Disney Through the Critical Lens

I am not an avid movie watcher. I feel like I rarely have two hours of free time to sit and watch a movie. It’s been years (at least 20) since I have watched a Disney movie. I remember enjoying Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan, but I was a very active child and movie watching is not really imprinted in my childhood memories. I certainly never watched a Disney movie with a critical lens. I really enjoyed analyzing the characters, in particular gender roles, of Beauty and the Beast. Through the RIC education program and my own passion, I have really learned to view everything from a critical perspective. So, it was really interesting to read “Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us” by Linda Christensen. This piece is a brilliant critique of fairy tales and cartoons that analyzes stereotypes; roles of men and women, race, poor people, and the “image” of beauty.” Christensen discusses brilliant lessons and writing assignments she has done with her students in learning to analyze and critique. 

“I want to develop their critical consciousness, but I also hope to move them to action.” One of the most useful parts of reading her work is that she always extends to some sort of plan of action. Like Linda, when I teach about social injustices and controversial topics, I feel some classes can end in students feeling a sense of despair, that some have become more aware of the ways they are mistreated and marginalized. One of my goals as I continue to grow as teacher is to expand on topics of social justice, but always make sure I have a plan of what we can do as a team and individuals to make a difference. Linda describes a great assignment that goes beyond the walls of the classroom in which students create articles for newspapers and magazines that describe the effects cartoons can have on young  people. The idea of having their work published brought new meaning to their critiques. Throughout my reading of Linda Christensen has taught me that one of the great ways to make assignments meaningful to students is to make the public. I will continue to read her work and build on my own teaching of critical consciousness and writing.

“You are ruining the movie for me mom” said one of our classmates during our class discussion on the movie Moana. Dr. Lesley Bogad does a beautiful job explaining her own relationship with Disney, as well as the how to analyze and critique something that brings so much enjoyment to people. She describes this as the struggle of “Pleasure and Critique.” Although mine is not one, it cannot be argued that Disney brings great pleasure to families around the world. However, many people are critical over Disney over issues relating to anti-feminism, labor, and “a leftist organization.” It is a struggle to be critical over something that people enjoy, even if it is the person critiquing it, but I believe just because people enjoy something doesn’t mean it has immunity against criticism. Being outspoken and analyzing these issues are important to improving a more diverse and empathetic world. In fact, if it weren’t for these critiques and the work done by Colin Kaepernick, the partnership to bring awareness of race and social injustice to Disney would not have been possible. 

Moana, a sort of coming of age “Princess” story, shows the progression Disney has made over the past 5 years in addressing inequalities. It was really nice to analyze the movie from the same critical lens as Beauty and the Beast and some other Disney movies I have analyzed. Moana is a strong representation of a young princess. She has brown skin, she is independent and adventurous, she fights for her people, she has strong family and community values, and she makes her own decisions. I am hoping that the partnership with Kaepernick brings more great stories that champion different races and genders!