|
Aladdin Central Messageboard
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Spartan Girl
Agrabah Citizen
Joined: 01 May 2006
Posts: 68
Location: Lansing, MI
|
 Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:50 am Post subject: My thoughts on the Disney Princess |
 |
|
I have a blog at http://spartanchic.blogspot.com and I also write for an online newspaper called Spartan Edge (http://www.spartanedge.com). Anyway, a little while ago, I was inspired to do a commentary about the Disney Princesses. I thought I would share it with you:
| Quote: |
For this blog, I was inspired by Pink's wonderful new hit single, "Stupid Girls." I like it because it rings true to how society seems to glorify the spoiled starlets of today. Come on, do we really want girls growing up idolizing Paris Hilton? So anyway, I got thinking about other "role models" for young girls, and then I started thinking about the animated female characters of Disney--some of which are considered the most unrealistic of women, and not just because they look thin.
I remember that one of the staff members of my high school newspaper wrote an editorial about how much the Disney girls disgusted her. While I must admit that she had some valid points concerning their appearance (i.e. they're all beautiful and thin), I don't think all of them deserve so much criticisim. In fact, when you compare more "modern" ones (I say "modern" because Disney hasn't made a decent animated film in years, aside from Pixar) to the ones of the past, they've actually evolved quite a bit.
Let's take a look at the more popular--or most advertised--Disney animated women:
Snow White- Yes, she was first and one of the sweetest Disney princesses, but when it comes to brains, she comes up short. As a runaway fleeing her evil stepmother, you'd think she'd be a bit more wary of trusting strangers, let alone a sinister-looking old woman! And believing that tripe about the "magic wishing apple"? Come ON!!! And on a related note, didn't anyone find it a bit creepy that the prince kissed her when she was supposedly dead? Maybe it was a sign of love and respect, but if you tried that at a funeral today, people would think you're a necrophile.
Cinderella- Okay, let's forget for a moment that she married the prince less than 24 hours after she had met him. Aside from all that, she did behave with dignity as she was made a slave in her own house. Any other girl in her place would have whined about how badly her stepmother and stepsisters treated her, but except for the part after they destroy that pink dress she was going to wear to the ball, she keeps a stiff upper lip throughout most of the movie, which is very admirable.
Sleeping Beauty (a.k.a. Briar Rose/Aurora)- I really don't have much to say about her, because the title speaks for itself. The only part of the movie when she wasn't comatose was when she was singing with the animals, dancing with the prince in the forest, and oh yeah, her melodramatic reaction to finding out that she's really royalty and she's engaged a guy she thinks that she has never met. There's not a lot of personality here, folks. Also, my previous comment regarding the whole necrophile thing in Snow White doesn't extend to the prince in this one because he actually knew about the spell.
The Little Mermaid- I know Ariel's gotten a lot of flack over the years; in one of Meg Cabot's books, she is regarded as "a feminist's worst nightmare because she abandoned her own species to secure a man." Like that makes her different than the previous characters? When you really think about it, Ariel is actually a step up from them. Even if it was only in the first part of the movie, she saved a guy's life. I think she was the first Disney heroine in history to save the prince instead of the other way around. Yes, she can come off as silly and immature, but so is almost every other sixteen year old girl in the United States. As for her being so skinny, most of the sea creatures in the movie both talk and help out in many situations, so merpeople couldn't eat them? Therefore, what do they eat? Maybe they eat plankton and seaweed, which would explain it.
Belle (from Beauty and the Beast)- Belle is the one Disney princess I could relate to most. She liked books, she didn't have the golden looks most Disney princess before her had, and she couldn't stand that ***hole Gaston. I knew two guys in high school that were just like him. Not only was she intelligent, she was also was the first Disney girl that didn't fall in love at first sight. She wasn't willing to put up with the Beast bossing her around, which is a good message to those that are in destructive relationships. Yes, she did stay with him, but only because he got hurt trying to save her life. What's most important is that she fell in love with the Beast before he changed into the handsome prince. So all in all, Belle is a good role model for girls. And her gold dress? Gorgeous.
Jasmine (from Aladdin)- Another step in the right direction. You know in the first version of the movie, Jasmine was kind of a spoiled brat, so thank goodness she changed into the defiant, indepedent character most of us admire. Even though she and Aladdin fell in love in a period of roughly three days, it took two other movies and a TV series for them to actually tie the knot. Which just goes to show you that there's nothing wrong with a long engagement.
