Brave a feminist perspective on the disney princess movie

The newer princesses, merida from brave, anna and elsa from frozen and moana, highlight just how reflective disney is of modern attitudes towards women, as damsels in distress are replaced with strong, independent women. A feminist perspective on the disney princess movie find, read and cite. Disneys animated theatrical feature films may be the most important battleground for gendersexual equal representation in media. Her two funniest, wittiest chapters cover disastrous pc princess models, pocahontas and the insufferable merida from brave, a horrible feminist dumpster fire of a movie. Tom watson contributor sure, the heroine at the center of brave is a princess, a plot decision met with some derision from the feminist commentariat, which was looking for a. A feminist perspective on the disney princess movie by danielle morrison. No longer was she a damsel like the other princesses, but a strong, rebellious young woman who did not want to conform to the norm. When it was announced that merida from brave will appear on season 5 of once upon a time, i jumped for joy because there are few film. While brave probably was the worst offender for promoting navalgazing feminist morality at the cost of story and character, the last three movies direct from disney have likely influenced. After slogging through several of disney s lesser known and less popular titles, we have finally come to our first official disney princess film in the feminisney series.

How fourthwave feminism is changing disneys princesses. Review by alynda wheat for people magazine a new redhead for us to love merida. How disney princesses made me a better feminist elle. Niki october 27, 2009 to be fair, disney s most recent princess movie franchise the shrek movies at least, i believe its the most recent, other than the upcoming princess and the frog, but thats not out yet seems to finally be on the road to progress. Brave is a movie which shows women existence to get freedom and choose her own path. A princess by birth and an adventurer by spirit, merida spends her days practicing archery and riding her horse angus. In the 1980s, during a rise of feminism, the little mermaid was released and ariel redefined disney gender roles. Disney s frozen doused the internet with a resurging feminist critique of disney princesses. Although the frozen women certainly show strong, unique feminist characteristics, i hate to see smallminded feminists assume elsas and annas only strengths are the lack of needing male rescuing. Merida from disneys brave is the ultimate feminist princess disney has been trying to pave the way for more female empowerment and feminism with characters like tiana from princess and the frog, elsa from frozen and moana from her selftitled movie.

Princess merida seeks to control her own destiny in disney and pixars brave. How political correctness ruined disneys most recent. Brave, disneypixar s newly released fantasy adventure film, features two female protagonists struggling within the strictures and dynamics of 10th century life in the scottish highlands. Brave unfolds the story of princess merida, first daughter of the ruling house. Feminist disney smashes the patriarchy in your childhood favorites feminist disney calls the mouse on its issues with gender, race, and more. I just saw brave, and it got me thinking about the grand tradition of disney princesses. Rapunzels father the king cries on rapunzels birthday as he remembers his kidnapped daughter. Despite being green for most of the movie, tiana is disney s first black princess. Disney princesses, deconstructed sociological images. Womens roles in disney andor pixar movies gender role portrayal and the disney princesses by dawn england and lara descartes. A feminist perspective on the disney princess movie.

Tom watson contributor sure, the heroine at the center of brave is a princess, a plot decision met with some derision from the feminist commentariat, which was looking for a more radical lead role. Feminist analysis of brave by kaitlin macgillis on prezi next. Merida is disneys best feminist princess thanks to her fierce independence, courage, and refusal to conform to any stereotype that doesnt suit her. Download citation on jun 1, 2014, danielle morrison and others published brave. If you spend time on social media like facebook or twitter, its very possible that in the past few weeks or so youve seen a trending topic about the disney film frozen. Generation z watched the same movies, albeit using the updated dvd versions. Merida from brave is disneys most feminist princess. I thought it was a pretty good feminist y movie, especially considering that it was a disney princess type movie.

Throughout the last few years there has been a philosophical discussion on how disney princesses has a negative impact on young girls expectations on their future. Theres probably a lot of cultural appropriation and inaccuracies tied up in the depiction of the clans and their histories. The faculty of the communication studies department. Instead of finding their prince, the heroines of these movies find their place in the world as independent women. It started with ariel, the first disney princess to debut during my childhood. Merida is also the main character of the games brave and temple run.

