Alternative fairy-tale endings and the main character syndrome
Happily Ever After” for the Woke Generation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7154276 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rachel Chan Suet Kay (0000-0002-4207-023X, National University of Malaysia, corresponding author), Rachel Chan (0000-0003-4931-5284, National University of Malaysia) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 2014-2017 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-17 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Feminist Media Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1468-0777 • E-ISSN: 1471-5902 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14680777.2025.2577963 |
| OpenAlex | W4415523948 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 8 |
The usual trope of happily ever after, signified by absolute gender conformity to traditional domestic stereotypes coupled with advancement and recognition in the realm of the public sphere, has been challenged by the new zeitgeist, which calls out the toxic positivity of such assumptions. The so-called “entitlement generation”, commonly referred to as Generation Y, Generation Me, or more critically as Generation 'Snowflake' or 'Woke' is often characterized by perceived self-absorption and emotional sensitivity. Born between 1980 and 2003, this group is frequently described as experiencing “main character syndrome,” viewing themselves as the central protagonist in the story of their lives. This essay talks about “reclaiming the narrative” through the lens of reworking fairy tale structures. A discussion of Propp’s morphology of the folktale is utilised as a baseline, to describe the structural changes in present-day “feel good” adventures. I comment on several manga titles and their adaptation of classic fairy tales in this new paradigm
Politics · Cinema and Media Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Media, Gender, and Advertising
| Highly cited | No |
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