Unfurling Stories

Photo by The Curated Feast

“The thing that doesn't fit is the thing that's the most interesting: the part that doesn't go according to what you expected.” – Richard Feynman

The process of working with natural plant-based dyes is a lot about embracing the unexpected. Rolling rose petals, plum leaves, turmeric, and onion skins into a piece of silk—and after fixing the dyes, this moment of unfurling (in the photo) is always about the surprise of what you’ll get. Stories are often like that, although many narratives we assume that we know. Little Red Riding Hood goes to granny’s house, is followed by a big bad wolf, and the wolf gobbles up granny, then pretends to BE granny, and eats Red. They remain in the wolf’s belly until the woodsman arrives and cuts them out.

This version was the most common in my childhood, but this is the very prudish Victorian re-telling. The older French and Italian versions have explicit references to sex and cannibalism, which were perhaps very wise edits, given the new intended audience being children.

Explore many more common tales that may not be at all what you expected: join us for the next Curated Feast on September 15 & 16.