(Cross posted at WireTap Magazine )
I've always taken an interest in how women, particularly women of color, are represented in toys and media that are targeted towards children: everything from the release of Mattel's Diwali Barbie in 2006 to Dora the Explorer's makeover. So it should come as no surprise that I've been reading about and mulling over Disney's new princess movie, "The Princess and the Frog," which features the company's first black woman as the lead character .
I'm already cringing about the movie, set in 1920s New Orleans, where the better portion of the princess' on-screen time is spent not as a human, but as a frog. The prince is a light-skinned man of color and one wonders why Disney wasn't willing to portray a black man in the role of charismatic and masculine Prince.
Despite Disney's racist representations of people of color throughout the years, it remains troubling to see the impact of these movies on young people , and the company's inability to adequately show racial diversity in their films.
On one hand, there are complaints about the racialized components of the movie : the Princess is finally a black woman, but the backdrop of the film continues to drudge up tired racist stereotypes about the black community, attempting to separate cultural components of African-American history from the violence of slavery and racism.
On the other hand, there are complaints about the fact that Disney continues to build female characters around traditional gender roles and notions of femininity. They may be spunky or brave or portray qualities of heroism, but the lead women are still pretty princesses who are saved by a happy heteronormative ending. This has been an issue raised more recently with the release of Pixar's "Up" where adventure and action can take place for male leads, but not for women. Pixar's first movie to feature a female lead will release in 2011 and guess what the story is built around ? A white princess who gives up her royal title to become an archer. Apparently, the only way to portray young women with agency in movies is to characterize them around that familiar princess theme.
When the two questions floating around children's movies are "When will people of color be adequately represented?" and "When will girls have leads to look up to that aren't princesses?" I have to wonder where and when young girls of color will find justice in media representation. A part of me honestly feels that all women should have an equal opportunity to be pitted into the princess role by Disney. Another part of me thinks that girls of color deserve better than to settle in this way. The rest of me thinks that if we can't find justice in children's films, how can I expect to see justice in the rest of the mainstream media ? So perhaps the question we should continue to ask ourselves, and encourage the media to consider is "How can we appropriately show diversity in children's films so that they are inspiring and humorous and memorable?" Diversity in the media cannot be limited to race or gender - it has to consider both, and more. After all, identity is complex and multifacted - and creating characters that can be relateable and seen as heroic shouldn't depend solely on how they look or where they are from or who they love.
--Nina Jacinto
http://ninajacinto.wordpress.com
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I have no problem with princesses being the main characters in children’s movies. I do have a problem with the ending of most princess movies, that is to say, I dislike the way marriage and a handsome man are seen as the solutions to all the princess' problems.
As to the racial/cultural issues, I am reserving my judgment until I see the movie.
Joan
I understand the dilemma you pose of wanting representation and also wanting to change the structure. I think both can be achieved if Disney would *gasp* have a true love story with lesbians. They can create a working class heroine - perhaps an adventurer or an outlaw/pirate or a spy from another country. If they wish they can still work a lady-in-waiting or duchess-to-be, who's run away with a carnival, as the heroine's love interest. Together they can tackle a political issue or a class issue, which would be the main conflict, and so no other characters would care that they're gay - they're just opposed to their cause. The cause can triumph, they admit their feelings for one another and finally share the anticipated true love's kiss. If I thought Disney would actually produce something like that, I'd write them a proposal...
Oh, I can already hear the cries of concerned parents about how disney is trying to taint our children. I mean, they saw a priest with a boner in Little Mermaid, "Sex" spelled in the dust of Lion King, and they heard Aladin tell teens to take off their clothes. I can only imagine the uproar that would ensue if Disney actually created protagonists that weren't heteronormative and virginal until marriage (considering gay marriage isn't legal now, it's unlikely they'd portray it in some far away time and place).
While Disney certainly wouldn't be the first to portray a gay couple, I think I'd be awesome if an independent film company made a children's movie with gay characters.
Ha ha ha indeed, Hansom prince meets other hansom prince, priceless.
If it took this long to get a black princess I would'nt hold my breath for a lesbian romance, especially when they have yet to show gay characters of any kind. Can't hurt to wish though.
Some people get aimless at times, and it's a pity we don't all look at things the way Tallulah Bankhead did. I had read an article that says, all UNIFEM programmers support women's rights, because women suffer from denial of these right in all regions of the world. Women’s rights are violated wherever they are poorer than men, confront discrimination in access to land and employment, or don’t participate in the decisions that affect their lives. Other obstacles to rights arise when women are prevented from going to school or attaining health care, or are subject to harmful traditional practices. For further gender equality information, check out at: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/06/01/tallulah-bankhead-tall-tree/
A white princess who becomes an archer? Really? Meh. On the other hand, Pixar has always played with the notion of gender in its movies. We'll see what they do. Maybe they'll debunk the whole princess thing.
