Once Upon a Time (Amanda Fairchild)

Introduction


According to the Reading at Risk report,” less than half of the American population now reads literature" This would immediatly alarm people to this bleak image that the world of print might be dying.However, with the emergence of new technologies through the Web 2.0 world such as blogging, podcasting and social-networking it is often overlooked on how we absorb literature in the wired world. Through projects such as Project Gutenburg it's possible now to read entire works of literature through the internet. This creates the ability of the internet to widen the audience of literature in a way that was not possible previously.  Technologies such as the Kindle or the Nook makes it possible to transport these works of literature at the touch of a button. Also imagine a book club with five to six individuals are inside of a room describing one work of literature. Then picture the Web 2.0 world usage of sites such as Goodreads where you are getting information from a wider scope of fans of that particular novel and many more. The interactions on a forum are opening up a knowledge community debating issues of this work of literature. How a reader interprets a piece of literature will give the peice of literature life outside of the author’s life. Take for example The Great Gatsby people are still debating to this day the effect of the green light on the book and what it could possibly mean. Even in the remediation of the movie there was the still the green light that Gatsby could see through the window.

Of course you have cynics that are skeptical of this internet revolution Nicolas Carr article “Is Google Making us Stupid”, argues “the more they use the Web, the more they have to fight to stay focused on long pieces of writing.” Instead of making us stupid the internet has created a stronger want for information making us willing to create knowlege communities.This has expanded our capacity for though processing as we are getting opinions for a variety of different thinkers. This progress in thought processing gives us the ability to interpret information in many different ways. Not everyone has the ability to learn information by simply reading a book from a stack. Learning from videos or audio can help a person learn in a different way. The possibility to learn by listening or watching videos making it easier for the reader to grasp the subjects. It also gives writers the opportunities to use a mix of media to give the piece of literature a double meaning. For example, Jodi Picoult in her novel "Sing me Home" made a compilation CD in accordance to her novel on gay rights. The hypertext fiction “The Body” gives an anatomical description of stories by clicking body parts giving the sense of interacting with the text. The efficiency of the internet also gives us the ability to access many websites at the click of a button. This replaces the prior form of research searching through stacks of books inside of a library. Interactive communities form together to remediate their favorite aspects of literature in another form it could be television show, video game or art. Fairy tales started off as myths then originated in what could be described as the Disney remediations that we are most familiar with. Some fairytale ideals include the idea that a kiss could break a curse and the fact that good will always prevail over evil. Fairy tales are often mocked, because there are known to be children stories. However, originally the audience was intended to be for adults as well as children. Only in the late 19th to 20th century was when fairytales became associated with childrens literature.

The television show Once Upon a Time remediates these classic fairytales giving them a modern day twist. In a fictional town called Storybrooke, Maine fairytale creatures were taken from their fairytale world to live in a world where no magic exists. These fairytale characters were robbed of their real memories living now inside of the real world. The only hope to break this curse rests in the savior Emma which happens to be Snow Whites daughter. The guidelines of these stories are seen inside of storybook called “Once Upon a Time” carried by Emma’s long lost son whom she adopted and just reunited with Henry. In the first season the episodes usually existed in two parts the real world transformation of the character and the fairytale version of their life before the curse. Both of these parts of the episode giving the viewer character clues and insight on the fairytale character. The second season follows a familar pattern of using multiple narratives.

Interpretive Disputes
Debating interpretive disputes on a grand scale with other fans gives the internet its best feature. Mainly because your debating and solving the mysteries with fellow fans who share the same passions. Through the forums on various websites on Once Upon a Time things are being constantly debated on issues minor or major to the series as a whole. Stanley Fish in an article from John Hopkins on Reader-Response Theory and Criticism states “that reading is a temporal process in which the reader constructs interpretations and repudiates them in favor of new ones.” These interpretations are the driving forces behind the debates that go behind the scenes of these shows. As a whole this creates a learning process as it requires the reader to develop theories of their own and communicate these thoughts online to other fans. Like Fish stated, sometimes we repudiate these theories based on the logic another poster might recommend. Forums are the best way to find the inner force that drives these thoughts and theories. These theories tend to revolve around major plot twists and what could be the reasoning behind certain choices. Here are some of the insights on some of the interpretive disputes going on inside of the Once Upon a Time community.

