Welcome to another enchanting episode of La Befana's Table!
Dina is joined once again by the esteemed Dr. Gina Miele, professor of Italian and former director of the Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America.
Dr. Miele specializes in nineteenth and twentieth-century Italian folktales, with a particular focus on the works of Luigi Capuana and Italo Calvino.
Her current projects include an annotated translation of Luigi Capuana's complete collection of fairy tales and a study on extending the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach to education beyond early childhood to middle school, secondary school, and university settings. Additionally, she is the creative mind behind the Italian Mystics, Saints & Visionaries Oracle Deck, a captivating creation for individuals with Italian heritage or a deep love for all things Italian.
In this fascinating episode, Dina and Dr. Miele embark on an exploration of fairy tales and witches. Analyzing the dual nature of female characters, that are often represented as destructive and devouring
Challenging the traditional portrayal of women & witches as negative forces in fairy tales, Dr. Miele emphasizes the importance of considering alternative perspectives. Providing thought-provoking insights and references where listeners are invited to appreciate the complexity and richness that lies beyond conventional portrayals of witches in folklore.
Join Dina Gregory and Dr. Gina Miele on this mesmerizing journey into the realm of fairy tales and witches!
Learn more about Dr. Miele and her work here.
Key points of what we talked about:
2:23 Folkloric wisdom and fairy tales
4:24 Looking at the story from the perspective of the witch
7:01 Isolation and loneliness in the story
9:51 How to find a new way to connect
12:14 Becoming a storyteller
14:13 The magic of fairy tales
16:23 Living beyond your own personal story
Thanks so much for pulling up a seat at La Befana’s Table!
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Ep.26 The Wisdom of Folklore & Fairytales with Dr. Gina