Progression of Disney Gender Roles - Renegade Cut

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Please watch: "The Fountain - Renegade Cut"
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[casir.]

I really like the fact that you talk about both gender roles. Most blogs and videos only talk about the princesses but it's also interesting to analyse the changes the male characters of disney have gone through, especially in films where they are contrasted to women.

[lacountess]

Interesting analysis about the men. I never quite knew why I liked Prince Eric more than the classic Disney princes until I realized he had a personality and wasn't just a prize to be won.

[hopecross]

I find the progression of the actual princess characters pretty interesting. The ones in the beginning were pretty passive and one note and interchangeable while the ones in the 90's actually had personalities. But it's only recently that the princesses have actually shown character growth -- they tended to always be in the right, to change the world around them. Now we have Tiana learning to enjoy the things she does have sometimes instead of constantly working and looking ahead, Rapunzel bucking off Mother Gothel's constant subtle put downs and gaining confidence and trust in herself, and Elsa understanding the strength that comes with love and letting people in. For the future, I don't think we necessarily need more action hero princesses in Disney, but we definitely need more fleshed out princesses actively resolving their own conflicts.

[samwallaceart]

This is awesome. Best summation of Disney's role in feminism I've heard yet, and your debunking of some common gripes was very effective.

[skinnersweet]

Love the way you describe the studio. "The company's goal is to make profit, not here for the humanitarian purpose" huh. That hit my spot 😁 ha ha

[jasminearias]

You hit this on the nail! Loved this video, thank you!!

[GiantButterKnife]

Would you consider revisiting this topic once we get a few more Disney films with leading women to look at?

[bb]

Not limited to this video; Pocahontas often gets skipped in discussions of Disney princesses.

[fcbahamutzero]

I really enjoy your work, Leon!  You are really smart, and really know how to point out viable information about many films that myself and others love.  Please keep up the amazing work! :)

[The_Chosen_Heretic]

3:49, A great video essay, though I will say that apparently female literacy at both the time the original story was published and the time period the story takes place in, wasn't that uncommon (at least in France), or so I've heard.

[FingersKungfu]

"reversing the role" is nothing unique to Disney. Japanese Anime culture is full of action heroines. People just love them. Just look at Studio Ghibli's greatest hits: Princess Mononoke, Totoro, Spirited Away etc. Almost all of them feature girls as leading protagonists. And anime producers and their audience are mostly Japanese male! Does that make Japan a less male dominated culture? No.

What I'm saying is that Disney just discover the same formula that made Anime great in the past two decades. Yes, they are copying the Japanese's success recipe. But it won't create or lead to any kind of feminist revolution the critics have argued. Replacing the "traditional masculinity"? Don't make me laugh. Everybody knows that 53% of white women elected the misogynist Trump to the office. America's beacon of (white) male domination has never been burning brighter.

[AllisterH]

One thing I think you might want to add is that Mulan seems to be the only Disney princess that actually seems interested in the Male form, especially that of her "future" partner

[e-psi]

I feel what many people tend to misunderstand about Disney's storytelling is that many of them are meant to be love stories. Yeah it's cliche, but it's two way in terms of gender roles. The boy pursues the girl as much as vice versa most of the time. I'd argue Snow White isn't anymore cliche than Prince Charming, who doesn't even have a basic agency and character besides loving Snow White and kissing her back to life. Same for Cinderella's prince who isn't so much her knight in shining armour and more just an unspecified suitor who has to marry out of obligation.

[emilygoldsmith]

Hey you should create one of these for the modern disney movies. Would love to hear your take on them.

[michaeldinapoli]

I think your line about "art is supposed to just be entertaining" begs the question of what is entertaining? And what is a person's reaction coming from?

[marcodimbo]

Ummm.... My Chinese husband hates Mulan... Sees it as an insult to his culture. I loved this film though.

[coffeefrog]

Man your feminism is hard to swallow sometimes, but I do like most of the things you have to say on this subject.