6. Psychosocial Connections

              "PsychoSocial Disney Culture." PyschoSocialDisney. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. 

In this anonymous blog, a writer discusses the relationship of Ariel to an average teenage girl. While in the blog, she discusses the Ariel from the Disney film, it is easy to make similar comparisons to the character in Andersen's book. The blogger explains how she bickers with her father over common household rules, such as don't date that guy, and come home when I tell you to. She also displays acts such as not going to her music class and running away to find her own way, which also appear in the book. Although Ariel is a mermaid, the intent of the character was to show that all teenage girls are all crying out for their own independence and to be able to make their own way in the world. The author of the blog also explains that while many teenagers rebel, Ariel was shows how emotions lead to the rebellion. While Ariel had a better outcome and was permitted by her father to live life on her own. Andersen's character instead sacrifices her life and is granted a life as a spirit air. It shows younger readers that there are consequences for the actions people make, not all will end up with death, but by showing the more extreme side effect, readers will understand to be weary of your decisions. 

                                      5. Work of Art 

                            "Bio." Elena Helfrecht Photography. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. 

                                                
Elena Helfrecht created this work of art. The art is simply called The Mermaid. This work of art represents a woman who is in transformation from a person to mermaid, or vice versa. The connection of this piece to Andersen's story is shown through the art for his mermaids transformation. In the book, she wants to be human so badly, she will endure anything it takes to make it happen. This art work shows just how truly painful that can be for an antagonist. 

                                       4. Movie: Mermaid (Pycaaka)

                              "Russian Film." : Anna Melikyan: Mermaid. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. 

                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=62&v=Wb0TF1fTx3c

The film "Mermaid" is a Russian film by Anna Melikyan. The movie is a modern day re-telling of The Little Mermaid. In this version, the main character of Alice is sent to be raised in a mental institution and stops talking after setting a house on fire that she saw her mother having an affair in. She soon discovers that she has a bit of magic inside of her and can use it to help others. Upon her eighteenth birthday, she is released. She then meets and falls in love with a man named Sasha, whose life she saves. This story, like many other re-tellings of the Little Mermaid also does not end well for the main character. Sasha chooses another woman over Alice and Alice is hit by a car at the end of the film. 

                       3. Song- Merman by Emiliana Torrini

                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDIv6_5POTs

                                                     

This song, "Merman" is sung by Emiliana Torrini is about a person who desperately wants to be with someone else. The song connects to The Little Mermaid in that the mermaid in Andersen's story was so desperate to be with the man that she loved, marry him, and gain a soul that she would go to all lengths to do so. The two connect also in that the hero in does not always win. While the song does not specify what the outcome of such love is, it does give off a sense of need and lust. The mermaid spends days looking for the prince's home and can not find peace without knowing more about him. Both the song and book give off a sense of being a prowler on the part of the lover.  

                                            2. Novel 

 Guy, Rosa. "My Love, My Love, or The Peasant Girl." Coffee House Press. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. 

                                                              

"My Love, My Love, or The Peasant Girl" is often described as a re-telling of Andersen's novel The Little Mermaid. The story tells about a young girl named, Desiree- Dieu Donne who lives on a small Caribbean island. In a similar sense to Andersen's story, Desiree falls in love with someone different from her, saves his life, makes an incredible journey, and in the end is left alone. The stories both tell of love and loss and showcase a hero who is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their loved one alive. 

             1. The Original Story of The Little Mermaid

"The Little Mermaid." Hans Christian Andersen:. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html

                                                          

The story of The Little Mermaid is known to most as the Disney cartoon about the red-headed, strong-willed, adventurous teenage mermaid that risk so much to meet the love of her life. She gives up her voice and family to meet her dream man above the ocean, is deceived by the evil sea witch, and then fights her way to true happiness. While this is the story we are all familiar with, it is not in fact, an accurate portrayal of the real story created Hans Christian Andersen.  In Anderson's version, the littlest mermaid is intrigued with the human world, a certain prince, and the ability of attaining a soul to get into heaven. She meets with the evil queen and exchanges her tongue for a pair of legs. If she marries the prince, she gets her happily ever after. If he chooses someone else, the mermaid will become sea foam. In this version, the mermaid does not get her happy ending. Instead, she sacrifices her life to save the prince and due to her well meaning, she becomes sea air and will need to do good deeds for humans for the next 300 years to obtain an immortal soul.