Pocahontas- Again, it was a refreshing change of seeing the female save the male. Still--and it must be said--everything in that movie is a big fat lie. The real Pocahontas was twelve years old when she met John Smith, so unless he was a pedophile, there was no romance. And according to my sixth grade teacher, her tribe wouldn't have permitted her to have such long, lovely hair; it would have been cut real short since it was their custom, although I'm not really sure. More research may be in order.
Mulan- Belle and Jasmine might have set the stage for the independent woman, but Mulan kicked that "damsel in distress" sterotype all the way out of the film reel. The staff member I mentioned earlier stated in her article that no Chinese girl would have acted so "disrespectfully." Even though it was illegal to disguise as a soldier, what's not to respect? She kicks butt and saves the kingdom! It's a good message to girls that they achieve anything if they put their mind to it.
So in conclusion, while some Disney women aren't the best role models for girls, on the whole, they inspire a positive message. Think twice before mocking all of them.
And while I have the chance, I beg of you: STOP BUYING THE CRAPPY DISNEY SEQUELS!!!! Seriously, I have seen plans to make a third sequel to Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, and a Fox and the Hound 2. Do we really need this?! Go to a freaking bookstore and get some new ideas, Disney! |
What do you guys think?
_________________
Why can't *I* have a boyfriend like Al or Marty??! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Nez
Eccentric Papyrus Jockey
Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 2617
Location: Bellevue, Ne
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
You have made some very valid points.
However, I think the problem lies with the marketing of the Princess products, particularly the DVDs. From what I've heard, they don't represent the princesses' personalities and when they do, it's very superfical. I think it would be better for parents with little girls who are interested in Disney to see the actual films and not the Princess DVDs, though so far it's the only way you'll get to see the "Aladdin" and "Little Mermaid" series.
_________________
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Syera
Cynical Scribe
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 3441
Location: West Nenūvān
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: My thoughts on the Disney Princess |
|
|
| Quote: |
| And on a related note, didn't anyone find it a bit creepy that the prince kissed her (Snow White) when she was supposedly dead? Maybe it was a sign of love and respect, but if you tried that at a funeral today, people would think you're a necrophile. |
Nope. I find it likely that the prince considered it a horrible tragedy that this young woman died before ever having the chance to live, find true love, etc.
| Quote: |
| Cinderella- Okay, let's forget for a moment that she married the prince less than 24 hours after she had met him. |
What?! There was nothing in the movie to hint how much time had passed between the time they met and the time they were actually married.
The Little Mermaid- I know Ariel's gotten a lot of flack over the years;
| Quote: |
| in one of Meg Cabot's books, she is regarded as "a feminist's worst nightmare because she abandoned her own species to secure a man." |
Give me a break, Megsy. Did you actually watch the movie? Last I checked, Ariel was fascinated with humans and wanted to experience human life for herself. Eric just happened to give her further motivation.
| Quote: |
| Belle (from Beauty and the Beast)- Belle is the one Disney princess I could relate to most. She liked books, she didn't have the golden looks most Disney princess before her had, and she couldn't stand that ***hole Gaston. I knew two guys in high school that were just like him. Not only was she intelligent, she was also was the first Disney girl that didn't fall in love at first sight. She wasn't willing to put up with the Beast bossing her around, which is a good message to those that are in destructive relationships. Yes, she did stay with him, but only because he got hurt trying to save her life. What's most important is that she fell in love with the Beast before he changed into the handsome prince. So all in all, Belle is a good role model for girls. And her gold dress? Gorgeous. |
No matter how you look at it, Belle is all-around cool.
| Quote: |
| Jasmine (from Aladdin)- Another step in the right direction. You know in the first version of the movie, Jasmine was kind of a spoiled brat, so thank goodness she changed into the defiant, indepedent character most of us admire. Even though she and Aladdin fell in love in a period of roughly three days, it took two other movies and a TV series for them to actually tie the knot. Which just goes to show you that there's nothing wrong with a long engagement. |
Correction: they fell in lust over a period of three days. Love happened during their engagement. 
| Quote: |
| Mulan- Belle and Jasmine might have set the stage for the independent woman, but Mulan kicked that "damsel in distress" sterotype all the way out of the film reel. The staff member I mentioned earlier stated in her article that no Chinese girl would have acted so "disrespectfully." Even though it was illegal to disguise as a soldier, what's not to respect? She kicks butt and saves the kingdom! It's a good message to girls that they achieve anything if they put their mind to it. |
Bah. Anyone who disses Mulan for what she did needs to get their head put on straight. She risked her life to save her father's.
