‘Belief’

Michelle Napolitano by Zara Boyd

As a little girl, Michelle Napolitano found delight and wonder in the fairytales and elaborate stories told to her by her parents, but as she grew her up and the novels lost their visual appeal, her ability to engage and concentrate started to decrease. In this interview we discuss childhood belief how it changes as we age, and touch on how stories shape and help guide our morals as we grow.

Zara: I’m interested in the childhood nostalgia aspect of belief, and I wanted to start by asking you about your childhood beliefs, sort of like Santa or the tooth fairy? Did you have any childhood beliefs which stand out to you? Anything which as a child you remember truly believing?

Michelle: I definitely believed in Santa and the tooth fairy. My parents were extremely generous with gifts whenever they would “visit”. I remember believing in these things being really enjoyable, it adds so much spirit to whatever holiday or event you are celebrating, I think the fantasy element of it also adds some sort of mystique which, through the eyes of a child, is really wonderful.

Zara: and did you have any favorite stories or fables you remember loving in particular? 

Michelle: Yes! Goldilocks and the Three Bears was my favorite! I have very fond memories of my mother reading me this storybook. I remember really visualizing the forest and how cool it would be to talk to bears, I really grew into the idea that bears are very friendly because of this story. I really loved all animals… but especially bears for this reason. 

Zara: and you continued to enjoy reading and stories as you grew up?

Michelle: I really enjoyed these stories, and continue to enjoy stories in general, but I’ve always had a hard time paying attention without the aid of something visual. So as I grew up, and books lost their color, reading and indulging myself in stories has become increasingly difficult. I wish you could buy those super complicated wordy novels, with the beautiful, saturated graphics and fantastic fantasy colored spreads you get in children’s fairytale books. That whole aspect of children’s literature really appeals to me, even though my reading has moved past Goldilocks now!

Zara: Is that something you wish you could change if you could? Being able to focus on a story or enjoy a novel?

Michelle: Yes, although having a short attention span can have its perks when it comes to being creative, it is really difficult to enjoy stories when I can’t even make it through the first twenty pages!

Zara: Yes I can imagine, it must be so hard to have such a love for something like reading but finding it hard to enjoy or engage with it-

Michelle: Exactly! It’s not as if its something which has a dramatic impact on me, it’s something I’ve learned to adjust to. I think maybe as a child you have more engagement with the stories because when it’s a parent reading them to you there’s a sort of added connection and interaction, but also because of your juvenile belief system, these fantastical narratives feel so real and tangible

Zara: Many of our adult beliefs and expectations are based on things we grow up seeing in movies and reading in stories- think Disney. The plots and fates of the fictional characters create these expectations of how we hope our lives will go. Can relate to this statement? Do you have any expectations or goals which you think are influenced by your childhood fairytales?

Michelle: Absolutely. I think the common theme of someone, often a prince, saving the day for the main character is an unhealthy trope. I think that’s why people often have trouble forming their own ideas, and being your authentic self can be hard when there is expected to be someone doing it for you. Because of this, I greatly admire people who are true to who they are- not ashamed to express themselves without the influence of someone/something else.

Zara: A belief I also think is so important to have, especially at art school where almost  everyone trying too hard to change themselves-

Michelle: I think that’s something about coming to Parsons which I find hard,  everyone feels too much pressure to stand out and be overly exaggerated. I mean, I have no problem with people experimenting, I understand that it takes time to really find yourself and settle on a personal authentic aesthetic, but I feel like there’s a lot of people who are dressing the way that they do and saying they like certain things purely for the fact that they think it will attract other people and make them in turn more popular, which I think is a toxic mindset. I am by no means someone who can do it fully, being authentic to your own style and what appeals to you without being swayed by what others-  it’s an impressive moral to have and practice-

Zara: going back to belief- do you think that it is important for our beliefs to be shaped from childhood? Do you think you should retain your childhood beliefs as you get older

Michelle: No, I think that it is more important that your beliefs are authentic, and this might take years to establish. Your beliefs from childhood are often too heavily influenced by your parents or some form of bias media, and you lack the life experience to think for yourself and truly believe what you believe. 

Zara: and stories and fairytales, do you think they are important in shaping our belief system? The ones with important life lessons or morals of course- think ‘ The Frog Princess’ and ideas about giving people a chance, or not to judge from appearance?

Michelle: Oh I definitely agree with that, I think for me I have tried to uphold the values from my childhood fairytales, much like you say ‘The Frog Princess’. These sorts of moral beliefs don’t necessarily influence your whole belief system, not like religion or politics does, but they help shape your personality and teach respect towards different aspects of life.

Zara: and have you got a favorite moral from a fairytale?

Michelle: My favorite moral? I like  ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ and how its moral was to respect other people’s’ situations. Goldilocks was selfish to have entered the bear’s homes, lay in their bed, and eat their food without their permission and the bears are understandably upset by this. This moral is one that I still practice today… respecting other people’s beliefs and decisions for as long as they do not affect you and as long as they are not harming others.