek • The behaviour of the Donkey tell viewers that Shrek…