Unhappily Ever After *not safe for children*

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

I just saw another set of Unhappily ever After photos, this time done by Thomas Czarnecki's titled From Enchantment to Down. I have to say, of all the one's I've seen, this one bothers me the most. Most of the one's I've seen in the past; Ex-Disney Princesses by Anna Howard, Fallen Princesses by Dina Goldstein, Behind the Scenes Fairytales by Rosie Hardy, and Grimm's Scary Tales by EbbyLou are all photo series by female photographers and tend to be more focused on story; while Czarnecki's are incredibly violent. He says in an interview with the Daily Mail

"...his aim was pure culture shock.

The photographer was inspired to create a clash between what he calls 'the naive universe and the innocence of the fairy tales' and a 'much darker reality that is as much part of our common culture' provided through imagery we see in entertainment and media.

'So many Disney characters embedded in the collective culture as sweet and innocent creatures that I decided to get out of their recognized fairy-tale frame and universe,' he said."

What he created was a series of photos where the Princesses have been tortured, raped and killed. He mentions "Disney characters", and says in another interview he wants to "make a point that not everyone can have a happy ending" but there are no male characters in his series at all.

So I guess I'm just putting this out there to see what y'all think about these photos and the story they tell.

My Sweet Prince

Too Fast

Just A Trap

Naughty Girl

On the Other Shore

Not So Romantic

One Last Wish (this one really bothers me. You want to make a statement, make the right one, show Aladdin, not Jasmin)

One More Trophy

Happy End

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

Here is an example of the Fallen Princesses collection by Dina Goldstein.

[Buttercup Clothing]

Um wow. I have never seen this guys work until now. It just wreaks of misogyny. I don't like it. :(

[SuzieQPinups]

They are shocking but creative.  I don't like the one on the mattress.  I think that is too far but the others are just a creative concept and will be viewed different by each viewer.  I wouldn't have thought murder, rape, torture seeing these unless it was pointed out but then again, I am also a photographer and love concept shoots.

[Plum Pea Dahl {★}]

Honestly, I'm not sure what to think.  It's definitely a take on the Disney Princesses that you wouldn't expect (which I suppose is what he's going for).  Part of me wants to think the photographer is misogynistic, but another part of me thinks the photos are kind of creative.  I have to say the Cinderella one is pretty clever.  And she wasn't a victim of anyone's actions; as the title suggest, she was running too fast and fell down some stairs!  But I'm def NOT a fan of the Alice one. 

[Maggie Eliana]

Wow. kind of moving... I guess it shows the darkness of real life. But I use fairytales as a way to not only escape real life but also to express myself and to remember that there is magic out there as well, so these hit close to home! Especially Alice, as I have a major obsession with Alice... and an Alice quote tattoo. Scary!

[Ruth 'n Roll {★}]

I think the first photos are not that great to be honest. Not because I am shocked, I have seen worse, and I love horror as long as it is fiction. I think the composition is not that overwhelming and it doesn't really get to the point that I feel like something terrible is going on. They all give me the feeling that the ladies have had one hell of a party and got really drunk, except for the one of Alice. I love that one. But it might be a bit too obvious on the other hand. The photos by Dina Goldstein have got a certain comedy about them at first, but then when you think about it, they show problems society is faced with. If you take a longer look at them, they are really detailed, and thought through. I love them because they make me think about society and about the tiny horrors of what we call daily life.

[Tammy Kane Photography]

I think it speaks of someone who has tired of the happily ever after that isn't real life. I too do some child's take characters in dark lights so I like a couple of them,. Although I am not in support of rape or torture being depicted ( and children's characters make it even worse. It is the artist's expressions and many people may be drawn to it, ( I hope not to recreate it.) But as you know, art is expression and not necessarily for everyone. I enjoy depicting the dark side of these characters too but not in this fashion and I won't go that far, however some of mine are bloodthirsty or evil or such. I respect the artists right to do what he does. And it is my right not to be one of his fans because although his art is good, his subject matter isn't for me. I toy with the darkside or infer it, but there is a pont where I will stop. This is quite a bit further but then I have had people hate what I do too. So that is why I respect the artist's rights to do what he does and express his obvious anger at the happily ever after theme. I understand it very well, but I stop before I go THAT far.