This was originally written just as TV's 'Sleepy Hollow' was premiering last year. I really like it, but it is, of course. unrelated to the original story. You should read the original by Washington Irving. It is amusing, too.
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| Fox's Ichabod in past and present Sleepy Hollow |
Much like the Disney-fying of all fairy
tales on TV's 'Once Upon a Time,' -where the characters become
unrecognizable in a soap opera format- Ichabod Crane's name recognition
has transformed him to action hero, a polar opposite to what his
creator, Washington Irving, intended.
Is this a bad thing? Probably,
especially if folks never read the original source materials on these
folk stories and tales. Here we have a serious erosion of higher level
thinking and great themes of literature. The original stories are
actually more amusing and profound, even when Disney did them in the
first place.
Will I watch Fox's 'Sleepy Hollow.'
Yeah, I will. I really like Roberto Orci's work, and the interaction of
the Revolutionary period and current times compels me.
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| Steampunk Ichabod. |
How did this happen to Ichabod? Johnny
Depp's Ichabod, in the 1999 'Sleepy Hollow' film, transitioned Ichabod
to a sleuth from a schoolteacher. It was a horror movie, with Ichabod
finding the superstitions to be actuality. Part of the humor in the
original story is that as Ichabod relates the old wives' tales to the
old wives of Sleepy Hollow in the introduction of the story, he scares
himself, too. There is plenty of inference that the Headless Horseman
was probably a ruse.
So now the pedagogue (Irving's words) becomes time-traveling adventure hero. And a captain in the Revolutionary Army.
But is our true Ichabod, the nerdy,
gawky, lady's man lost to the new generation of readers? Hope not-- "The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow" in the original version by Washington Irving
was required reading in seventh grade til about 10 years ago. It is
really funny. Kids can see the character development, make a plot
diagram, and predict the outcome. The short story is great for
developing literary chops while demonstrating why we read literature in
the first place: enjoyment.
So, let's enjoy all the versions.
The last link is a summary of introducing kids to the original Ichabod,
and links to Disney's hilarious version of Sleepy Hollow. Why not
compare and contrast the old and new? That would be very enjoyable.
The new Ichabod:
Tom Mison To Star As Ichabod Crane In Fox’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’ Pilot
Sleepy Hollow new trailer introduces Ichabod Crane
The oldest Ichabod:
You might also enjoy this summary of the
original Ichabod. Disney's version always delighted all my classes,
K-12. Even the high school seniors laughed aloud. It is a poem narrated
and sung by Bing Crosby.
Tis the Season: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Tis the Season: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Tis the Season: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Tis the Season: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
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| Ichabod an action hero? Not in the mind of creator Washington Irving |