[/QUOTE]And while I have the chance, I beg of you: STOP BUYING THE CRAPPY DISNEY SEQUELS!!!! Seriously, I have seen plans to make a third sequel to Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, and a Fox and the Hound 2. Do we really need this?! Go to a freaking bookstore and get some new ideas, Disney![/quote]
No argument from me. The sequels make all effort to turn the characters into mockeries of the original. Disgusting.
_________________
Weblog | SH.net | Ed-sprite by Janette |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AmethystFae
Portland Princess
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 837
Location: Portland, OR
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The assumption that Ariel was all about leaving her home and family for some guy is exactly what my sister complained of years ago. But honestly, I don't even think about that. I didn't think of the fact that she was fascinated by humans before Eric anyway, but now I have an argument to use if people want to say she's a bad role model because she left her family for a guy.
No, what I think about is how she saved Eric--not once, but twice. Remember when Ursula tried to blast him? She didn't start crying and freaking out. She pushed Ursula out of the way, causing the sea witch to get Flotsom and Jetsom instead.
Actually, I wrote a paper on the Disney Princesses for school last semester. I don't believe I've posted it here, but maybe I should.
~Hikaru
_________________
"HARDER, FASTER, DEEPER. . . HUH!!!!!!!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Spartan Girl
Agrabah Citizen
Joined: 01 May 2006
Posts: 68
Location: Lansing, MI
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
POST IT POST IT!!! I'd love to read it! 
Um, regarding my comments about Snow White, I just wrote that to be funny. It actually is kind of romantic. I went to Frankenmuth, MI and at the Bavarian Inn restaurant, they have murals of fairy tales painted on the walls. My favorite one is from Snow White: the prince is actually holding Snow White in his arms, leaning his head down to kiss her. It's pretty sweet.
Maybe I can find a picture on the Internet and show it...
_________________
Why can't *I* have a boyfriend like Al or Marty??! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Syera
Cynical Scribe
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 3441
Location: West Nenūvān
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ah... I see. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell when someone is going into funny mode, especially when the rest of the article is fairly non-funny... or vice-versa.
_________________
Weblog | SH.net | Ed-sprite by Janette |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jafaria
Vizier's Handmaiden
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 419
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Today I was in JC Penney and I saw little girls' "Disney Princess" watches and one set had Ariel, Jasmine, and Mulan. I'm all for Mulan getting some promotion here, but I also find it sickening that Disney seems to think they need to call Mulan a princess. I've never liked the princesses very much, but I like Mulan. The Princess line in general sickens me, but the addition of Mulan makes it worse. If they want to make character merchandise, they should make it with the characters as they are, not trying to pigeonhole them into some category they don't quite fit. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Syera
Cynical Scribe
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 3441
Location: West Nenūvān
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Overall, I don't have a problem with the princesses in and of themselves. It's the hyper-shallow princess line of moichandice that annoys me.
_________________
Weblog | SH.net | Ed-sprite by Janette |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jafaria
Vizier's Handmaiden
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 419
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| My thoughts exactly. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AmethystFae
Portland Princess
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 837
Location: Portland, OR
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In the original Snow White, didn't she cough up the apple, or something? I remember that in one version, but I don't read that particular story as much as the others.
I also have a few versions of Sleeping Beauty where the Prince doesn't even kiss her--just falls to his knees, or something.
I kind of wish they'd have brought either the comb or the courset into Disney's Snow White.
