In interviews conducted by fivethirtyeight, women in the film and television industry proposed many other tests that included more women, better stories. Feminist film theory, generally is about theoretical film criticism that arises from feminist politics and theories governed by the second wave feminism rooted from sociological theories concentrated on the how the public scrutinizes how women delivers the attitudes, scenarios, and characters given to them to portray in a. I was 16 at the time and certainly thought of myself as a feminist. Feminist film theory feminist film theory claims that the patriarchal system formats conventional movies and therefore inherits and supports its views and values.
Dec 10, 2016 moana is disney s most feminist film shethepeople tv. Another way mulveys critical theory can be applied to disney princesses is through the plot and storyline. Emma watson stars as belle in disneys hotly anticipated beauty and the beast movie. I thought it was a pretty good feminist y movie, especially considering that it was a disney princesstype movie. Why does disney make so many feministthemed animation. Feminist film theory is a film criticism derived from feminist politics and feminist theory. March is womens history month, the perfect time to dust off your copy of the feminine mystiqueor hit play any one of these amazing films made for, by. This film theory focuses on womens expression of her own subjectivity. In opposition to many a classic fairy tale, this would be the first time an audience sees a figure denying true love. The history on feminist film theory was influenced by the second wave feminism and the development of women studies wikipedia par. The stark difference in attitudes toward the disney film in 1989 versus today serves as a reminder of how the concept of the strong female lead is always changing.
From cinderella who lives happily ever after by finding her prince charming to moana, who lives happily ever after by finding her true potential what i found most remarkable about the film was that it makes absolutely no mention of romance or marriage. One of the most iconic concepts from the disney corporation is the disney princess. While the film may not be historically accurate, pocahontas is one of disney s truly feminist characters. Then, this film theory matured in late 1960s, after radicalized feminist movement of sexual liberation and political debate of female representation. All movies on this list pass the bechel test, the basic standard for. Although it often gets reduced to key theoreticalprimarily psychoanalyticanalyses of spectatorship from the 1970s and 1980s, it has always been and continues to be a dynamic area with many objects of focus and diverse methodological practices. The incredibles feminist film theory about school work. From the snow white in 1937 until the latest, frozen, these cartoon always passing the message of girl should be strong and kind.
Feminist theory and disney movies by megan litteral on prezi. I dont think we can talk about this without a thematicallyappropriate musical number, so ill be back in a minute and continue. How incredibles 2 goes to work for the feminist superhero. How feminist was disneys original beauty and the beast. Mar 23, 2017 in 1991, susan faludis backlash was published. Disneys frozen doused the internet with a resurging feminist critique of disney princesses. Read the updated version of this article by clicking here. That was the summer i really noticed a boom in fairy tale film and tv adaptations, especially revisionminded fairy tales attempting to address. Not every princess need a prince or somebody to rescue her. Moana uses music better than any other disney film to date, because the characters dont stop singing threequarters of the way through and it ends up being the most feminist disney princess. Crystal hurley feminism feminism in movies are common among all types of genres. Apr 01, 2019 feminist film theory is a film criticism derived from feminist politics and feminist theory. The problem with false feminism dani colman medium.
A feminist ranking of all the disney princesses, because not. Feminist theory has been foundational to the establishment and development of film studies as a discipline. Disney released the film mulan in 1998 during the third wave of feminism, so perhaps this can explain why at first glance, mulan seems to be a feminist film encouraging the individual empowerment of women. The stark difference in attitudes toward the disney film in 1989 versus today serves as a reminder of how the concept of. How disney subtly made beauty and the beast more feminist. Its delightful to watch, complete with stunning visuals, splashy musical numbers and a subtle but refreshingly feminist update. What are the attitudes toward women held by the male characters. That was the summer i really noticed a boom in fairy tale film and tv adaptations, especially revision. Emma watson reveals feminist message in beauty and the beast. The best way to summarize feminist film theory is this. Before seeing the film, i was told it was about a kickass princess. Emma watson reveals feminist message in beauty and the. She is defiant in the face of men who want to make decisions for her.
Disney, fairy tales, and feminist theory the seattle school. Rapunzels father the king cries on rapunzels birthday as he remembers his kidnapped daughter. Feminists have long grappled with the contradictory forces that are at play in the 1991 disney film. Here are the reasons why moana is truly a feminist movie.
As the producer jim pentacost says in a 1995 documentary about the making of the film, pocahontas is the strongest heroine weve ever had in a disney film. 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. Jun 14, 2019 yahoo entertainments gwynne watkins makes the argument of why the little mermaid is a feminist film. Despite positive feminist images, the film is not free from traditional gender stereotypes. Even though it featured the voice of my beloved heroine veronica mars or as shes known in real life. I know, disney doesnt have a reputation for being feminism friendly. Disney, fairy tales, and feminist theory the seattle. Among with comparably old disney cartoons, there are the newest ones which are pretty amazing and why not we can even fully look at them as feminist disney movies. A blistering attack on the coopting and misrepresentation of feminism in us politics and popular culture, it made clear what many had long suspected. The female protagonists are only happy once they have fallen in love with a man, suggesting to the demographic of disneys audience, children and in particular young girls, that they will only be happy when they have fallen in love. Feb 01, 2014 its too many characters for one disney film. The genesis for the disney, fairy tales, and feminist theory class actually started in summer 2012 when jev forsberg master of divinity, 12 and i cotaught, cultural exegesis. 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.
