Dark Tale

When you use the expression "dark fairy tale", you run a considerable risk of getting caught up in a tautology. On one hand, themes addressed in the fairy tale realm can be seen as a symbolic transposition of ancient initiation rites intended to mark the stages of an individual's growth within a given society. On the other hand, they can be seen as a tool aimed at resolving psychological problems inherent in this growth process (grief/loss, Oedipal conflicts, narcissistic frustrations, existential angst, subconscious aggression). In short, the terrain is rife with symbolism and hidden meanings, the result of belief systems of an adult reality that, deliberately transformed, end up projected into the fantasy dimension, creating a sort of training ground or simulator that allows the child to confront emotionally charged subject matter and work through it in a completely safe environment.

Since you're prone to encounter highly threatening and anxiety-provoking content within such tales, it's not surprising that some contemporary authors have come to discuss the "omnipresence of Evil", which leads us smack-dab into that tautology mentioned earlier.

Basically, this Tag sets out to group together stories that:

• Feature children or teens in pivotal roles;
• Draw from the world of fairy tales, even if they're not directly related to them (for example, they might have a real-world setting as far as time and place, or else they might shy away from classic catharsis, giving rise to ambiguous or pessimistic endings;
• Emphasize the dark side, treating "shadowy" and "wonderous" as two sides of the same coin while highlighting a penchant for horror.