Talk:Sandman (folklore)

For what it's worth, I think the Sandman should more properly be identified as Sandman (folklore) or Sandman (popular culture). I wouldn't say he's "mythical" per se.

I've researched in Wikipedia and elsewhere, and cannot find out what the sand in your eyes actually is - dried mucous? Salts crystallized out of evaporated tears? Anyone? --John_Abbe 18:10, 23 July 2005 (UTC)


 * good question... I don't know what the scientific name for this is either...  I always thought it was called "sleep" as a substance, but I'm sure there is some technical word that is more helpful to people who speak English as a second langauge.Lisa 05:43, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

Sandman's origins
i was pretty certain that the sandman didn't start out as a helpful little pixie. after all, a guy who comes into your houseat night to drug you and put you to sleep???? sounds more like a boogieman story you tell little children than anything else. (think about the lyrics of that old rockabye baby lullibye, "rockabye baby on the tree top,when the wind blows the cradle will rock..."). however, i can't find the sources for this as most of the pages on google search are bogged down by that infernal sandman comic.

in any case, i at least was able to snag this site which apparently references a story about such a sandman dating back to 1817



at the very least, there's a bit more to the myth than on first look.

i have done a review on the sandman which i hope will be of interest to some people...

'The Sandman'

Certificate: not rated (approximation PG)

Straight away, a sense of unsettling atmosphere hit me as I watched the unusual and bizarre knack of fine art. It was hard to distinguish what was happening and almost impossible to predict what would happen next. I expected this nine-minute wonder to be cheerful and Disney-like, however the sudden mood was cold and chilling. The short, intense film, directed by Paul berry was cleverly based on Hoffman’s version “Der sandman” of the traditional theme of the sandman, which was a friendly character in children’s stories. But no, in this hair-raising hostile horror, the inhuman creature, the sandman is unpredictably vicious… The film is a 10-minuite colour, puppet animation, made on a small budget in 1991, with the intention of being a taster of berry’s expertise. The main plot is; in a quiet, cold town, a boy playing on his drum is sent to bed by his mother when the clock strikes eight. He is incredibly fearful, alone in the dark with only a single candlelight and is anxious at the slightest noise or movement. He climes what feels like an enormous staircase, curiously crooked and bloodcurdling. His imagination sees things in an unusual and fearful way until he finally reaches his bedroom, but is he safe in bed? .There is a significant difference between when the boy is alone and when he is in the presence of his mother. When he is alone, it is always dark, and frightening music is played. For example, when he is walking up the stairs trying to be as quiet as possible, but steps on a creaky step, a sharp, chilling chord is played. In comparison to the first scene when the boy is downstairs playing on his drum. In this scene he is happy, there are lights on and jolly music is played. Despite the fact that no one talks throughout, this is what I think makes the film so unique and superb There are a sufficient number of different camera angles used right the way through the film. For example a mid angle shot is used when it shows you the sandman in the boy’s room. Another example is a point of view shot, when the boy is looking at his door and it seems to get further away. The camera effects used were superior, again one of berry’s qualities. Well what can I say? Not quite what I was expecting from an animated film with the title “the sandman”. It left me feeling unusually poignant since the last scene is quite a shock!

My overall Summary of the film is a 3/5. it is an interesting film to watch, although some aspects are a bit poor. For example the fact that no one speaks and some of it is maybe a little too strange to make sense. But on the other hand the film is sure to leave you thinking. Recommended for anyone with 10 minutes on their hands who likes a bit of thriller/horror every now and again. Brilliant!

By Ross Hooper.

Sandmännchen
I had to revert Bensin´s changes on Sandmännchen, because it is misleading to say that Sandmännchen was created in DDR. There were two versions. Also, no information was deleted, just reformulated. After Bensin´s latest edit the political significance of the program appears twice in the same paragraph.--Fyrfatet 06:51, 31 July 2006 (UTC)