Rate the men of Disney!

Thank you, Buzzfeed, for providing me with hours of entertainment/procrastination while attempting to study for finals. I came across this hilarious article titled "If the Men of Disney Had Dating App Ratings" and I just have to post it! 

Click on the link for more!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliapugachevsky/if-the-men-of-disney-had-dating-app-ratings

Disney Princess's Swap Races

I recently came upon an interesting article by the Huffington Post in which the Disney princesses are depicted in different races. Here are some pictures, I just thought that it was a fun and unique article to take a look at! Check out the link for more.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/disney-princesses-made-into-women-of-color_n_1721336.html#slide=1303600

You Can Run From Disney, But You Can't Hide

While grocery shopping at Kroger, I picked up a box of grapes solely because I was sick of eating the same ones from the marketplace. It wasn't until I got back into my dorm room and was happily snacking on them that I realized for the first time that the label depicted a picture of Goofy and the iconic Disney symbol. What do "California Grown Red Seedless Grapes" have in common with Goofy? Besides the fact that Disneyland is in California, I can think of no other reasonable explanation for the grape company (I'm not sure what brand they are, and I no longer have the box) to have a connection to Disney. Quite a peculiar marketing strategy, if you ask me.

This discovery led me to recall an argument made in one of the very first articles that we read, Janet Wasko's Challenging Disney Myths. In this article, Wasko debunks the common belief that Disney is somehow "different" from other profit-seeking companies. As epitomized by this subtle yet ingenious advertising through items as mundane as produce, Disney has successfully integrated itself into our everyday lives. The more amazing accomplishment, however, is that we don't even seem to notice. Disney's presence in everyday society has become so accepted by the public that we no longer associate Disney-affiliated characters with advertisements, though that is essentially what they are. Throughout the years, Disney has developed into an inextricable icon of American culture, so much so that we are blind to the fact that Disney is just as much of a profit-seeking corporation as other companies. When your characters can be used to market fruit and consumers don't question it, you know you've made it. Kudos, Walt.

Prince Naveen and His Race, Or, Lack Thereof

After spending the last 30 minutes browsing the interwebs and exploring the question of Prince Naveen's racial ambiguity, I have come to the conclusion that the world will never know what race Naveen is supposed to represent. The more important question to consider then, is if this was an ingenious decision on Disney's part or rather a self-incriminating one. Though I failed to find any solid evidence from the Walt Disney Company itself or any extremely compelling arguments for one race over the other, I did happen upon a large number of various articles, blog posts, and journals criticizing one facet or another of Naveen's race. Like Ajay Gehlawat asserts in "The Strange Case of The Princess and the Frog: Passing and the Elision of Race", Naveen encompasses physical and linguistic traits that associate him with both India and France, two cultures that are indisputably different. 

Why did Disney feel the need to do this? Naveen's character is an artistic decision that I may never get over because I am just so perplexed as to why Disney consciously crafted him to be the way that he is. Though I have little evidence, which I believe was a purposeful maneuver by Disney to keep Naveen's racial identity as ambiguous as possible, I too will add my voice to the masses and speculate as to why Naveen essentially possesses "no race". No matter how much I thought about it, it just did not make logical sense to me that Disney would purposefully conceive such an obscure prince-- but then I realized that this obscurity was the point.

By refusing to categorize Naveen, Disney is able to get closer to achieving the paradoxically race-representing and race-blind film that it so desires. By confusing the audience enough over the topic of race through Naveen, Disney is able to mold The Princess and the Frog to address both those who believe that race is represented positively and those who believe that race is represented negatively in the film. It is a phenomenon that, at least for me, warrants enough bewilderment that, after intensively trying to discover an answer and failing, I have no choice but to let it be. It would be interesting to view Disney's true motive behind creating this film. My guess is that they felt pressured to encompass diversity in their films, and didn't know how to go about it in a "politically correct" manner that would appeal to their target audience. Thus, Naveen was born out of their desire to at once introduce "Otherness" but also adhere to the traditional European princes that are known to sell to the public. 

What do you think about the fact that Naveen strikingly resembles, to put it in Gehlawat's terms, an "extremely brown" Eric from The Little Mermaid? I, for one, am utterly mystified. 

The Princess and the Frog: The Most Complex Disney Film to Date?

