Fairy Tale Romance

[vovat]

I was thinking recently about how much my love for fairy tales influenced my taste in what I find aesthetically pleasing, including with members of the opposite sex. It's not that I sexualize children's literature, and in fact I'm a little disturbed by those who do. I don't care about your private fantasies, but I don't think Jellia Jamb is the type to bathe naked in public. Nonetheless, I think children's fantasy and its illustrations were such a significant part of my formative years that they couldn't help influencing my preferences. I don't have a sexual attraction to Ozma (after all, she's only supposed to be, like, fifteen in her appearance, despite actually being older), but I can't say John R. Neill's pictures of her didn't contribute to my love for girls with flowers in their hair.

I feel that the pin-up style, which has recently become a minor obsession for me, owes quite a bit to classic illustration, and that's definitely a point in its favor.


Along with this is an attraction to some physical features that might be considered childlike, like pigtails and cute dresses.

Okay, that's a wig, but I think it illustrates my point.

I have, however, seen some pictures of girls who took this WAY too far. I feel that this kind of thing too often gets lumped in with a fetish for helplessness, and I'm not into that. It hits way too close to rape and pedophilia for me. I'm attracted to forthright, mature women who are still in touch with their childlike sides. My wife bethje carries a Sanrio purse (her current one has Chococat on it), and she's asked whether it's too childish for a girl of thirty-one to still use something like that. I don't think it is; in fact, I find it endearing. If you're the kind of person who thinks it's immature to watch cartoons or browse the young adult section at the library, I'm not sure we could be friends.

Comments

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

I agree, from the other side of the gender spectrum-- I think my tastes in style are pretty much rooted in the same thing. That's why I technically go for a "flowy, hippie" look, but I think that's actually some subconscious attempt to be a fairy-tale princess. Or just a fairy.

And I think being afraid of seeming immature is a sign of immaturity.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

You mean a "flowy, hippie" look in ladies?

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Well yes, in ME. My personal style. Inasmuch as I have a personal style.

In gentlemen I prefer non-dress collared shirts. Not particularly interesting there, though.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

And I think being afraid of seeming immature is a sign of immaturity.

I believe C.S. Lewis said something of the sort as well.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

And then he wrote in one of his books, "And then Aslan told the kids that they could never return to Narnia, but they need not worry. The nonstop excitement of Christianity is cooler than even the coolest imaginary land filled with videogames and puppydogs and chocolate milkshakes."

[vovat.livejournal.com]

"You can't go to Narnia, but you can go to church." "Yaaaaay!"

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons I like that guy!

[kevenn.livejournal.com]

What a lovely collection of pictures, Nathan. :)

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I like the one in your icon, too.

[ex-marissam.livejournal.com]

"If you're the kind of person who thinks it's immature to watch cartoons or browse the young adult section at the library, I'm not sure we could be friends."

:) A man after my own heart! This was a fun post.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope I enjoyed writing it as much as you enjoyed reading it. Or something like that.