~Hikaru
_________________
"HARDER, FASTER, DEEPER. . . HUH!!!!!!!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
APK
Sinister Snack Fairy
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 1322
Location: Lost
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I remember that one of the staff members of my high school newspaper wrote an editorial about how much the Disney girls disgusted her. While I must admit that she had some valid points concerning their appearance (i.e. they're all beautiful and thin) |
Just because people are beautiful and thin doesn't mean others must shrink back in disgust at them! Now, if someone were beautiful, thin and a biatch it would be different.
| Quote: |
| Snow White- Yes, she was first and one of the sweetest Disney princesses, but when it comes to brains, she comes up short. As a runaway fleeing her evil stepmother, you'd think she'd be a bit more wary of trusting strangers, let alone a sinister-looking old woman! And believing that tripe about the "magic wishing apple"? Come ON!!! And on a related note, didn't anyone find it a bit creepy that the prince kissed her when she was supposedly dead? Maybe it was a sign of love and respect, but if you tried that at a funeral today, people would think you're a necrophile. |
It was a peck! I re-watched the movie and he didn't kiss her for that long. Barely 2 seconds. It was creepy when you think about it, but it did save her from eternal sleep. 
And in Snow's defense, she was wary of the old woman. The only reason she let her inside was becasue she pretended she was having a heart attack. She let her in to have a drink of water. The audience knows the old woman is really the evil queen, but how on earth was Snow supposed to know that the old lady was really her step-mom who magicked herself to look like an old lady so that she could give her a poison apple? And Snow took the "wishing apple" the way anyone would put coins in a wishing well. Who would really put their hard-earned money in a wishing well?
| Quote: |
| her melodramatic reaction to finding out that she's really royalty and she's engaged a guy she thinks that she has never met. |
Her reaction was perfectly justified and normal. Her reaction could've been worse than just giving them the silent treatment.
| Quote: |
| The Little Mermaid- I know Ariel's gotten a lot of flack over the years; in one of Meg Cabot's books, she is regarded as "a feminist's worst nightmare because she abandoned her own species to secure a man." |
Wasn't Cabot paying attention to the part in the movie where she sings about being 'part of that world?' She wanted to be human way before she ever laid eyes on Eric. She even had a collection of human junk in a little cave. She even wished for two fins, once, so that she could pretend to be human. She didn't abandon her species, she lives right next door! Besides, all children grow up, get married and move away from their family.
| Quote: |
| Maybe they eat plankton and seaweed, which would explain it. |
In the show, they ate seaweed-spagetti and sea-donuts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AladdinsGenie
Genie of the Messageboard
Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Posts: 11856
Location: Tennessee
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Nez wrote: |
You have made some very valid points.
However, I think the problem lies with the marketing of the Princess products, particularly the DVDs. From what I've heard, they don't represent the princesses' personalities and when they do, it's very superfical. I think it would be better for parents with little girls who are interested in Disney to see the actual films and not the Princess DVDs, though so far it's the only way you'll get to see the "Aladdin" and "Little Mermaid" series. |
That whole line is messing with their images. It's way more than just hte DVDs. From the stock art to the stuff they sell, it's a good and bad thing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Spartan Girl
Agrabah Citizen
Joined: 01 May 2006
Posts: 68
Location: Lansing, MI
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
I do find it annoying that they refer to Mulan as a "Disney Princess." But then again, maybe they call her a princess because all of the good qualities she has, just like in the book A Little Princess. I don't know, it's probably more along the lines of lazy advertising.
And yes, the merchandising does annoy me. It's just as bad as all those Barbie fairy tale movies they're cranking out (no offense to those that like them). But to be fair, the dolls and costumes are pretty cute.
_________________
Why can't *I* have a boyfriend like Al or Marty??! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ariellen
Scourge of the Desert
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 708
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Syera wrote: |
| Correction: they fell in lust over a period of three days. Love happened during their engagement. |
I disagree. I will admit that ALADDIN'S first attraction to Jasmine was about 99% based on her own outward appearance. Infatuation and lust at first sight? Yes, from his perspective. But even that, while the main source of his attention to her, was certainly not the only thing that could have drawn to her (after all, she was almost completely covered up when he first saw her ). As early as "Morning, ladies!" and "One Jump Ahead," it's clear that Aladdin likes to show off around women, particularly if they are attractive. But that same sequence also shows that there are a decent number of attractive women in Agrabah, and that Aladdin has obviously met some of them before. However, it is unlikely that this deep trance-like stage that Jasmine pulled him into occured with every single attractive woman on whom he laid eyes, simply because there are keys to indicate that he notices pretty women frequently, and with the lifestyle that he lives, he couldn't BE that distracted so frequently. He's keen to how 'tough' the marketplace can be, and Jasmine isn't like that.