Who is Ariel?
For a character that has not even been aired yet fans have an abundant amount of questions that are circulating behind this character. Will she be one of the heroines of the show or will she be more like a siren type of mermaid beautiful yet deadly. Some of these people are trying to link Ariel with recent cast members such as Tamara who is not known to be related to any magical creature at this time on the show. Especially since everyone in Storybrooke tends has a background with magic or at least is a relation of a magical creature. According to an article on WetPaint they have a theory that Ariel could be introduced into the storyline revolving around Neverland. There is a possibility of this because of the fact that there were mermaids in Peter Pan in what was known as the Mermaid Lagoon. The consensus being that no matter who Ariel will be known to be is that they want her to be similar to her Disney counterpart like some of her other characters. My thoughts revolve around that Neverland would be the best way to introduce this character. I would rather see her be a heroine, but maybe with a dark side. However, like many others I see the ultimate possibilities for such a character.

Who is Peter Pan?
Another character seeing constant debate everyone is questioning the intentions of Peter Pan. He was more like a dark ominous creature kidnapping children away from the light hearted kid we are introduced by Disney. A theory posted by alvarado_13 states an idea that “the prophecy of Peter Pan might be similar to that of the Dark One which would make Peter Pan die in a certain amount of time.” So the original Peter Pan might be able to pass down his title to another fairy tale creature possibly one we already know. Some are leaning towards Henry being this particular chosen one or even Neal Henry’s Father because of his past history in Never Land. This history being at a point he actually lived with Darling family that Peter Pan’s shadow would frequent their window. He actually was the one that the Shadow stole to spare one of the Darling Boys of receiving that same fate.

Knowledge Communities
The internet revolution has made people in a constant state of needing information. This includes searching and scanning to the point of obsession to find out what we needed to know. The internet gives us a way to expand that knowledge to millions of people to localize information about the text. Knowledge communities use all their resources to devote time to give information about the show. Jenkins states in Spoiling Survivor that “the ability to expand your individual grasp by pooling knowledge with others intensifies the pleasure any viewer takes in trying to expect the unexpected.” Figuring out the mysteries of the show intensifies the pleasure of the viewer making this more like solving a mystery. As soon as a story line or a character drops a clue in Once Upon a Time there are people online theorizing the potential possibilities. These knowledge communities collect a certain database of information to best inform others the education behind these theories. They include up to date information telling the story’s entire character from the pilot until now. They do this by collecting information and typically posting in a blog format or even by podcast. These can be cast updates, spoilers, cast interviews, theories, and anything else relevant to the show. Currently the Once Upon a Time Wikia knowledge community now has 781 pages filled with information relevant to the show. These include character histories and even histories of the different worlds that are inhabited inside of Once Upon a Time. Trivia about the character typically might be included to provide little known facts about the character fans might not know. The page can be edited by anyone with information about the show expanding the knowledge of this community. However, to be considered reputable the people must show where they got the information.

An issue that receives constant debate revolves around who wrote the "Once Upon a Time" book. Many different knowledge communities pooled together to solve this mystery. Upon a Time Fan site actually pooled all their resources, and scanned the pages of the book that has been shown on TV. They include the text that is visible to read even the words that seem half way written off the page. Also close up images show the pictures of the story which typically are the same images we see being acted out on the screen. The book being a guide for the stories of some of these characters its natural the curiosity that surrounds this issue. This knowledge community pools together information inside the Once Upon a Time community to answer a larger question as to who wrote the book. Inside of the Wikia page on the book it describes the history of the book and every occasion that has included the book.

They also include a closer look of Rumplestiltskin’s pawnshop which some of the items inside have had connection to past characters. The goal of this localization of information creates an opportunity for the viewer to see if there could be any other hidden clues that was originally overlooked. However, sometimes the knowledge community does this solely for the pursuit of sharing knowledge or for what the fan might find entertaining. One page on the website includes all the pictures of the different outfits that the Evil Queen has worn through the show. Which shows no relevance to the show as a whole but it's quite entertaining to view.

Remediation
Once Upon a Time as a whole gives an example of remediating classic fairy tales while mixing the Disney interpretation in as well. The show has changed many of the original stories given it a modern day twist. One of the main characters Snow White does fall in love but not in the way most would recognize. She actually falls for Charming while accidentally robbing him thinking that his carriage is the Evil Queen’s. Her fairy tale persona knows how to wield a sword and to survive in an enchanted forest. Also at some point she does eat a poisoned apple supplied by the Evil Queen and was saved by true loves kiss a standard save in classic fairy tales. A vengeful Evil Queen constantly after them and swearing revenge provides another remediation of this fairy tale literature. Snow White has multiple layers making her more than her fairytale remediation. Even the known villains of Once Upon a time usually have multiple layers depicted the reasoning behind some of their actions. This includes why the Evil Queen has become to hate Snow White and why she started the curse in the first place. On the fan website onceuponafan.com they show the origin of these fairy tales with the current reincarnation of these that are shown on Once Upon a Time. Also due to the popularity of the show there are several different remediation's of Once Upon a Time. A companion novel called Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale which spoken entirely in the perspective of Emma Swan. A upcoming graphic novel titled Once Upon a Time: Shadow of the Queen which has been picked up by Marvel comics. They also have an upcoming spinoff series called Once Upon a Time in Wonderland debuting in September.

