there are a NUMBER of folktale Woman-Creatures like selkies who exist to make the inherently coercive nature of heterosexual marriage explicit and to externalize male anxiety about how if your wife had actual autonomy she very well might disappear and you might never fucking hear from her again
which is a FASCINATING category of Woman-Creature imo
someone said it’s also a cautionary tale about mistreating your wife and I think that’s spot on especially for other related types of stories e.g. the crane wife. like I think these stories are very much Husband Anxiety Stories. the Woman-Creatures are black boxes whose interior experience it is impossible to know and who have strange and often seemingly arbitrary rules that you must follow or else they will disappear. idk. like. that’s why I think that any empowering-to-women-ness qualities of these stories is incidental. I think they’re externalized anxiety about coercive societal heterosexuality and the inability to truly Know one’s wife in such circumstances.
While taking a nap today I dreamt there was a hazard sign called “never found” which was used to indicate a location where people disappeared never to be seen again
ALT
it looked like this
The imagery and vibes of this were so visceral I had to do art about it
I love folklore so much because depending on the location and era it comes from it’s either the most terrifying concept or the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard
Mexican Folklore: You think this place is a Normal Location? Tch. You fool. Everyone knows this place is the SCARY Location.
British Folklore: There’s a little Beast in your house… make sure you give it the necessary porridge……. otherwise it might turn to mischief…….
German Folklore: For the love of God, do NOT trust hot people and do NOT trust babies and do NOT trust short men and do NOT trust Christmas and do NOT trust sausage and do NOT trust the elderly and
US Folklore: This Giant Boy From Texas Is God’s Favorite
ALT