I see what you're saying. For the most part I agree, but something to ponder: Isn't OK that the princess' love interest isn't black? Wouldn't it really be saying something if the prince was, say white? I think that would send the clear message that it doesn't matter what your skin color is, let's all love each other. Portrayal, or lack thereof, black men in Disney movies is a whole other issue, though certainly something worth mentioning in this particular topic.
Also, Disney has clearly had problems getting it right in the past but you have to give them credit for Mulan. She was the true heroine and needed no prince to rescue her. Yes, that movie still presents a love story and princess-like elements but quite differently than in the past. I think Disney has much to improve upon, but they are trying.
I agree with Joan. I too want to reserve much judgment until I see the movie.
I have to say, it really upsets me that you and others have been casting judgement on this upcoming movie without actually having seen it. I would also like to point out that the only reason Disney has created this movie has been because people have been asking for it. There's been a call for the classic artwork, the classic princess and the classic musical style of ye olde Disney movies. Not to mention, Disney has been taking the black community's opinions into consideration from the beginning. Someone said they wanted the main character to be from a working class situation - well, members of the black community flipped out when they found out Maddy/Tiana was a maid. They wanted her to be upper class and claimed Disney made her a maid because she was black, ignoring the fact that Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Mulan have all spent time as "working class". They also forced Disney to change the title of movie and the name of the main character. So clearly, Disney hasn't been making this movie while isolated in some bubble.
What's wrong with the characters being frogs? Do you really think that's because Disney didn't want black people up on screen? Or could it be, perhaps, because making a movie while sticking to the exact script of the original Frog Princess storyline would result in a movie only ten minutes long?
And sure, the movies are still reflecting heteronorms by having straight couples, but media is more reflective than active. Would Disney make as much money on a movie with a lesbian couple? It's debatable, but probably no. There would probably be a lot of parents who wouldn't let their children watch it because they'd be too focused on the sexuality or the main characters than their love. Which is, of course, screwed up, but that doesn't negate the fact that Disney could stand to lose a lot of money on a film featuring that and they are, above all, a business. It's not an excuse, merely a fact. We have to change how people see sexual orientation before companies like Disney will reflect that. Don't blame the mirror for showing what's standing in front of it.
Lately, Disney movies have been portraying a good amount of strong women who even save the man in the end. (Giselle, Lilo, Mulan, to name the first couple who come to mind.) And even though there are ones who don't, who says that being the savior means you're "strong" and the person who gets saved is "weak"? That's a dichotomy that oversimplifies those situations and always develops a character who is inherently weak and another who is inherently strong.
To conclude, I'm tired of seeing people jumping to conclusions about this movie BEFORE even seeing it. I'm excited for it. I'm sure it won't be perfect and I'm disappointed that they spend a lot of time being frogs (but only because I prefer watching humans) but I think that 1920s New Orleans is a great background, I think that the voodoo culture will be very interesting and I'm excited that she's black. I feel like people are ignoring the societal progress that this movie reflects and are just determined to hate on Disney. I'm not saying to just blindly accept Disney movies, but stop critiquing something you haven't even seen yet.
Racialicious has done a pretty good job deconstructing everything that is wrong with the movie, based on what has been released.
And sometimes you don't have to see everything to know how a movie is going to not-work.
On a more positive note: I just went to see Coraline, who is one kick-ass heroine! She' is white, but she lives in a rather diverse neighborhood.
Yes it is about money. It's always about money. That's why when TV sitcoms and dramas are able to have one innocent kissing scene between two women, in the next episode they've decided they don't really like each other. Why? Because the advertisers have threatened to pull their ads, because the anti-gay interest groups have lobbied the companies to pull them. I can name several TV shows where this has happened, and that's exactly why I believe that Disney will not be doing a lesbian romance any time soon.
Alright so if they are not ready for that and they need to take baby steps, well then here's my suggestion: A woman/woman friendship movie. The film will show the depth of their emotions and feelings for one another as BFF's. (Kind of like Todd and Copper in the Fox and the Hound). One can save the other's life or perhaps save her from entering a loveless arranged marriage, and she will realize that true friendship is more important than false marriage. If they want to take a bigger step, they can have her swear to give up princes forever and pledge eternal devotion to their everlasting friendship.
But TV and Film hasn't always reflected society exactly as it is. Films were racier when they first came out and then due to the Code they had to clean things up from about 1934 until 1968. They weren't allowed to reflect what they saw around them.