She's taking it in with refreshing (to Al) wide-eyed innocence and trying to help out where she can, and is naive enough not to know that she could get herself in a lot of trouble that way. The protective side of Aladdin that was moved to give his hard-earned bread to starving children is also driven to help out this girl, and the change in his expression as he watches Farouk hassel her indicates that his actions are no longer motivated by how pretty she is, but the fact that she needs help and he knows he can offer that. I don't even view the hovel scene as a "Let's take the pretty girl where we can be alone" tactic...he still seems to be in this 'protective' state of mind until the part where Jasmine trips into his arms. Their body language as he helps her onto that first rooftop (in those first seconds when the scene changes from Jafar's lair back to Aladdin and Jasmine), and even in the reflection in Jafar's hourglass, just seems...casual. Not they they are oblivious to each others' attractiveness, but he exudes 'helpful' and she 'gratefulness.' When she falls, THAT'S when I think the change occurs. This seems to be the first time that JASMINE really seems to pay attention to how attractive Aladdin is. His face changes dramatically as he helps her up, from "aw, here, I'll help you out" back to the "Woooow" from when he first saw her.
While I'm not going to say that they fell "in love" in that one scene, at least compared to what we see over the course of the series, it is obvious that they make a connection that goes much deeper than this by now acknowledged physical attraction. They both let their guard down a little bit around each other and do a bit of soul-baring. The attraction factor has been established, but Aladdin seems genuinely curious to learn more ABOUT Jasmine. He seems at ease around her, and vice versa, even though both of them have been established as relatively guarded individuals who have a lot of thoughts about life bottled up inside that they can't, or simply don't, share with anyone else. Here, Aladdin really shares the fact that he dreams about what it would be like to live in the palace, and without revealing her identity, Jasmine, without an argument breaking out like would be the case with her father, admits to being frustrated that she isn't treated as an individual and wishing for some freedom in her life. When they realize they share the same dissatisfaction with a life that leaves them feeling 'trapped,' they reach some common ground that leaves them feeling surprised and appreciative. Neither of them seems to have encountered much understanding before, but in the space of one conversation, they learn that they have a lot in common and appreciate being able to relate to each other. That 'trapped' moment leads Aladdin to ask more about Jasmine and her in turn to reveal a little more about herself. Neither of them moves to kiss the other right after they become overwhelmed with attraction, but after Aladdin expresses wishing that he could help Jasmine with the parts of life that trouble her.
Even when Aladdin goes to the palace as Prince Ali, it is when he confesses that he is sorry for have treated her like a prize to be won that she first considers giving him a chance. We don't know if Jasmine finds Ali attractive or not before she decides that he is worth her attention, because that is unimportant to her. She seems to tune into who a person is and how he acts before she gives serious consideration to appearances. He seems to become attrative to her when she finds that he has enough of an understanding of her to know that she would appreciate being spoken to as a person, not treated as an object, and being shown the world beyond the one that she feels has stifled her for so long. If they were merely in lust, he would not be so perceptive to her and she wouldn't have cared so much about the sort of attention that he pays to her.
It may still be young love, but by the time the movie ends, yes, they LOVE each other, and that love is based on an openness, trust, friendship, and mutual friendship and appreciation for each other. Over the course of subsequent canon, that love develops and deepens and grows far beyond what we see at the end of the movie, and no, it isn't always EASY for them, but had there not been something more than a deep physical attraction to begin with, there is no way that they would have cared to have made it through some of their early arguments in the first movie and The Return of Jafar. Aladdin and Jasmine are the first Disney couple that I feel demonstrate true compatibility and a grow into a relationship with a firm and deep foundation beyond physical appearances and hopelessly romantic ideals. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ariellen
Scourge of the Desert
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 708
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| AladdinsGenie wrote: |
| That whole line is messing with their images. It's way more than just hte DVDs. From the stock art to the stuff they sell, it's a good and bad thing. |
Keeping characters from some of the more classic Disney films 'accessible' to the public? Good!
Doing so at the expense of what the lessons of their movies were and who their characters were and what they stood for and what made them endearing and classic in the first place? Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You can post new topics in this forum
You can reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
