Okay. Not really. I love Disney and I love Disney movies. But I'm breaking up with the idea that Disney is a special snowflake that can't do any wrong. Disney is problematic, and the company's refusal to change certain aspects of the media they produce makes it inherently worse. When a wealthy, powerful company refuses to change negative and offensive aspects of their output, they don't deserve excuses. They have the resources to take risks and put feminism, people of color, and LGBT + relationships in their movies. But they don't.
Disney, I love you. But something that is aimed at young children should not make them feel like they only have one path.
The article we read in class, by Deborah Ross, was cynical and hard to read. It sucks reading something so negative about something so key to your childhood. But Ross makes some good points-despite the messages Disney movies may try to make, abandoning those ideas and having their hero or heroine take a cliche path by the end of the movie is lazy. It's problematic. There is no room for creativity, no room for ideas in the Disney scenario:
Girl hates boy, girl is saved by boy, girl falls in love with boy, girl and boy get married, they have their happily ever after.
The ideas Disney have are great! Snow White is kind and fair, Belle is smart and strong, Ariel is a dreamer and very independent, Rapunzel is brave, Tiana is hardworking, Mulan is a leader, and Anna and Elsa embrace who they are.
But Snow White's only brought back to life by her prince. Belle ends up married, so does Ariel. Rapunzel spends very little time by herself, because she goes from living with Gothel to living with Eugene. See the dilemma?
It's one thing to come up with revolutionary (and true) ideas-that women can have dreams: Ariel wants to be able to live on land. That men can have mental illness: the Beast has depression, self confidence issues, and anger problems. That women can be leaders: One word. Mulan.
But instead of coming up with creative stories, Disney takes the easy way out and marries off their characters. If there is no marriage, the characters are forced into relationships. (Anna does not marry Kristoph, but they do have a relationship.)
Disney-follow your own advice. Use your imagination and create stories about diverse men, women and people. Break up with your cookie cutter, heteronormative, white washed romances that punch us with gender roles.
Twin, I am consistently amazed by your writing. You are truly wise beyond your years. I am inspired by your insights and can relate to your feelings, especially when you say "But I'm breaking up with the idea that Disney is a special snowflake that can't do any wrong. Disney is problematic, and the company's refusal to change certain aspects of the media they produce makes it inherently worse". Everyone loves a good story, a good movie, one that makes you feel good at the end....that's why this critical lens work is hard and uncomfortable. Another point that you make, "But something that is aimed at young children should not make them feel like they only have one path." Soooooo true...what if you are a young person who does not fit into the traditional Disney mold? do you feel less like a princess? less like someone will love you and you will have a happy ending? And lastly....your last line should be a bumper sticker that I would proudly display, "Disney-follow your own advice. Use your imagination and create stories about diverse men, women and people. Break up with your cookie cutter, heteronormative, white washed romances that punch us with gender roles".
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