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.