Disney doesn't reflect real life anyway since it draws fantasy most of the time. It's not like the fairy godmothers, magic wands, flying carpets, cheshire cats, etc. are reflections of real life.
But actually, I do have hope that within the next ten years there will be a Disney lesbian romance.
I fear that from what I've already heard(the girl being made upper class rather than a maid) that the real history of how things were is going to be completly ignored. The vast majority of black women during the 1920's were lower class, many of them working as maids.That's just how it was. I don't understand why everyone has to scream racism when the unpleasent realities of history are reflected back at us.
This last point is an interesting one, and I agree, that there are bound to be new and important conclusions to be made after the movie has been released. I think Disney has taken some steps in trying to create a film that depicts people of color while also appealing to a mainstream audience. I'm not trying to deny these points.
But I do want to press the question that remains every time a new television show or commercial or movie comes out - How can we appropriately show diversity in the media? It's a complicated question to which I have no real answer, but it's worth considering, even before films have been released. Disney has a considerable amount of racist and sexist baggage that it hasn't necessarily accounted for in the past - it's no wonder that critics, myself included, are skeptical and troubled by some of the so-called forward steps that Disney has taken. I think the question that comes to mind also is, is it enough? Are people of color supposed to settle for what they get, and focus on there finally being the first black princess in a Disney movie, or can they continue to criticize and speak out about what they perceive as racist and troubling in the media?
As for the question of depicting same sex couples in Disney films, art may imitate life, but surely life has grown to imitate art as well. Much of socialization, especially for young people, comes from media - I'm not surprised Disney hasn't depicted various models of families or couples, but that doesn't mean I'm going to cut them slack for it simply because their aim is to create successful profitable films.
I do agree there needs to be more diversity in media, and would love to see Pixar do a movie thats not based around the princess theme. That said Pixar really has yet to disappoint in its movies and female characters, so I will not pass judgement until I've seen the film. As for Disney, I'm looking forward to The Princess and the Frog and will also reserve judgement for that. I don't think its wrong to critique but its been getting a lot of bad press for something no ones seen the finished product for yet. I'm hoping Disney pulls this one out, I'd really rather this be "this was the first black princess, and a stepping stone to more black female leads then This is the first and only black princess, which could sadly happen if the film doesn't preform well.
Also, I'd like to break in some Lilo and Stitch love. That was a risky Disney movie, showing a young girl with borderline behavior issues and being cared for by her sister whose in danger of losing her to the state. It be nice to see Disney take a risk like that again, I feel its one of their best, and most touching films.
We'll see what they do. Maybe they'll debunk the whole princess thing. Work from home
The princess thing scares me. I am mixed race with black hair and yellow skin.
My daughter refused to play with her darkskinned doll the other day, saying she wanted the pink and yellow one. I said, honey, I have black hair. She said it's ok, you are the mommy, but i only want to play with the pink doll.
She then had to get "married."
She doesn't even own any Disney movies, but she is subjected to them at school.
Let me get this straight:
Fairy tales (and Disney movies based on them) are racist because they feature princesses and white people?
Hi, I don't know whether you meant to, but you hit upon the exact nature of the problem: fairy/folk tales are not well-represented by Disney.
All cultures have a version of Cinderella, for example, and a Japanese telling will be very different from, say, an Italian one. But because Disney is so widespread, it becomes the REAL one. Most Cinderellas in books are not blonde, don't even mention it, but because of Disney, many people think she has to be. Same with Sleeping Beauty. Most versions don't even mention her hair. But the Disney one was blonde, so the REAL Sleeping Beauty, in the VHS/DVD generation, is blonde. Greek vases show most of the population with black hair, but Disney's Hercules was blonde and his wife a redhead, so that's the norm in people's eyes. In my dozen years in Children's Services in a public library, it's been very common for people to ask for "Cinderella," and be puzzled or even angry when I give them one that is not Disney. I want the REAL one, they say, and are not happy until they find Disney.
What does that mean? It means that folktales that highlight a real population take a backseat to the blue-eyed blonde Disney ideal. It means that a little dark-haired, normal weight girl knows that she can't be important because Ursula is the dark-haired one and the princess is skinny, with pale skin, and has red hair. The "ugly" step sisters are darker than Cinderella. That wasn't mentioned in many folk tales, but is unavoidable in Disney.
I don't believe that fairy tales are racist. But Disney is.
I think what irritates me about this the most is my daughters witnessing all of this and not knowing what to decide. I read a particularly disturbing post about the new marketing ploy by Mattell at http://weddingpros.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/barbies-offensive-new-slogan/ and the direction that media and marketing seem to be steering towards. The "just look pretty and shut up" mentality doesn't shock me, but that it's becoming more the norm is the part that does. When do women and parents of daughters stand up and say that enough is enough?