parody

Parody

History of Fairytales

Opening of the film

The Storybook Characters

Donkey and Shrek Meet

Visit to Duloc 1

Click the titles to navigate

Visit to Duloc 2

Fiona 1

Fiona 2

Farquaad

Camera Angles

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.

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.

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.

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.

THE STORY OF SHREK:

JEFFREY KATZEMBERG

AT DISNEY

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.”

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.

• 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.

PARODIES OF FOLK LITERATURE

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.”

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.”

What do you think the purpose and audience are for

Shrek?

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;

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)

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

Traditional fairy tales

Traditional representation Evidence from fairy tales

Prince The Hero: Tall, dark handsome, brave, noble, charming, represents good.

Princess The damsel: beautiful, weak, feminine, no common sense, marries Prince, represents good.

Ogres/giants/trolls/Dragons

The baddie: inhuman, animal like, eats humans, male, represents evil.

Castle Desired: beautiful, luxurious, civilised, happy, home of good people.

Swamp/barren place

Detested: dirty, uncivilised, unwelcoming, home of evil.

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

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?

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 music in the background is old fashioned, classical and traditional, we assume the film will be the same.

The camera angle and the action is almost identical to Sleeping Beauty.

The story contains typical fairy tale phrases such as “once upon a time” and “happily ever after”.



The characters in the story are Princes, ogres, dragons and Princesses, just like traditional fairy tales.

But then…

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”.


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!


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?


The ogre also seems pretty civilised, doing daily cleansing rituals, this is making him appear like a human being.


How is Shrek being presented as a human and not as an animal in this shot?


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!


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…

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

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

The reaction of the storybook characters to Shrek’s arrival shows him as a terrifying beast


Notice the high angle shot that makes the characters look small and powerless

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.

The storybook characters run away screaming because Shrek is SO scary

Message to the audience: maybe this ogre is evil and nasty


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…

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.

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”?

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!

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


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


Shrek fails to stop Donkey, even though he is clearly irritated by him


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


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?


• 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…

Shrek’s Character: Visit to Duloc

Watch the part where Shrek and Donkey visit Duloc one more time.

• How does Donkey think Shrek should get his swamp back?

• What Shrek threatens to do to the villagers

• What this suggests about Shrek’s character

Donkey often argues with Shrek and suggests he “pulls some of that ogre stuff” to sort out the problem. He thinks Shrek is too soft!


Shrek asks Donkey if he should “decapitate an entire village […] cut open their spleens […]”, all this while eating vegetables! Viewers don’t feel Shrek is capable of this even if he wanted to.

Donkey’s constant arguing with Shrek portrays him as not even vaguely frightening.


How does Shrek’s character develops after the Duloc visit?

Make sure you include:

• How Donkey thinks Shrek should get his Swamp back• What Shrek threatens to do to the villagers• What the scene suggests about Shrek’s character


• Shrek and Donkey visit Duloc to try and reclaim Shrek’s swamp from Lord Farquaad. Donkey thinks that Shrek is too kind and should not have to ask, as the swamp belongs to him anyway. Donkey tells Shrek…

• As the film progresses we learn that Shrek…

Duloc

While we watch the visit to Duloc, think about: How Duloc resembles Disneyland; How Shrek treats Duloc/Disneyland; How the music and camera work add to the

parody.

Visit to Duloc

Lancelot is the name of the car park at Disney Headquarters.

Visit to Duloc

How does the castle appear? How is it shot?

Visit to Duloc

Here the film parodies the twisting queues at Disneyland.

The guard, wearing a mask, runs all the way through the rope queue system.

Visit to Duloc

Shrek just marches straight through. Does this symbolise the film’s attitude to Disney?

Visit to Duloc

The guard is knocked unconscious. Does this represent what Shrek is doing to Disney?

Visit to Duloc

Duloc has a turnstile system. The audience is being forced to realise that the castle represents something else.

Visit to Duloc

Another attack on Disney: Ye Olde Souvenir Shop.

Visit to Duloc

The music here is reminiscent of “It’s a Small World” at Disneyland.

Visit to Duloc

Another feature of Disney: Photos of the rides.

Visit to Duloc

Shrek warns Donkey he will get “a smacked bottom”: Could this be a allusion to all of the parents driven mad by the Disney experience?

Write about: How Shrek makes it apparent that Duloc represents Disney studios and

Disneyland; The way Duloc/Disney is depicted as a place designed to force people to

be happy within limits and spend money; How the film uses sound (the Small World theme) and camera angles

(the imposing shot of the castle) to parody Disney; What the overall impression of Duloc tells us about Disney (money

hungry, soulless, organised poorely etc); How Shrek’s actions show the filmmakers’ attitude to Disney.