With a reputation that allows no leeway for controversy, we must applaud Disney for at least attempting to address the subject of race in its 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. The lack of acknowledgement of Tiana's blackness and Naveen's ambiguity, as Sarah E. Turner argues in her article "Blackness, Bayous and Gumbo: Encoding and Decoding Race in a Colorblind World", illustrates Disney's desire to be politically correct, but their sensitivity to the topic is quite understandable. In a nation that at once places an emphasis on one's cultural background but also prides itself upon being race-blind, it is no surprise that Disney must act cautiously. Though critics may target the film for failing to truly reference race in a meaningful way, I agree with Turner's statement that the representation of color is a complex issue that cannot be viewed in black and white.

I believe that Tiana's race, coupled with her distinguishing personality traits, is enough to portray her blackness in a positive light. Contrary to past Disney princesses such as Snow White, Ariel, and Jasmine whose accomplishments are inextricably linked to the aid of their male counterparts, Tiana is characterized as a strong individual from beginning to end. Even as a small child, she shies away from the traditional fairytale of marrying a prince and living happily ever after; contrarily, Charlotte, the stereotypically white foil to Tiana's character, more closely resembles these past Disney princesses as she quests to marry Naveen and become a "real princess". While other, older Disney princesses are often saved from peril by their love interests, Tiana is the one who does the saving-- she rescues Prince Naveen from the jaws of hungry alligators, and ultimately gives him life by marrying him and transforming him back into a human. Thus, although race is not explicitly addressed in this film, the dynamic created by Tiana's empowered character and her identity as a non-white princess serve to perpetuate positive messages about race for children. In a world in which the role of race is addressed, or not addressed, differently in every situation, Disney's ambiguous portrayal in The Princess and the Frog warrants neither excessive praise or criticism. It is merely another perspective on this complex issue. 

Princesses on the Runway

One of my friends recently posted this image on Facebook and I couldn't resist sharing it with you all. It depicts the Disney princesses in the popular fashions of the year in which their movie came out. Can you still tell which princess is which? They do look quite different!

I like to think of myself as a "Disney child"-- growing up, my brother and I had a fairly large collection of Disney VHS tapes that we would watch regularly. While I still vividly remember details from my favorite films such as Peter Pan and The Lion King, though I haven't seen them for a whole decade, I have no recollection whatsoever of certain films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I'm certain that I have seen this film before, and talking to my mother reinforced this belief. However, when I sat down to screen it this weekend, I realized that I had absolutely no memories pertaining to this film. It was essentially an entirely new experience for me, which was all the more exciting. Yet, as I began to watch the story of Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Phoebus, and Frollo unfold in front of my eyes, my excitement quickly turned into astonishment.
To be entirely honest, I was not at all impressed with the film, and genuinely appalled by the first half. In particular, I found the lyrics of the songs, constantly referring to Quasimodo as a "monster" and other  harsh, derogatory terms, to be especially disturbing and unexpectedly so, considering that the film is meant for children. I strongly agree with Martin F. Norden when he states in his criticism ""You're a Surprise from Every Angle": Disability, Identity, and Otherness in The Hunchback of Notre Dame" that "the film seems to preach acceptance of society's Others but is in fact an embodiment of bogus "political correctness"". Though the happy ending is identifiably "Disney" and preaches the cliche of accepting others not for their external appearance but their inner character, this resolution does not sufficiently discredit the blatantly biased, critical portrayal of Quasimodo throughout most of the film. Yes, he gains acceptance by the community for his rescue of Esmeralda and protection of the cathedral, but the evidence throughout the film implies that this acceptance is conditional-- if he had truly been integrated into society, why does Esmeralda end up with Phoebus? The resolutions of most Disney films are distinctly characterized by heterosexual relationships, so it is all the more significant that Quasimodo ends up alone and partnerless. Thus, Disney's ultimate message does not equate disabled people with normal, functioning members of society but merely elevates them past the status of children. Personally, I believe that Disney made a mistake in attempting to adapt such a classic, dark tale into a child-friendly animated film. Not all works of literature are meant to be "Disney-fied". Though I do not believe that The Disney Company had ill intentions, the oversimplification that is so characteristic of Disney films (and understandably so, given the target audience) ultimately rendered this film offensive towards people with disabilities.

Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Hijab: Common Western Misinterpretations of Muslim Culture

Erin Addison's article titled "Saving Other Women from Other Men: Disney's Aladdin" explores the film's stereotypes in relation to gender roles. In particular, Addison criticizes the popular belief that Western culture is preferable for women than restrictive Muslim practices. I found one argument in the article to be especially interesting: "Jasmine's tangled personae epitomize the confused Euramerican interpretation of hijab as imprisonment by Muslim men". Like many Americans, I am largely ignorant of the religious and cultural meanings tied to the hijab, equating it with oppression because that is how it is portrayed in the media. Thus, in this blog post I will seek to debunk myths associated with the hijab-- myths that, according to Addison, contribute to the false depiction of Middle Eastern culture in Aladdin.
While the hijab can indeed be viewed as a vehicle through which women are repressed in certain countries such as Saudi Arabia that mandate its use, many Muslim women also consciously choose to wear the hijab as an indication of their faith. The hijab is inextricably linked to the Islamic belief that women should present themselves modestly, encompassing not only their style of dress but also their general demeanor. Covering other parts of the body (except hands, feet, and face) is just as important as covering the head; the hijab is not especially significant as mandated by the Qu'ran, but rather has gained prominence as a symbol that distinguishes Muslim women from women of other faiths. Though the hijab is often viewed by Westerners as an object that limits freedom, Muslim women choose to wear it for a myriad of reasons. Contrary to our beliefs, some Islamic women view the hijab (and the modest style of dress that accompanies it) as liberating in that it allows them to be appreciated and valued for their minds rather than their physical beauty. All of this knowledge helps to shed light upon aspects of Islamic culture that we, as Americans whom celebrate traits such as individuality that seem at odds with modesty, have trouble grasping. Only by looking past these cultural barriers can we hope to begin to understand some of the immense differences that characterize the various belief systems within our world. Films such as Aladdin, though entertaining and seemingly harmless, play a large role in perpetuating misperceptions. Perhaps the time has come for us to reconsider the notion that "The American Way" is always the best way.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Islam/Galleries/Why-the-Hijab.aspx

Mulan: My Alter Ego?

My friends back home have an ongoing joke that I resemble Mulan from the popular Disney animated movie. While going through my old pictures, I recently discovered this gem that I was forced to pose for, against my will. Looking back though, it's pretty funny so I thought I would share it with you all! Enjoy!

The Little Mermaid

After struggling through my first midterm in one of my classes on Tuesday afternoon, I was definitely not in the best mood. Not wanting to start my other homework yet, I decided to watch The Little Mermaid first. Barely even twenty minutes into the film, I found myself in a remarkably better state of mind. Happily singing along to "Part of Your World" and "Under the Sea", two of my favorite Disney songs, there was no way that I couldn't be happy. Thanks to Ariel, Eric, Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle, my day dramatically improved for the better.

Later that night,with the details of the film still fresh in my mind, I sat down to read Roberta Trite's "Sub/Version of Andersen's The Little Mermaid". In her efforts to prove her argument that the Disney version is more shallow, materialistic, and sexist than Andersen's original story, Trite ultimately alienates her audience by adopting a point of view that is extremist. Personally, I found myself disagreeing with almost all of her assertions because she took everything just a little too far- her credibility was greatly diminished by her inability to provide evidence for her exaggerated claims. To cite just a few examples:


"Disney's message is obvious: If children are needlessly repressed, they may rebel by developing obsessive behaviors that cause them to reject their identity."

"Ariel's new obsession becomes the type of worship that makes the individual seem somehow larger than life and better than the rest of humanity. This implies that the only beings worth marrying are those who are perfect and that perfection is not only somehow attainable but is actually necessary for a man to be loveable."

"Ursula's corpulence underscores the anorexic appearance of Ariel's figure."

"Evils comes in the form of  a woman who covets the power of the male phallus. Ursula lovingly caresses Triton's trident while he is holding it. Her penis envy is stereotypical."

There is hardly any proof to warrant any of these four assertions that Trite confidently makes. It is far from "obvious" that Disney's message in creating The Little Mermaid was to illustrate to parents the repercussions of repressing your children; though Ariel's actions are rebellious, it is a far stretch to say that she is rejecting her identity because she feels repressed. Her fascination with the human world stems more from curiosity than anything else, as evidenced from the lyrics of "Part of Your World. Similarly, Trite's belief that Ariel's "worship" of Eric implies the necessity of perfection in relationships is utterly an exaggeration- nowhere in the film is Eric depicted as "perfect" or "better than the rest of humanity". Lastly, the comparison made between Ariel and anorexia is unnecessary, as is Trite's strange focus upon the largely nonexistent "sexual symbols" within the film.

