Childish or Childlike: Labyrinth and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Growing Up

After an unexpected hiatus, Risking Enchantment is back. In this episode we’re taking a look at some classic family movies and what they can tell us about our attitudes towards growing up, and our modern tendency to stay in a perpetual adolescence. We’re looking at the kingdom of Vulgaria in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, where children are illegal but the toy maker is in high demand from the Baron and Baroness. We are also discussing Jim Henson’s Labyrinth where Sarah goes on a journey to leave behind some of her childish ways, and toys, in order to step up to her responsibilities and make new friends.

 

Hosts: Rachel Sherlock, Phoebe Watson

Follow me on social media: @seekingwatson

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @riskingenchantmentpodcast

Find out more at www.rachelsherlock.com

Sign up for our email list at www.rachelsherlock.com/podcast

 

Works Mentioned:

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Labyrinth (1986)

“You Have No Power Over Me”: When David Bowie Was Satan (A Tribute Of Sorts)

"You Remind Me of the Babe With the Power": How Jim Henson Redefined the Portrayal of Young Girls in Fanastial Movies in His Film, Labyrinth

Everyone needs to grow up

Childless society gone to the dogs, warns Pope

"On Three Ways of Writing for Children" by C.S. Lewis

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

"The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot

"How T.S. Eliot Predicted the Coming of Male Millennials"

"The Drift from Domesticity" by G.K. Chesterton

 

What We're Enjoying at the Moment

Phoebe: A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter

Rachel: Offerings by Typhoon (album)