In class (lecture) yesterday, I asked if we have to play by the system to beat the system and the professor said yes. Following this logic, if Disney had originally began making childrens' movies about homosexual couples, they would not have received the same welcoming they did in their start up days. Though I do agree that is a sucky system, Disney had to play by the rules to achieve their success. They are slowly pushing their limits - a movie came out a few years ago with the newest Disney princess - an African American girl.
On the Disney channel, many of the main television shows star powerful driven girls. Younger kids are being exposed to ideas that I was definitely not exposed to at their age. This leads me to believe Disney is being progressive in the best way they can. They could always be doing more - but as the professor said, sometimes you have to play by the rules of society to change them.
So, if we keep repeating this same cycle of playing by the rules, changing the rules, playing by the rules - society never truly changes, or does it?
Harleen, this is a great point! I full-heartedly believe in this statement! I am OBSESSED with anything Disney....yes I'm a freak in that way. But I'm one of many who have fallen over Disney's spell. Many of the public are also able to fall under this trap because of Disney's use of vibrant colors and picturesque endings.
ReplyDeleteBut Harleen brings up a great point! Disney was able to use their power to prove a statement: the introduction of a new concept to bring a spotlight to the minority. Most of Disney princesses start their journey as the underdog. Disney is able to present this minority group and show their potential in society to bump up to royal status.
Anyways, I just wanted to go off of what Harleen was saying and share my thoughts :)
I found this article about a new Disney princess for young girls. While they are clearly trying to teach young girls lessons about sharing and being kind, they have a chance to really change the influence they have on girls at a young age with a new character. (I personally think not having a princess would be a better choice).
ReplyDeletehttp://jezebel.com/5867685/what-the-world-needs-now-a-new-princess-marketed-toward-little-girls
This is also another article linked on that page that is related and quite interesting:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/12/12/disney-princess-sofia-girls/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ew%2Fpopwatch+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+PopWatch%29
I completely agree with Harleen. Eventhough we look at Disney movies as horrible examples of society, we need to understand that the people at disney are making conscious efforts to incorporate other aspects of society into the films.
ReplyDeleteGreat thread here. I wonder what's going on with capitalism and gender with Disney? Are we excusing their production of gender norms because they are a highly successful corporation? It is true that Disney features girls in their narratives but are the messages actually empowering for girls or are they reinforcing normativity? Is it possible to be progressive and normative at the same time? Does the princess narrative rely on women being rescued, does it promote competition or reinforce the idea that only certain girls will be happy and chosen by the prince? What about those of us who will never be a princess or don't want to be a princess? Are we not normative and less successful?
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