Though I can understand how, in some ways, Ariel's obsession with becoming human and be with Eric can be seen as materialistic and sexist, I do not believe that this was Disney's intent. Rather, I view Ariel's disregard of the differences between the mermaid world and the human world as a message promoting acceptance. As Ariel and Eric's relationship illustrates, physical differences should not separate humans; it is character that is truly important. The closing scene of The Little Mermaid in which humans and mermen/sea creatures alike unite in celebrating the wedding of Ariel and Eric symbolizes the integration of all people notwithstanding race, social class, or ethnicity. When viewed in this light, the film encourages the audience, especially children, to be open-minded and accepting of cultural differences.

Disney Engagement Rings

While scrolling through my Twitter timeline, I recently came across this fascinating tweet about Disney-themed engagement rings. I was not surprised to find that this tweet, by one of those generic Twitter accounts that often clogs up our timeline, had a few hundred thousand retweets. I browsed through a few of the replies and, from what I saw, many girls were enthusiastically embracing this creation. This sparked my interest in exploring more about Disney-themed jewelry, so naturally I did a Google search and found some beautiful pieces that I have shared in the links below. Disney has created an empire that knows no bounds. The prevalence of Disney jewelry is merely one example of the the extent to which Disney movies and characters foster creativity and permeate all aspects of culture, a phenomenon is truly amazing to witness.

more rings
 creative Disney jewelry
disney princess wedding dresses

The History Behind the Films

     Tracey Mollet's article "With a Smile and a song" brought to my attention the fact that many Disney movies incorporate significant historical context into their plot lines. Though the knowledge that a film is heavily influenced by the events of its time period seems obvious, the idea that Disney movies are historically symbolic is often overlooked due to the nature of the productions. While some critics view works such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as mere forms of adolescent entertainment, deeper analysis reveals that these films are often a commentary upon the social happenings of the time.
     I found it extremely interesting that Mollet was able to make connections between so many aspects of Snow White and the culture that pervaded the era of the Great Depression. Specifically, I was intrigued by her argument that the Wicked Queen represented the superficiality of the 1920s that led to the stock market crash, while Snow White represented the 1930's mid-Depression values of patience and virtue. However, I cannot help but wonder to what degree these historical consistencies were intended by Walt and The Disney Company; I am curious as to which aspects of the film were designed to convey a message about society at the time and which aspects were simply designed for the purpose of the film itself. Nonetheless, this article definitely helped me to gain a new perspective on Disney movies and their inherent complexities. Approaching these films as simple forms of entertainment is to overlook the valuable insight that they can provide upon the development of American culture throughout the twentieth century and into the present.

Disney Pajama Party

     Last night, one of our female RAs organized a get-together in the common room for all of the ladies of Brown. Though I was only able to stop in for a few minutes due to an Investment Club meeting, I found myself amidst a group of pajama-clad women lounging on the couches painting their nails, snacking on junk food, and watching Disney films. The atmosphere was very laid back and everyone seemed to be having a great time.
     The first image that comes to mind when one thinks of "college women" could not be further from the one that was being lived out in our common room on a Sunday night. Considering that we are currently at an age in which we value our maturity and identify ourselves more closely with adults than children, I found the entire situation slightly ironic--it reminded me distinctly of my childhood slumber party experiences. Due to popular stereotypes surrounding Disney and its perceived target audience of adolescents, one does not typically associate Disney with teenagers or adults. However, I am noticing more and more that our generation is unwilling to let go of our connections to Disney and our favorite animated characters. As nineties' babies who were born alongside some of Disney's most popular, successful films, our childhoods are inextricably tied to Disney because the corporation had such a large influence upon American culture as we were growing up.
     As alluded to in many of the articles that we have been exploring in class, the Disney films of the nineties, in comparison to previous works, especially sought to cater to a wider audience of both children and adults. As a result, movies such as Aladdin, The Lion King, and Toy Story retain much of their appeal even as their viewers mature and age. This characteristic may in fact increase the enduring popularity of these films; personally, I love watching Disney movies and comparing my perceptions of them now to those from when I was a child. Similar to the experience of re-reading the same novel after many years, viewers of these films are able to pick up on new details and elements of humor with each subsequent screening.
     For all of these reasons, I believe that our generation will continue to celebrate Disney even as we enter the realm of adulthood. In the years to come, it will be immensely intriguing to witness the ways in which Disney influences both adolescents and adults, as well as American culture as a whole.

Under the Sea

One of my favorite bands, Timeflies, does a great cover of the song "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid. By mixing a well-known chorus with contemporary rap verses and a catchy beat, Cal and Rez create a work of art that is both unique and classic. This song is just one example of Disney's lasting influence on culture and the ease at which it can be adapted to suit different purposes.