Disney's Moana
Before reading Christensen’s “Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us,” I had some understanding of the negative connotations Disney movies portrayed against people of color and women and how it glorified white men. That being said, I had been watching Disney movies with a critical lens. One thing that I did enjoy about Christensen’s article was the fact that she encouraged students to do more than just criticizing the roles being portrayed in Disney movies. In her words, “Turning off the cartoons doesn’t stop the sexism and racism” (p. 183). Reading the roles her students took to stop others from participating from watching Disney movies was inspiring. However, Disney movies have created generations of “secret education” with misleading personifications of people of color and women. Disney has played a major role in popular culture and they should always be seen with a critical lens.
Knowing of the frameworks Disney uses with people of color and women, it was a relief to not have gone down the list checking off all the negative connotations. Disney’s Moana is a very pleasing movie to watch. We have a young Polynesian woman named Moana, which means ocean, who defies all the negative connotations portrayed by most of Disney’s princesses. To begin, this leader and not a princess did not have white skin or blond hair, she was brown and had long curly hair. Moana did not demonstrate any dainty, domestic, needs to be saved, compliant characteristics, instead she was strong, fast thinker, fierce, and was always full of curiosity. The movie also had other characters that did portray some of the usual Disney traditional characteristics. Father Tui is a patriarchal man and overprotective, Grandma Tala is an old woman who no one listens to, Te Ka is a female lava monster, and Maui can not go on without its hook which to me was a bit phallic. Moana discovered her people were voyagers and she sacrifices her life to restore older with Te Fiti, mother nature. In the end, she helps her village regain the voyager traditions with her as the main lead.
Although not perfect, Disney’s Moana deserves to be watched by young children, especially young girls. Just as the older princess movies showed a “secret education,” this movie can reshape such ideologies to better ones. Music is also a big part of Disney. In Moana, we hear a transitional song that is first sung while trying to identify self-identity and what their role is. Near the end of the movie, the song changes to having discovered their true meaning and understanding that the answer lies within her. Moana is a great movie to watch for all the positive characteristics and life skills the main character possesses.
We all have mixed feeling about Disney movies but watching Moana felt different. The studio employed scholarly and cultural advisor to the film in an effort to maintain cultural accuracy and respect the cultures portrayed in the film. Of course, and not to excuse it, something will always be missed, as there were many that pointed to the film's imperfections. But it is still one that features a princess of color as a champion of her culture and roots, and not as and inaccurate token (Pocahontas is another princess of color, but we know her story is not portrayed truthfully or responsibly).
ReplyDeleteJo-Ana, you are so right about Pocahontas. It is a bit unpleasant to see her not be portrayed truthfully as you mentioned.
DeleteRoberto, I agree that I knew a bit about Disney's Portrayal of people of color and women but it was different watching after reading the chapter and reviewing the slides. Moana did do a much better job than other movies, but like Jo-Ana said something will always be missed.
ReplyDeleteI think that even under a more watchful eye there will always be pieces that Disney, or any other movie maker misses, even when trying their hardest to portray characters with integrity. I feel like Moana is the first to provide a more accurate story telling experience. It gives me hope that future movies will continue to provide more movies that depict various races, sexes and beliefs more accurately.
ReplyDeleteJeanette,
DeleteI have the same hope as well about movies depicting various races, sexes, and beliefs more accurately.
Roberto, thank you for this thoughtful response! I like your idea that this movie can reshape ideologies about what a "Disney princess movie" is. I believe that it is important to not just brush Disney aside as a company that produces biased media, but as one that is trying to change -- not because I am there biggest advocate, but because I think the content they produce reaches so many children that a want to change is important. I am hopeful that they will continue making movies like Moana that are more culturally responsive.
ReplyDeleteI also agree it was nice to see a different kind of princess.
ReplyDelete