Leigh N. Eldred Portfolio - Fairest: Transmedia Storytelling Project

Fairest:

Transmedia Storytelling Project

UX/UI Design & Writing, Branded Merchandise Design for Marketing, Graphic Design, Video Production, & Coding for Front-End Development

Stories shape the way we see ourselves and view the world. Through transmedia storytelling, I examine classic tales as metaphors for the broader human experience, so that we may identify how these themes led to transformative change in our own lives. I reimagine timeless narratives so they may connect the original themes to modern contexts through various media.

Website Design

Fairest: Transmedia Storytelling Project Website

(UX/UI Product Design, Graphic Design, Video Production, & Web Coding)

Behind the Design

The Grimm Brothers' tale of Snow White explores the relentless pursuit of beauty, power, and control which manifest in the modern struggle with vanity, envy, deception, and repression. This transmedia storytelling project reimagines Snow White under the overarching theme of “Fairest", connecting its original message to the modern day.

The Grimm Brothers' storybook tale reflects the universal experience of comparison and the suffering it may bring. Throughout history, societal beauty standards have shaped self-worth, elevated status, and dictated power.

In this story, the Queen’s narcissistic desire to be deemed the fairest in the land leads her to attempt assassination through objects that symbolically represent her sinful nature. Each of the Queen’s assassination instruments serves as a metaphor for contemporary struggles. These sinful devices are the ax for power and competition, the bodice laces for restrictive societal expectations, the comb for harmful beauty standards, and the apple for deception masked by temptation. Her struggle with vanity, envy, deception, and control are as relevant now as they ever were.

The narrative remains a cautionary tale that warns readers of the danger that accompanies the obsessive pursuit of external perfection. Much of human behavior is persistently governed by the question of who is fairest, but true fairness may only ever come from within.

Behind the Design: Fairest Transmedia Storytelling Project video

Fairest: Snow White’s Dark Truths

The Grimm Brothers' storybook tale of Snow White reflects the universal experience of comparison and the suffering it may bring. Throughout history, societal beauty standards have shaped self-worth, elevated status, and dictated power. In this story, the Queen’s narcissistic desire to be deemed the fairest in the land leads her to attempt assassination through objects that symbolically represent her sinful nature. Her struggle with vanity, envy, deception, and control are as relevant now as they ever were.

Dominance & Envy

Believing that Snow White’s beauty eclipses her own, the jealous queen feels that her elite status is threatened. To protect her power, she maliciously orders the execution of one she is charged with protecting. She selects the huntsman as her proxy, so the ax may become her instrument of oppression.

It is a fairly common phenomenon for those with authority to endeavor to cut others down when pressured by their beauty, talent, or rising influence. Unwitting competition may be ruthlessly eliminated by unethical means from reputational assassination to political maneuvering.

Supremacy & Repression

Enraged that Snow White survived the assassination plot, the Queen elects to suffocate her very existence. She opportunistically constricts her through exploitation of a basic need. She selects bodice lacing as her instrument of suppression.

It is a fairly common phenomenon for those in control to exert it oppressively to constrain autonomy and identity. Personal freedom may be unethically restricted by social constraints, gender role views, and various forms of abuse.

Vanity & Insecurity

Furious that Snow White escaped control, the Queen devises a plan to prey on her youthful lack of confidence. She offers the promise of external validation through a device meant to cultivate beauty. She selects the poison comb as her instrument of manipulation.

It is a fairly common phenomenon for those faced with unrealistic beauty standards to seek enhancements that may endanger their lives. There will always be profiteers who unethically reinforce the false belief that natural beauty is insufficient.

Temptation & Deception

Incensed by Snow White’s resilience, the Queen devises a simple plan that will take advantage of her trusting nature and naiveté. She duplicitously lures her with harmlessly appearing fare. She selects a juicy apple as her final instrument of enticement.

It is a fairly common phenomenon for those with a false sense of security to be faced with predation by charlatans. Predatory figures unethically disguise scams as opportunities, misinformation as alternative facts, and grooming as innocent diversion.

A Grimm Reflection

The Grimm Brothers’ Snow White remains a cautionary tale that warns readers of the danger that accompanies the obsessive pursuit of external perfection. Much of human behavior is persistently governed by the question of who is fairest, but true fairness may only ever come from within.