Ok, so why’d you have to go and pop my Disney bubble? I was perfectly happy watching Disney movies for the story, but now am going to have to analyze every second of the next Snow White or Little Mermaid film I watch? I never once thought to look at the undertones of each film, looking for racist or misogynist messages. I never thought to because I was young and saw the story for what it was, not an outlet for ideology and prejudices. Now that I think about it, one certainly can find abuse in Beauty in the Beast, an anti-feminist message in Snow White and a general Women-need-to-be-saved-by-a-strong-handsome-man message in about every other movie. Of course, you have to be looking for these messages to find them.
Despite all this, my allegiance still rests with the Disney Corporation. Lets just look at the first layer in each film. Lets see Mulan as a coming of age story, where a young girl, through courage and compassion saves her country and hey! brings home a man as a bonus. Lets not say that her progress of shucking female stereotypes is negated by the fact she finds a man. You know what? We all want someone to love and to love us, and yes, Mulan is included in this. The story would most definitely be missing something if she came home without handsome Shang. Granted, Mulan would have been a great film without him, but without a doubt, he completes the picture and makes the “And they lived happily ever after” possible.
So say what you will, but I remain a Disney supporter with dreams of princess dresses and handsome prince charmings.
I also solidly stand behind Disney. I think they are a wonderful company that attempts to spread positive images to our generation's youth. I agree that we can find these subliminal messages simply because we are looking for them. Anyone can analyze a popular media outlet and accuse it of relaying false or unrealistic information. I don't think it's entirely fair to blame the Disney enterprise for our countries issues.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you both. I think its so hard to bad mouth a corporation that for so long has built our childhood. Kids don't sit and look for the racist or sexist moments present in each movie. I think parents are just using Disney as something to place the blame. Disney has done so much for our society and children that we shouldn't be bringing out the negatives just cause. What true danger or harm is Disney causing in our society?
ReplyDelete