You could use these phrases: Having shown the viewer that the film is not a usual Disney style

animated feature, the makers of Shrek use a visit to Duloc to parody… The visit to Duloc uses humour to parody Disney… Shrek’s attitude to Duloc mirrors the attitude of… The mise en scene is interesting in this shot as the viewer can pick up

numerous parodies and jokes such as…

Shrek’s Character: Princess Fiona

Watch the first few moments when Shrek and Fiona meet, look at these aspects:

• How he greets the Princess

• How she responds

• Why Shrek doesn’t slay the dragon

• His attitude to Donkey

• What this shows about his character

Shrek shakes Princess Fiona awake saying abruptly “wake up now, let’s go”. Shrek isn’t interested in being her Prince Charming.


Poor Fiona is disappointed there is no romantic moment, expecting the fairy tale


Even though he has been trying to get rid of Donkey he goes back to rescue him from the dragon, referring to Donkey as “his ass”.

This is a brave thing to do, very un-ogre like, he is behaving like a hero.


Write about what we learn of Shrek when he rescues Princess Fiona

Include:

• How he greets the Princess• About how she responds and what this suggests• Talk about the reason Shrek gives for not slaying the

dragon • What him rescuing Donkey shows about Shrek and his

relationship with this character

Phrases you could use:

• When Shrek breaks in to the castle he acts like an ogre when…

• Although Shrek appears violent, we learn he has failed to slay the dragon because…

Princess Fiona

As we watch a section involving Princess Fiona again, think about:

How she is different to a traditional fairytale character;

Why the creators of Shrek have chosen to portray princess Fiona in this fashion;

How this signals that Shrek is a more modern fairytale.

Princess Fiona

Write a paragraph about how Princess Fiona is not a typical Disney Princess. Think about: How she fights Robin Hood; Her appearance; Her transformation at the end Her sense of humour/habits (burping etc); Her attitude (not weak willed, submissive Disney princess); Try to mention mise en scene, sound and camera angles if you can.

Camera shots

There is a CLOSE UP shot of his mouth, giving the impression he is going to eat them

Camera shots

This is a LOW ANGLE shot to make Shrek appear like he is intimidating the soldiers

Camera shotsClose up shots show the characters emotions when Shrek and Fiona are falling in love

Angled and close up shots

The low angle shot makes Shrek and Donkey look unimportant in comparison to Lord Farquaad

Mid-angle shots

This mid-angle shot shows that both Shrek and Donkey are on an equal footing.

Mid-angle shots

This shot shows that these two characters are “on the same level”. They are connecting.

Camera shots

This shot shows Shrek’s isolation from the other characters

Camera shots

Earlier on when Shrek was trying to put up barriers to his friendship with Donkey he also turned his back

Lord Farquaad’s Evil Side

• Watch again the scenes when Lord Farquaad tortures the gingerbread man Look in particular at:

• How he is introduced to the audience

• His taunting of the gingerbread man

• What he does with the gingerbread man’s buttons

• Where he throws him


The first shot of Lord Farquaad is of his hands, showing he “means business”

The marching music makes the atmosphere tense and suggests a battle


Lord Farquaad is really enjoying torturing the gingerbread man and taunts him too before going to pluck off his “buttons”

He throws the gingerbread man in the bin. HE is behaving like a monster.

Write about how Lord Farquaad is presented in the torture scene

Write about:

• What a traditional fairytale prince is like;• Why Lord Farquaad is shown to be an evil character

(reverse the traditional fairytale);• How he is introduced to the audience;• What his treatment of the gingerbread man shows about his

character;• Then write three sentences about your impressions of Lord

Farquaad so far;

Some phrases you might use:

• When we first meet Lord Farquaad there is marching music…

• In contrast to Shrek, Lord Farquaad is cruel. He watches the torture of the Gingerbread Man and then…

Lord Farquaad’s Evil Side Continued

When he comes for Princess Fiona Lord Farquaad changes abruptly from the man we saw torturing the Gingerbread man.

He uses very formal language “Beautiful fair flower Fiona will you be the perfect bride for the perfect groom?”

Lord Farquaad’s Evil Side Continued

At the end Lord Farquaad orders the guards to “get THAT out of my sight!” and then still proclaims himself as King

Write about Lord Farquaad’s evil side

• Lord Farquaad is all set to marry Princess Fiona, until he sees that when the sun sets she…

• Lord Farquaad speaks to her in a cruel way and orders his knights to “get THAT out of my sight”. Lord Farquaad calls off the wedding, but he still proclaims ...

• Lord Farquaad is deceptive because he should only become King…

• It is clear that Lord Farquaad does not love the Princess, but agrees to marriage because he wants…

parody

Documents

story of shrek

shrek movies

shrek illustrators

walt disney

things disney

disney icons

little mermaid

jeffrey katzenberg