Introduction
Defining Genres
Disney Corporation and identifying its reach and influence
Fairy tale genre
Disney Princesses
Men in Disney films
Assignment 1: You could analyse gender representation in Disney film or films in relation to semiotics.
Learning outcome 3: Develop textual analysis – Disney films
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Genre
Method of analysing film, television, literature
Most things are a mixture of different genres
Do we impose classifications onto films rather than those differences existing?
We seem to know what constitutes sci-fi, RomCom etc.
Genres may change over time – thus fluid/active
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Disney Multinational mass media and
entertainment conglomerate (1923)
1937 Snow White and Seven Dwarfs(1.25 mins)
1940 live action films e.g. The Reluctant Dragon (1941) (1.58 mins)
1986 expanded to other media
2006 bought Pixar (associated with Bug’s Life (1998), Monsters Inc. (2001) -Up(2009), Brave (2012)
Disney also own Star Wars (Lucasfilms) (2012), Marvel (2009), 21st Century Fox (2017)
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Fairy Tale Genre
Fairy tales – maiden
overcoming domination by
more powerful older women
Often witch/wicked
stepmother
Contemporary films –
wealthy woman with status
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Patriarchal Binary
Binary between the two main females
Princesses in Disney Films
Pressure to change outdated
representations of women
◦ passive/waiting for man/domesticated
Evil woman and princess still dominate
Role models – choice of the above
Fewer male role models
◦ but men often had authority over females
Companions for the princesses e.g.
Sebastian in The Little Mermaid
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Films
Shrek (Dreamworks)
◦ Body image different
Brave
◦ No marriage at end, independent
Maleficent
◦ Powerful older woman becomes kinder
etc. through a mother role
Frozen
◦ Sisterly love and independent women
◦ Elsa has to tame her powers
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More recent films
Beauty and the Beast◦ Feminist or Fraud article
◦ There is some agency but also
critiques
Moana◦ Some changes as well but still needs
a male to accompany
◦ Issues re Representation of Polynesian
culture/history
Frozen 2◦ 2019
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End of Part 1
New Man in Disney Films
Cars, Toy Story, Incredibles
Journeying towards more New Man type
masculinities
Muscle bound, testosterone hero less popular
(6.51 mins)
Male/male relationships also figure
All remain heterosexual
Big Hero 6
Wall E (Disney Pixar) interesting
representation of masculinity
Others Represntations?
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Start of part 2
Race in Disney
Social order
King and Simba drawn brightly, smooth
Villain Scar – dark, angular, thin,
disfigured
Hyenas (0.49 mins)
Racism in Disney examples (10 mins but
we will watch some of this)
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Rise in superhero films since 9/11
Powers and abilities beyond ordinary mortals
Hero= super-human, warrior, noble
Plato – goodness is attractive
Superheroes – character and courage over adversity
Violence to defeat evil – but controlled
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Gender re Superheroes Often conform to gender
stereotypes
The Incredibles
Mr Incredible – strength/durability
Elastigirl – powers to do with body
Violet – force fields and invisibility (body)
Dash – speed/durability
Jack-Jack - fire and many others
Looks – stereotypical.
Incredibles 2 (2.49 mins)
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Summary
Genres are fluid and change (and despite debates are recognisable)
Disney - huge, influential multinational
Fairy Tale genre still around in many different forms
Princesses – maybe later films less stereotyped
Men – less focus on alpha male and muscles towards new man masculinities
Semiotic analysis: You could analyse gender/race stereotypes in relation to Disney Film, superheroes etc.
Learning outcome 3: Develop textual analysis – Disney films
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References
Benshoff, H. & Griffin, S. (2004) America on Film. Representing Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality at the Movies. Oxford, Blackwell.
Dundes, L. (2001) Disney’s modern heroine Pocahontas: Revealing age-old gender stereotypes and role discontinuity under a façade of liberation, The Social Science Journal. Vol. 38, pp. 353-365.
Gillam, K. and Wooden, S. (2008) Post-Princess Models of Gender: The New Man in Disney/Pixar, Journal of popular Film and Television, Vol. 36(1), pp. 2-8.
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