Racism in Disney Animated Films

After watching the excerpt of documentary from class, I keep thinking about it. Maybe I can’t stop thinking about it because I never consciously noticed the racist views in Disney animated films as a child. Or, maybe it is because I have loved Disney my whole life and now have come to realize that some of my favorite films have racist ideas. I want blog about some of the ideas presented in the documentary in my conflicted state.

I found the comment made by one of the professors on the documentary that we watched in class very enlightening. She said something like it doesn’t matter if the racism in Disney animated films was intentional or not, the fact of the matter is that it there and has the same effect as if it were intentional. This quote made me realize that either the creators of past Disney movies (the more recent ones have been more progressive and sensitive and less racist) are either ignorant or blatantly racist. Honestly, I am not sure which one is worse.

The documentary also pointed out that real people write the scripts and draw the cartoons of Disney animated films. Too often we assume that Mickey Mouse himself writes Disney animated films. In this way, Disney animators and writers hide behind the innocent and harmless face of Mickey Mouse. The public then assumes that Mickey Mouse and transitively the Disney animators and writers can do no wrong. This assumption is dangerous and gives Disney animated films the benefit of the doubt and the license to produce pretty much anything. It is imperative that we remember that Mickey Mouse does not make Disney animated films. Rather, the creators are adults with human like tendencies. They make mistakes, have prejudices, and develop stereotypes. Unfortunately, whether intentionally or unintentionally, these prejudices and stereotypes are expressed through the animated films they create.

Those who defend Disney animated films and their racist views often cite that these films are simply a reflection of the times. Many of the most racist films were created during the 40’s and 50’s when segregation and discrimination were rampant. Many animated films after the 50’s that have racist views can often be attributed to who the United States was at war with at the time. For instance, the movie Aladdin was being made during the Gulf War and was released shortly after the war ended. The movie reinforces false stereotypes about Arab culture and characterizes the whole culture as violent, barbaric, and oppressive towards women and the poor which is simply not true.

The reason that the racism in past Disney films is problematic today is because children still watch those films. Often, these films are American children’s first exposure to other cultures. For instance, a five-year-old American child may have little experience with Arab culture. When this child sees the movie Aladdin and is presented with stereotypes and prejudice views, the movie will affect their perception of Arab culture in a negative way. Even though most of the Disney animated films were created over 20 years ago, they can still influence children today.

While I still love Disney and most its films, I am glad that I learned about the darker side to its animated films. It is becoming more apparent that there are multiple perspectives and sides to everything in the world including Disney animated films, and it is imperative to listen to every side of an argument to get the full picture. Hopefully, Disney will continue to release films like Zootopia and no longer include racist views in their films so that they are a positive influence on children.

Response to Wreck-It Ralph

Live Blog:

I love this movie!

It is interesting because the villain in the video game is the main protagonist and eventually the hero. I love the Bad-anon. All the villains from the arcade games get together to talk about their feelings. It shows that the villains have more than one side to them. Even though they can’t change their programming and become good guys, they don’t see themselves as bad guys. “I’m bad and that’s good. I will never be good and that’s not bad. There is no one I would rather be than me”

 http://www.rotoscopers.com/2013/03/11/blu-ray-review-disneys-wreck-it-ralph/url-1/

The first time I saw this movie, I remember thinking that it was such a creative and novel idea. I still think it is a really cool concept. It’s really interesting how the quality of animation shifts between characters and arcade games.

The people in the game who live in the apartment complex are so mean to Ralph. “You’re just the bad guy who wrecks the building”

“Negatory” “Does that mean maybe?” Haha

Wreck It Ralph may be the first Disney movie with a strong woman who leads men. Sergeant Calhoun is characterized as just as if not more fearless and capable than the men she leads. However, Disney still objectifies women’s bodies through Sergeant Calhoun’s suit.

http://wreckitralph.wikia.com/wiki/Sergeant_Calhoun/Gallery?file=Calhoun.png

This movie blends the line between hero and villain and how we as an audience define each one. Ralph was the one who caused the Zi Bug to infiltrate Sugar Rush and lead to the infection of Sugar Rush. However, he also saved the game from Turbo and let Vanellope rise to power in her deserved position.

“Are you a hobo?”

I love Vanellope and all of her funny comments! She is so cute!

All the racers are girls. This works to get rid of the stereotype that only guys are supposed to be racers.

Ralph also knocks over innocent bystanders in the stands of the track. This  further confuses his role as either a hero or a villain.

