Jack Zipes

Jack Zipes, Professor Emeritus of German and Comparative Literature, dives into the political power of fairy tales in his book, Buried Treasures. He illuminates how these stories confront social injustice and empower listeners, arguing they’re not just for children. Zipes critiques psychoanalytical interpretations of fairy tales and highlights writers who resisted fascism through imaginative narratives. The discussion also touches on the enduring shock of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and recent Chaucer discoveries. Fairy tales, he argues, are vital for fostering imagination and empathy.