I'm fascinated with the stories that we tell. Real histories become fantasies and fairy tales, morality tales and fables. There's something interesting and funny and perverse about the way fairytale sometimes passes for history, for truth.

Kara Walker’s quote, "I'm fascinated with the stories that we tell. Real histories become fantasies and fairy tales, morality tales and fables. There's something interesting and funny and perverse about the way fairytale sometimes passes for history, for truth," reflects her exploration of how history and narratives are shaped and distorted over time. Walker, a renowned artist known for addressing themes of race, identity, and power, speaks to the way stories—whether factual or fictional—can evolve into something far removed from the truth. In particular, she is intrigued by how fairytales, which are often fantastical and filled with moral lessons, can sometimes become intertwined with historical accounts, blurring the line between fact and fiction.

The quote emphasizes the distortion of history and how events are often reinterpreted or romanticized to fit certain narratives or ideologies. Walker points out the perversity in how myths or fairytales can be passed off as historical truths, a phenomenon that has occurred throughout time in various cultures. This highlights how history is not always an objective recounting of events but is often shaped by those who tell it, making it subject to manipulation and bias. The funny and perverse aspects of this process lie in how easily stories, even when fabricated or distorted, can become accepted as truth by society.

Walker also speaks to the power of storytelling in shaping perceptions of reality. By blending fantasy with reality, we create stories that resonate with people on a deeper emotional or cultural level, even if those stories aren't strictly factual. The morality tales and fables that she refers to serve as examples of how societies use narrative to enforce values or explain complex ideas in simplified ways, often overlooking the nuances of real history in favor of more digestible, and sometimes idealized, versions.

In essence, Walker’s quote invites us to reflect on the role of storytelling in shaping collective memory and how the line between truth and fiction is often more fluid than we might expect. It challenges us to think critically about the histories we consume and the narratives we embrace, recognizing that the stories we tell—whether they are fairytales or historical accounts—can deeply influence our understanding of the world and our place in it.