Classics like Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Alice in Wonderland, or Frankenstein, despite their transformations throughout history, remain fundamental in culture. The cultural industry uses television adaptations, theatrical plays, and infantilization to keep these stories alive and generate income. Alice in Wonderland is a clear example of how a work can survive and evolve in a constantly changing cultural context.
Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, was more than a writer; he was an art patron and an expert mathematician. His migraines and micropsia, also known as "Alice in Wonderland Syndrome," influenced the creation of a work where, apparently, nothing makes sense, but everything fits together. Alice's popularity soared when Walt Disney adapted it to the big screen in 1951. Kate Bailey, Senior Curator of Theatre and Performance at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, highlighted that many people first encounter Alice through this film, as she commented during the presentation of the exhibition The Worlds of Alice at CaixaForum València.
“"When we ask people when they first heard about Alice, they agree it was because of the 1951 film."
Victorian exaggeration, philosophical messages, and parallels have contributed to Alice's enduring relevance. Its popularity is linked to the work's evolution and the philosophical ideas it presents. Álvaro Borrás, director of CaixaForum València, states that "it is a generational and transgenerational reference." From Disney's animated film to Tim Burton's version, Alice has changed, evolving from a 9-year-old girl to a teenager facing the responsibilities and fears of maturity.
Another case is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a work both acclaimed and criticized. The story of a doctor who creates life from body parts and then abandons his creation due to its monstrous appearance, leading to tragedy. Criticism of the work grew due to its "scientific arrogance," questioning humanity's ability to create life. Guillermo Del Toro's 2025 version presents the monster as a sensitive creature seeking understanding, moving away from the original malice and exploring the complex relationship with its creator.
Over the years, literature continues to adapt to attract new readers, demonstrating its capacity to reinvent itself and remain relevant over time.