Fan Art
The best fan art depicts either a romantic pairing for the show or a favorite character. Fans use their art to describe how they interpret these pairings. One of the more popular romantic pairings turned out to be Rumplestiltskin and Belle. In the show The Beast in Beauty and the Beast turned out to be Rumplestiltskin. In this fan art Rumplestilskin appears flustered as Belle attempts a kiss wearing her trademark blue and white dress. Using remediation the artist shows in the picture the enchanted rose in the middle of the pairing. Also the tea cup in the middle of them is chipped not unlike the character Chip in the Disney movies. In a sense it’s almost reverting back to the remediation of the actual Disney version of the tale. Websites such as Deviant Art or Fan Pop includes these fan artists and it gives them an opportunity to express what they feel about a certain character.

Fan Fiction
Fan fiction gives a written form of expression of their love of the show similar to fan art. This form of expression gives the fans a sense of control on what happens in the story. These stories can be completely different to the actual story. Some fan fictions even include what would have happened if the curse never happened which the ideal core to the story Once Upon a Time revolves around. Others include hopeful happily ever endings for their favorite romantic pairings. Fan Fiction gives a discovery of the author’s beliefs on the show not unlike actual literature. These give the fans of the show a sense of belonging to a world that they have grown to love. They can express this love with fellow fans who might have similar beliefs. On Fanfiction.net there are currently over 10,620 different pages of fan fiction for Once Upon a Time. Here is an excerpt from Microsoftgirl24's story titled My Daughter Not Yours which is about the Evil Queen raising Snow White and Charming’s daughter all on her own. This villains main goal being to create hatred between the daughter and her parents.

"we have to give her, her best chance" snow finishes crying looking at charming who mirrors her own face

Charming kisses his baby girl on the head

"good-bye Emma" kissing her as well trying not to cry handing her to charming Who kisses her so hard and rushes off to get his sword and looks at snow one last time for a while and running out the room with Emma who is crying for her mother.

Regina looks into her mirror and sees snow crying for her life, and she notes that she looks so heartbroken which brings a huge smile to the witches face which fades quickly when she notices that the child is no longer with her and charming is gone as well.

" NO, he will not get away" she vanishes to the hallway to the nursery in a hurry to catch him

Charming runs down the hall with Emma and see's The Evil Queens guards take out one of his solders who he knew and was his third in command. Charming charged at them with his sword and fought with all his might and breath, one of the guards swords went near Emma but charming deflected it, while get slashed on the shoulder and killing the guards once and for all.

He ran to the nursery door and kicked it open in a rush to get Emma into the wardrobe, he put Emma in the wardrobe kissed her on the head.

"Find Us"and closed the doors but not fully by accident in a hurry.

He glimpsed to his left and turned around and was faced with another set of guards which got the better of him since he had his shoulder already injured and stabbed him in the gut. The price stumbled to the floor and fell all while looking toward the wardrobe and watched as The Evil Queens men broke open the wardrobe but before he could see inside, he closed his eyes into a sleep for many years.

The wardrobe still contained baby Emma for which charming did not close the doors fully, which in turn the wardrobe had not worked.

The guards pick up the child and exit the nursery to find the Evil Queen. Snow had a feeling something was terribly wrong and went to find her husband she wobbled trying not to wince from the pain of child-birth she was in.

"no, nooo" as she saw charming on the floor stumbling over to him, she tries to shake him awake but he doesn't move, she holds his face

"please, please come back to me " she thinks of the time he awoke her with true loves kiss and kisses him and sees it didn't work and tries again for this was not a sleeping curse but of a coma, but of course she doesn't know of Evil witch of a step mother walks in the nursery after appearing in the hallway before the door. "oh, don't worry dear, in a few moments you won't remember you knew him, let alone loved him" Regina says to her step-daughter having no worries in the world happily

"why did you do this" snow exclaims grimly

Regina bends over angrily " Because this is my happy ending" snow closes her eyes in tears.

Additional Links
Once Upon a Time Fan Site

Once Upon a Fans

Official Website for Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time Wikia