Rediscovering the Power of Fairy Tales in a World of Shovelware

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Illustration of Little Red Riding Hood by artist Foeshel, featuring a dark and stylized take on the classic fairy tale. Little Red, dressed in a bright red cloak, stands in front of a massive, menacing wolf with glowing red eyes and sharp teeth. The black-and-white forest background adds to the eerie atmosphere, with the wolf looming ominously over her.

As I worked on my recent series of illustrations—Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, a tattooed Little Mermaid, and Baba Yaga—I found myself thinking deeply about the stories that shaped my childhood. These tales, with their stark morals and timeless lessons, resonate with us because they are built on universal truths. No matter which country or culture you come from, these truths are part of what it means to be human.

From fairy tales to folk stories, these timeless narratives teach us about good and evil, courage and fear, love and sacrifice. They speak to something fundamental within us. Yet, as I reflect on these older tales, I can't help but feel a sense of loss when I look at how storytelling has evolved in the West, particularly in Hollywood. It seems as though the stories being told today have strayed far from those essential truths, and I wonder if the creators behind them even know what a hero is anymore.

Illustration of a modern tattooed Little Mermaid by artist Foeshel, featuring the mermaid with a red fish tail and tattoos on her arms and body, including 'War and Peace.' The black-and-white underwater scene has pops of red, with the mermaid joyfully interacting with a bright red fish. Surrounding details include seaweed, bubbles, and small fish, adding to the whimsical, contemporary twist on the classic fairy tale.

Tales with Morals: A Kernel of Truth

Fairy tales and folk stories have endured because they convey moral lessons that feel true, no matter the time or place. Whether it's Little Red Riding Hood warning us of the dangers of naïveté or Alice's journey through Wonderland teaching us the value of curiosity and defiance against rigid norms, these stories are rooted in truths that transcend cultures.

These tales didn’t just entertain—they gave us a way to understand the world. The hero’s journey, the battle between good and evil, the triumph of hope—these are narratives that have stood the test of time because they reflect something deeply human.

But what about the stories we’re seeing today? Much of modern Western media, especially Hollywood, feels like it's lost touch with this. Instead of narratives that build on these fundamental truths, we’re being fed stories that seem more interested in subverting those truths or inverting the idea of a hero altogether. There’s often no clear moral center, no deeper message beyond spectacle.

Star Wars: Holding On to Truths

I grew up with Star Wars, a modern myth that honored these timeless principles. It was, at its core, a battle of good vs. evil, with Luke Skywalker representing the hero’s journey. What made Luke a hero wasn’t just his ability to wield a lightsaber; it was his willingness to sacrifice himself to save his father, Darth Vader. Even after discovering that his father was not the man he thought he was, Luke still believed in the possibility of redemption. And in the end, this faith in the kernel of goodness within even the darkest souls proved true.

That’s what storytelling used to be about—heroes who were willing to sacrifice for something greater, who inspired us to believe that good could prevail even when it seemed impossible. But in today’s media landscape, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to locate stories that hold on to these truths. Instead, we’re seeing more narratives where the lines between good and evil are blurred to the point of meaninglessness. In shows like Star Wars: The Acolyte, we see stories where the bad guy—or girl—wins. It’s as though they are trying to rewrite these universal truths, to suggest that heroism, sacrifice, and hope are outdated concepts.

Illustration of Alice falling down the rabbit hole by artist Foeshel, inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland.' The black-and-white artwork features hints of red and blue, with Alice tumbling into a surreal world surrounded by playing cards, the Cheshire Cat, a white rabbit, and other Wonderland elements. A large key and pocket watch emphasize the whimsical nature of the scene.

Modern Storytelling: Subversion Without Substance

There’s a current trend in storytelling where subverting expectations seems to take precedence over telling a meaningful story. It’s as though creators are trying to be clever for the sake of cleverness, without asking whether their twists serve a deeper purpose. Heroes are torn down, their journeys deconstructed to the point where it feels like they never really mattered in the first place.

It reminds me of the shovelware era in the gaming industry—a time when games were churned out for profit, quantity over quality. Today’s Hollywood content feels similar: shallow, mass-produced entertainment that lacks the moral core and universal truths that used to define the best stories.

I don’t mind dark or complex stories—on the contrary, I’m often drawn to them—but I miss the days when stories weren’t afraid to honor those truths about humanity. It’s as if modern storytelling has lost sight of what made those older tales resonate. The result is that we’re left with narratives that feel empty, where even the heroes don’t stand for anything anymore.

Hope in Indie and Eastern Storytelling

But all is not lost. While much of Western mainstream media seems adrift, I’ve found hope in other places. Independent creators in the comic world, as well as smaller-budget films, are still telling stories that remember the importance of character, moral conflict, and resolution. They haven’t forgotten that, at the heart of every great story, there’s a kernel of truth that speaks to something universal.

And then, of course, there’s Eastern media, particularly manga, which continues to thrive with rich narratives and complex characters. These stories are grounded in the same timeless truths that made Western fairy tales and folk stories so powerful. They show that even in a changing world, the fundamental human experience—struggles between good and evil, the search for purpose, and the desire for redemption—remains the same.

But even here, I worry. The influence of Western money is creeping into these spaces, with big companies buying up Eastern publishers. I hope they don’t lose the unique storytelling tradition that has kept these tales alive, and I hope that the core truths within them remain intact.

Holding On to Timeless Truths

In the end, no matter how modern storytelling tries to twist or rewrite them, these universal truths cannot be erased. They are part of us, ingrained in our collective consciousness, and that’s why fairy tales and folk stories still resonate. These stories remind us of the best parts of ourselves—our ability to hope, to sacrifice, and to fight for what is good, even when the odds are against us.

So, while today’s media may seem bleak at times, I believe there’s always hope. Just as Luke Skywalker found goodness in his father, even within the darkest armor, we can find these timeless truths in the stories that shaped us. And we can also create new stories—stories that honor the essence of what it means to be human.

At the end of the day, even if modern media loses sight of these truths, we can always return to the old tales. We can continue to tell stories that matter, stories that remind us of who we are and who we can be. Because as long as there are storytellers who understand the power of truth, there will always be hope.

Illustration of Baba Yaga by artist Foeshel, depicting the Slavic witch flying through a forest on her mortar and pestle. The black-and-white artwork features subtle hints of red, adding an eerie touch to Baba Yaga's face and broomstick, with skulls adorning her neck and waist. Leafless trees in the background emphasize the dark, mystical setting.