The two films included in my project are tangled 2010 and brave 2012, which feature the most recently inducted princesses to the marketed disney princess line rapunzel and merida, respectively. A feminist perspective on the disney princess movie by. A feminist perspective on the disney princess movie article june 2014. Unlike most disney movies where the princess after undergoing a transformation of their selves coming to be situated at a lesser posturing than before, as in. This project addresses messages about gender expectations in disney princess narratives. The newest, most feminist forward disney princess, merida of the animated film brave asks, if you had the chance to change your fate, would you. These 6 disney movies are actually feministheres what to. Tangled, brave, frozen and moana all feature stronger, more independent heroines, marking a distinct break in tradition from the damselsindistress of the disney classics.

Questions for analysis is the text narrated by a male or female. When viewed through the lens of feminist criticism, it becomes clear that brave makes great progress in resisting patriarchy and offers young. Do any stereotypical characterizations of women appear. Brave is a 2012 american computeranimated fantasy film produced by pixar animation studios and released by walt disney pictures. In brave, the princess merida flatout refuses to marry a prince from another clan, claiming she will vie for her own hand in marriage. Why tangled is disneys most feminist film one room with. The story is by chapman, with the screenplay by andrews, purcell, chapman and irene mecchi.

Brave a feminist triumph by eivega brave is not one of pixars greatest hits. Last friday, i saw disney s tangled with my husband. Like most disney movies, brave is filled with only white people. Instead, the plot concentrates on meridas broken relationship with her mother, as she learns the importance of respecting and appreciating her. The feminist theory classifies a voice to achieve womens liberation by elimination the oppression of women in society. What are the attitudes toward women held by the male characters. Millennials spent their childhoods watching classic disney princess movies on vhs for hours. Disney princesses, deconstructed jump to comments disney princesses, deconstructed. Tiana is a woman who works hard to achieve her goals, and does not need anyone least of all a rich spoiled prince to help her. Thanks almost exclusively to saving cinderella, girls of all ages can enjoy their wonderful princess. Brave is a pixar movie, and its heroine, merida, is a fairytale feminist. Feminist theory and disney movies by megan litteral on prezi. It was directed by mark andrews and brenda chapman and codirected by steve purcell. Feminist, gender, and sexuality studies open access.

Before seeing the film, i was told it was about a kickass princess. The most recent disney princess movies have caused feminists to rejoice as disney is finally moving in a more progressive direction. Because of modern feminism disney princess gender roles. Moving on to the subject of specifically princesses, since it was a rather contentious decision to make pixars first female protagonist a disney princess merida is. Merida from disneys brave is the ultimate feminist princess. Merida was added to the disney princess lineup as the 11th princess, on may 11, 20, becoming the first pixar character to receive the honor. While frozen does have romance, unlike brave, it tackles many of the stereotypes created by the classic disney films. See what fate has in store in the brave kingdom in disney hidden worlds. Because for all these breakthroughs, brave feels hopelessly safe, less a pixar trailblazer than yet another entry in the disney princess line of films and products. Well only be looking at those whove been deemed official disney princesses. Disney cast members attempting meridas accent from brave for the oh my disney blog. Instead of focusing on a princess who longs to find her own true love, the movie focuses on the relationship between merida and her mother. How we measure reads a read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as.

It also draws on scottish folklore, featuring magical wisps and spells cast by the classic old witch. Read the updated version of this article by clicking here. This movie revolutionized disney movies and started a new era of disney animation. But despite its visible effort to be a more progressive breed of disney movie, it still falls back on the house of. She loves her family, but ultimately wants to control her own fate and aim for more. Merida from brave is disneys most feminist princess bustle. The movie brave is a perfect film to examine through this lens. Does disney pixars brave featuring the atypical princess merida present an original storyline and overcomes stereotypes of. A feminist perspective on the disney princess movie a senior project presented to the faculty of the communication studies department california polytechnic state university, san luis obispo in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree bachelor of arts by danielle morrison dr. Danielle morrison, california polytechnic state university san luis obispo follow. Why belle, mulan, and cinderella prove that a girl can be brainy, brave, and beautiful.