I feel like every character in this movie has multiple sides. In earlier Disney movies, characters were portrayed as very one sided: either good or bad. However, in this movie, characters are portrayed as having multiple sides. They have a mixture of both good and bad aspects. Ralph helps Vanellope build a cart and stops the other racers from bullying her but then he betrays.

“What did win the medal for? Wiping?”

Not only does this movie challenge the definition of a villain but it also differs on its portrayal of heroes. Fix-It Felix is not the stereotypical male hero. He is not tall or muscular but he is selfless and courageous.

http://wreckitralph.wikia.com/wiki/Fix-It_Felix,_Jr._(character)/Gallery?file=Felix_x_Calhoun.png

Wreck-It Ralph also differs from other Disney movies in that it focuses on characters’ back stories like Sergeant Calhoun’s tragic wedding and Ralph’s 30 years of being treated badly. It explains why characters act the way they do.

King Candy/Turbo ends up being the villain in the end. Unlike previous Disney villains, the audience does not know that the character is villain until the later part of the second half of the movie.

At the end of the movie, I still not exactly sure who falls in the hero category and who in the villain. However, I think that is the point. No one fits inside the social categories we have made for the world.

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Wreck-It_Ralph_(film)?file=Ralphnew002.jpeg

#news

I can't wait for more Disney live action remakes! According to TeenVogue we should expect remakes of Mulan, The Lion King, Aladdin, Dumbo, Cruella, Peter Pan, Snow White, and The Little Mermaid!

http://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/disneys-live-action-remakes

#toofunnytuesday

https://www.tumblr.com/search/princess%20and%20the%20frog%20meme 

#true

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/309622543112782456/

#funfriday

https://www.pinterest.com/Warriorcats12/ruined-childhood/

Response to Princess and the Frog

Princess and the Frog (2009)

Live Blog

The racial differences are evident from the first scene. The rich Charolette lives in a huge house in a wealthy neighborhood. She has tons of dresses, a cat, and a puppy. Tiana’s mom is the girl’s dress maker, and Tiana and her mom live in a smaller house in a poorer community.

When Tiana and Charlotte grow up, the differences only grow. Tiana works two jobs and doesn’t have time to have fun or go out with her friends. She has a dream of opening her own restaurant. On the other hand, Charlotte does not work and only wants to marry someone.

Tiana’s mom wants Tiana to meet her prince and have a happily ever after. However, Tiana wants to focus on her career and doesn’t have time to focus on anything else. She seems like the first career oriented princess. That’s cool! In this way, The Princess and the Frog is more progressive and feminist than Aladdin and Pocahontas.

Additionally, unlike Aladdin, the main protagonist does not have a traditional American accent and does not look European like Aladdin.  

The white men who are in charge of giving her the restaurant thought that “a little woman of your background would have had her hands full trying to run a big business like that.” They justify not giving her the restaurant because it took her so long to save up. It is also implied that they don’t give her the restaurant because of her race and gender. After encountering this discrimination, Tiana does not give up on her dream and continues to wish for her dream.

This movie is also less racist and ethnocentric than Aladdin and Pocahontas. It celebrates New Orleans culture and includes applauds traditionally New Orleans cultural norms like jazz, gumbo, and Mardi Gras.

The villain is a Voodoo Shadow Man. Voodoo originated in West Africa but came to Haiti and New Orleans during the slave trade. Although the Shadow Man gives Voodoo a bad reputation, Mama Odie serves to show a Voodoo in a more positive light. However, it does seem as if Disney simplified and stereotyped a rich and complicated religion.

A major reoccurring theme in this movie is that the only way to get what you want in the world is through hard work, not through wishing on a star. It seems like Disney is trying to make up for past movies that led children to believe if they simply wish for something it will happen, like in Cinderella.

I love Louis the alligator and Raymond the firefly! They are so cute and funny!

Similar to how Aladdin outwitted Jafar, Tiana and Prince Naveen outsmarted the frog hunters. All Disney protagonists seem to trick antagonists at some point in the movie.

“You gotta dig a little deeper to find out what you need.” I like how Mama Odie doesn’t simply fix their problem for them. Instead, she encourages Tiana and Prince Naveen to think of what they need themselves and how they can fix it for themselves.

In the end, Tiana buys the restaurant and accomplishes her dream. Her restaurant is extremely successful and she and Naveen fall in love. She also realizes that love and family are more important than working all of the time.