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TRANSCRIPT
Introduction
Defining Genres
Disney Corporation and identifying its reach and influence
Fairy tale genre
Disney Princesses
Men in Disney films
Assignment 1: 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
1940 live action films e.g. The
Reluctant Dragon (1941)
1986 expanded to other media
2006 bought Pixar (associated with
Bug’s Life (1998), Monsters Inc.
(2001) - Up(2009), Brave (2012)
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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Pressure to change outdated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
◦ But maybe Elsa’s power places her as
‘other’
◦ Body image stereotypical
◦ Male prince as the villain
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New Man in Disney Films
Cars, Toy Story, Incredibles
Journeying towards more New Man type
masculinities
Muscle bound, testosterone hero less
popular.
Male/male relationships also figure
All remain heterosexual
Wall E (Disney Pixar) interesting
representation of masculinity
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Race in Disney Social order
King and Simba drawn brightly, smooth
Villain Scar – dark, angular, thin, disfigured
Hyenas
Racism in Disney examples
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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.
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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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