Anne of the Twenty-First Century?

[ladymirth]

You know, I really wonder what a modern adaptation of Anne of Green Gables would be like. True, the quaintness of the place and time period and a good deal of the P.E.I charm would be lost. But in essence, I believe it would work, if realistically done.

Of course, Anne couldn't be half as innocent or naive as she would be in the nineteenth century. I also can't decide whether the current child protection and foster care system would screw her up more than what she faced then or not. I think it's an interesting social commentary that the orphans that appeared in popular culture in earlier times (when children traditionally had a lot less state protection and care) were portrayed as being bright, hopeful and less traumatized by the tribulations they faced than the average fictional orphan today. Nowadays, any orphan forced through the system is cast as rebellious, psychologically scarred and "problem children". I wonder whether it was because people believed more in original sin than psychology, or whether they expected children to be responsible for making the best of whatever rough hand life had dealt them without fuss. Or do we create juvenile delinquency in disadvantaged kids because we expect them to be incapable of functioning normally?

To get back on track, I wonder how the premise would need to be re-written if Anne were modernized. Perhaps Marilla and Matthew would be a reclusive brother and sister who had decided to take a new approach to being Good Samaritans and newly registered themselves as foster parents. Maybe then the boy-girl mix-up could still happen. I suppose Anne's chattering would be made out to be an expression of her pychological trauma or something, or a method of emotional self-defense. *shrug* Because otherwise, orphans are usually made out to be untrusting and uncommunicative.

The real problem with reworking a modernized version of Anne Shirley, is that "Carrots" does not fly as an insult in the twenty-first century. The only people facing discrimination via hair-color these days are blondes. *grins*

Maybe Anne could be fat, or too thin, or something. Or too pale. But it wouldn't feel the same.

Besides, it would be odd not to have the legendary slate-breaking scene. She could probably bung Gilbert over the head with his cell-phone or something. But it wouldn't be the same either.

I'm having far too much fun musing about this. Seriously, though, that would be something worth seeing.

Comments

[laramoon.livejournal.com]

The real problem with reworking a modernized version of Anne Shirley, is that "Carrots" does not fly as an insult in the twenty-first century. The only people facing discrimination via hair-color these days are blondes. *grins*

I beg to differ... In a society where "blondes have more fun" (and, quite possibly, more boobs) and brunettes still make up pretty much the majority of girls, redheads still get teased for being somewhere in the middle, but not quite one of the "normal" colors. Though I agree "carrots" isn't much of an insult. "Freckles" might be, tho. ;)

Of course, we're talking about kids too young to die their hair, here -- cause I'm betting by the age of 14 most girls have odd flashy hair color that's not natual anyway.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

I beg to differ... In a society where "blondes have more fun" (and, quite possibly, more boobs) and brunettes still make up pretty much the majority of girls, redheads still get teased for being somewhere in the middle, but not quite one of the "normal" colors.

But red hair is so pweety! It always looks so alive!

"Freckles" might be, tho. ;)

What's wrong with having freckles? I thought people like freckles. I don't care for them myself, but I thought that was just because they were just strange to me, since most of us brown folk don't have any.

Of course, we're talking about kids too young to die their hair, here -- cause I'm betting by the age of 14 most girls have odd flashy hair color that's not natural anyway.

*Is rather sad that 14-year-olds will never be able to appreciate their natural hair.*

[just-ruth.livejournal.com]

As the husband of a redhead and having redheads in the family, "Carrots" or more specifically "Carrottop" is still an insult.

Why shouldn't Anne come from the foster care system? There are a lot of good people who do their best by the kids in their care and these kids do not turn out to be "damged." It would be refreshing to read about good foster parents.

In fact, to make it more like people I know, Marilla would be Meryl and he and Matthew would be a stable, established gay couple. Finding the local judiciary squeamish about adoptions, they agree to be foster parents.

They would be given a girl because, well, heavens they're gay - who knows what would happen if they were given a boy. It would be easier for Matthew to say "all right, we'll take the girl," rather than start the difference between a homosexual and a pedophile debate.

Throughout her school career, Marirose carried an agenda - it was a calender for the school year with roughly three pages per month for notes and scheduling. It was a fair sized spiral bound hardcover book and would not have been fun to be hit over the head with.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

As the husband of a redhead and having redheads in the family, "Carrots" or more specifically "Carrottop" is still an insult.

I immediately thought of you as Mrs. Weasley, but then remembered you had only one kid. Shucks. *g* Also, "Carrottop" reminds me of the Archie comics.

In fact, to make it more like people I know, Marilla would be Meryl and he and Matthew would be a stable, established gay couple. Finding the local judiciary squeamish about adoptions, they agree to be foster parents.

Brilliance! *Does dance*

Throughout her school career, Marirose carried an agenda - it was a calender for the school year with roughly three pages per month for notes and scheduling. It was a fair sized spiral bound hardcover book and would not have been fun to be hit over the head with.

It is a good thing that Marirose does not have Anne's quick temper and sensitivity to red hair, then. =D

Does she?

[just-ruth.livejournal.com]

Well, Jack's family has a couple of redheads in it too. *grin*

No, Marirose does have a temper, but she has my grandmother's lightning tongue and hasn't resorted to violence. :)

[kemidra.livejournal.com]

Or do we create juvenile delinquency in disadvantaged kids because we expect them to be incapable of functioning normally?

Never read AoGG, but as far as that quote goes, I think there's some truth to that. I mean, it obviously doesn't explain everything, but I do think that when kids feel your expectations are lower for them than they are for other kids, they'll lower their behavior to match. That's what I did. I maintain that I might have had a shot at a happy childhood were I not convinced by my family that there was something wrong with me, that I was incapable of living a normal life and caring for myself. I didn't really start to shape up until my early twenties, when my sister told me I was capable of holding down a job and paying rent and I was moving in with her and that's that. *grin* I wish my laziness and lack of focus as a child had been treated the same way. If Melis hadn't stepped up who knows where I'd be today. Probably still with the belief that I am a non-functional human being.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

You sound so much like my sister. She's more intelligent and talented than I am, but she has this huge inferiority complex which isn't helped by my entire family treating her like she's mentally retarded or something. Dad had no qualms packing me off alone abroad once I finished school, but they all quake in their shoes at the thought of sending her to university overseas.

The girl is nineteen years old! Nuff said.

Melissa is your older sister? I always supposed she was the younger one, somehow. Maybe because you sound like the more assertive one. I honestly can't picture you as the shy, self-doubting type. Maybe there's still hope for my sister yet. =)