I'm at my friends' apartment, and after almost a year of "getting-around-to-it" and "maybe-laters" I'm finally crossing something important off my to do list.
I'm watching the Princess and the Frog.
And impressed. It shows how the audience-speaker relationship really goes two ways. A change in one does effect the other.
I grew up in the era of Mulan and Pocohantas (which featured a song called "Savages"). As far as I remember, Disney doesn't seem to have the most pristine track record for political correctness in its films. From "Songs of the South," to the film Dumbo, which starred a cheery crowd crows, one named Jim.
So I had to wonder how the Cinematic giant would respond to an evolving audience. A group of viewers with increasing expectations of racial equality and acceptance of cultural differences.
As I sit here now, the froggy lovers hoping through the tombs of New Orleans on Mardi Gras night, I have to admit- I'm thrilled. Disney knows how to please its audience, to aim and cultivate its films at their desires- both superficial and moral. The Princess and the Frog features a strong female character, Tiana. She does more of the saving than the prince. It deals with deep themes- well for Disney- of dreams, and the costs of single minded determination. And it is exploding with Louisiana culture.
Hokey songs and plot holes forgiven, The Princess and the Frog is an interesting indication of the direction in which our society is headed. If films are products of the imagination of our culture, this one shows that we have come a long way. It stars Disney's first mixed race couple. Maybe it's been a long time coming, but as Disney caters toward the appetite of a progressive audience, it transforms itself in the process. A rhetorical fairytale.
I enjoyed this movie despite the corniness too- and I completely agree with you that Disney is evolving as the culture of the country is evolving. Audience matters.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutley in love with what you have written. It's crazy to think that even rhetoric can be used in a simple, Disney movie isn't it? Disney has come a long way just as you had mentioned. I remember reading that Walt was known for being a sort of "racist" is some manners. He would depict African Americans as being dumb and there were no asians until Mulan, etc. It is a big step. In the right direction. Good job. (:
ReplyDeleteA disney movie was a nice topic to read about on a rhetoric blog! Disney has come a long way and you're very right when you say that the audience, our society, has influenced the speaker.
ReplyDeleteUsually I tune into the State of the Union, but this year, like you, I did not watch it (side note: I did not watch the Princess and the Frog either). I really like how you were able to incorporate this Disney movie into the rhetorical blog. Children do not even notice this rhetoric when they watch the movie, but I find that now as I am growing, it is much easier to identify the rhetoric and double meanings of the messages in cartoons
ReplyDeleteI love, Love, LOVE this movie. When I first saw it, I was like WOW. And what's even funnier is if you go into Disney stores (whatever ones you can still find) and look at backpacks and clothes made for little girls, they incorporated Tiana and took out one of the other princesses. The costumes you can get to dress up like your favorite princess now include her, and I always thought that was pretty cool. Disney has evolved so much, starting with strictly caucasian princesses, then moving to Pocahontas, a strong willed native american, to Mulan, courageous and beautiful young asian woman trying to find her place in the world to Tiana. It's a big step, and I'm glad they did it.
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