# Somber Nursery Rhymes The 'Mother Goose' Series Puts a Dark Spin on Children's Tales By Carly Foy | Published 2011-04-19 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mother-goose References: [whitezine](http://www.whitezine.com/en/photography/in-the-playroom.html) & [behance.net](http://www.behance.net/gallery/Mother-Goose/1245917) The 'Mother Goose' photography series by Jonathan Hobin is a unique contrast to the traditional tales of childhood. Hobin, who was the mastermind behind the controversial 'In The Playroom' series, has taken the context of the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes collection and put a spin on it. Each picture is aptly named after its rhyming predecessor, such as Peter Pumpkin Eater and Miss Muffet. The [dark spin on the tales](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deddy-bears) is evident in [saddened children](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oni-kara-denwa-app) and a grimy side to the typical innocence associated with the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes collection. Hobin describes this Mother Goose series as, "[...] a collection of poems, riddles, and stories that originally were used as tools to educate, remind, or even scare children into a pattern of thought or behaviour. Although the origin of many, if not most of the rhymes, is impossible to determine, their content frequently refers to a specific historical event(s) or societal ill that has no obvious relationship to the starry-eyed innocence we often associate with childhood." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 53% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Dark Children's Tales:** Opportunity to disrupt the traditional narratives by exploring darker themes in children's literature. - **Reimagined Nursery Rhymes:** Opportunity to create new and unconventional versions of familiar nursery rhymes. - **Controversial Artworks:** Opportunity to push boundaries and challenge societal norms through thought-provoking artistic expressions. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Children's Literature:** Opportunity to introduce innovative and diverse storytelling approaches in children's books. - **Art and Photography:** Opportunity to create visually stunning and unconventional artworks that spark conversations. - **Education and Media:** Opportunity to use dark children's tales as educational tools to explore complex themes with children. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Dainty Tale-Inspired Candles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goose-creek.md) - [Whimsical Childlike Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-eternal-child.md) - [Whimsical Fairy Tale-Like Bedding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/piglet-in-bed.md) - [Whimsical Harlequin-Patterned Décor Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alices-adventures-collection.md) - [Good-Natured Mischief Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vlad-frank-midnight-mischief.md) - [Maternal-Themed Sculptural Cabinets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mother-and-child.md) - [Witty Toy-Brand Horror Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/horror-poster.md) - [Whimsical Halloween Decor Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michaels-alices-adventures-collection.md) - [Apocalypse Post Pandemic Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-urban-art.md)