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. Watch as she reveals how the fairytale hero has become more feminist this time around, and the lesson all. Feminist film theory however is often universalizing, and it makes use of complex language and alienating categories which deny womens experiences as active spectators enjoying films or reading them critically. All movies on this list pass the bechel test, the basic standard for determining whether a movie is feminist or not. Written by jared bush and buoyed by a stirring soundtrack by hamilton phenom linmanuel miranda, moana is the comingofage tale of a young person forging her own way in. While the film may be considered progressive by departing from the usual damsel in distress. Disney cartoon can be said to be feminist cartoon, especially the disney princess series. Flashback to the theater as the room darkens and the film starts, and i immediately start looking for the potential love interest to be introduceda subconscious habit after an entire childhood of disney princess plots ingrained in my memory. The incredibles feminist film theory catherine chua khay ting. The feminist legacy of the little mermaids divisive. Feminist film theory cinema and media studies oxford.
Despite the movie being two and a half years old, kids still watch the mess out of it and disney is still making bank with it, with the princesses elsa and anna appearing in once upon a time almost immediately, the short film. Nov 08, 2018 feminist film theory according to feminist film theorist laura mulvey, understanding scopophilia and fetishism is crucial in understanding the feminist lens, etherington. One year later, rebecca walker, daughter of the writer and activist alice, wrote becoming the third wave for. Kristen bell, i was pretty sure frozen was going to feed us disneys standard company line about princesses and marriage and girls needing to be rescued all the time. Since the camera represents a male point of view, movies are shot from a male perspective. Mar 31, 2017 feminist film theory feminist film theory claims that the patriarchal system formats conventional movies and therefore inherits and supports its views and values. Feminism and erin brockovich film studies 2270 introduction. Watch as she reveals how the fairytale hero has become. There is a debate going on right now about walt disney movies being feminist or nonfeminist. The feminist legacy of the little mermaids divisive, sexy. Apr, 2017 written by jared bush and buoyed by a stirring soundtrack by hamilton phenom linmanuel miranda, moana is the comingofage tale of a young person forging her own way in the world.
But they are getting better and here is a list for you to choose from. Last friday, i saw disney s tangled with my husband. Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree. The bechdel test has inspired others, notably feminist and antiracist critics and fans, to formulate criteria for evaluating works of fiction, in part because of the bechdel tests limitations. Feminist theory on frozen a spinoff of the snow queen gender roles, women oppression, and patriarchy in fairy tales you cant marry a man you just met. Feminism and the disney princesses films such as the little mermaid have created some controversy regarding feminine role models. Tv is indias biggest digital storytelling for women, dedicated to passionately championing and promoting their journeys. The feminist theory classifies a voice to achieve womens liberation by elimination the oppression of women in society. Moana is disneys most feminist film shethepeople tv. Feb 28, 2020 march is womens history month, the perfect time to dust off your copy of the feminine mystiqueor hit play any one of these amazing films made for, by, or about women. Feminist film theory according to feminist film theorist laura mulvey, understanding scopophilia and fetishism is crucial in understanding the feminist lens, etherington. Frankly, i was surprised by disneys latest animated film frozen.
There are some movies that are better examples than others. While watching disney movies as a young kid, no one notices the feminist scenes, but as. Mar 08, 2017 emma watson stars as belle in disneys hotly anticipated beauty and the beast movie. Nonetheless, had we been looking for a predictor of how the third wave of feminism would play out in popular culture and the mainstream media, theres something else we should have been studying disney s animated film beauty and the beast, first released in 1991. I thought it was a pretty good feministy movie, especially considering that it was a disney princesstype movie.
In 1960 through the 1980s is when the second wave feminism was going on. Feminist theory on frozen by jenna callahan on prezi. One year later, rebecca walker, daughter of the writer and activist alice, wrote becoming the third wave. Brave, disneypixars newly released fantasy adventure film, features two female protagonists struggling within the strictures and dynamics of 10th century life in the scottish highlands. Scopophilia is freudian jargon for taking pleasure in looking, while fetisism is defined as an object being the focus of sexual desire etherington. Yahoo entertainments gwynne watkins makes the argument of why the little mermaid is a feminist film. Twentyfive years ago, at the time of writing, patricia erens, in her introduction to issues in feminist film criticism, wrote that the rise of feminist film criticism is an outgrowth of the womens movement, which began in the united states in the late 1960s, of feminist scholarship in a variety of disciplines, and of womens filmmaking. On the one hand, belle maintains a strong sense of self throughout the movie.
These 6 disney movies are actually feministheres what to. Aug 10, 2018 the genesis for the disney, fairy tales, and feminist theory class actually started in summer 2012 when jev forsberg master of divinity, 12 and i cotaught, cultural exegesis. Do any stereotypical characterizations of women appear. In this period of postmodern filmmaking, feminist film critic laura. Aug 23, 2016 feminist film theory is a theoretical film criticism started in 1920s. Therefore, cinema as a whole has been created through the lens of the male gaze and thus forced roles and stereotypes onto women that may. Questions for analysis is the text narrated by a male or female. Ive heard the theory that elsas let it go is subtly intended.