CURR 501 Blog 7: Moana through a different lens

 



As I've gotten older I've started to already watch Disney movies from a different lens as far as paying attention to character races, social classes, gender roles, etc. Growing up as a black girl from a low income household it was never easy to find self representation in Disney Films, yet, I always loved them! I still loved the songs and the dances and the aspect of "all your dreams can come true when you discover and believe in yourself". However, not gonna lie I loved seeing more races being shown as movies like "Mulan", Pocahontas", and "Aladdin" . And I was quick to claim that the movie "The Lion King" took place in Africa although the majority of it's voice actors were white. I was able to witness Tiana become the first black Disney Princess which was amazing!! But now, here I am watching Moana from a different lens after reading Rethinking Popular Culture and Media :"Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us" by Linda Christensen. 
Linda Christenson does not point out that Disney movies are bad, nor is Moana a bad movie to watch, she just raises questions that I have never gone in depth about although I've clearly seen as Disney makes these points so obvious to realize in these movies. She has us focus on the portrayal of how men, women, children, poor people, people of color, and overweight/skinny people are portrayed in Disney movies and how does this relate to our lives and society at large. 
Take a look at my Moana notes here! as I understand the "Secret Education of Disney Princesses". But one note that I would like to share is that Moana does not refer to herself as a Princess and is one of the only "Disney Princesses" that doesn't get that title in the end of the movie. It fascinates me that Moana's mother is trying to prepare her to be the islands chief, a role that traditionally would be for a male. At the end of the movie Moana is able to take up the role of being a "leader" and not a "princess" as she becomes chief and wayfinder, a role that leads her people as they are voyaging". 
I've always been a fan of Moana and although I can't help but notice some of the main focus points that Christenson raises, Moana is still a movie that has done a lot to shift that "Princess" mindset and we would typically see in older Disney films and just teaches us that life and self discovery is learning in itself!





Comments

  1. Roberto VargasJuly 5, 2021 at 7:16 PM

    Tammy, I agree that as a person of color, I too hold more connection to movies that have more ethnic diversity like the Lion King. This movie rocks in so many levels and I am happy to added to one of Disney go to's.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CrystalJuly 6, 2021 at 9:07 AM

    Hi Tammy,
    I agree that Disney did make a lot of shifts in this movie to get away from the stereotypical disney princess story line and Moana in fact states that she is not a princess when Maui calls her one in the movie. I think that point was made intentionally.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jeanette's Blog 2021July 6, 2021 at 3:09 PM

    Hi Tammy. I agree that it is nice that Disney stuck with Moana being a leader and not a princess. I like how she repeatedly demanded that she was not a princess throughout the movie. At the end when she is leading her people as a wayfinder as they finally all leave her island together made me happy that Disney was able to stick all the way to the end that there could be a female lead in one of their movies that was NOT a princess. I am also glad that Disney is giving children of color the characters they deserve to see in lead roles, strong, smart, compassionate, and so many more characteristics. It is a long time over due.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LesleyJuly 20, 2021 at 3:29 PM

    Love your Disney notes!! Glad this assignment resonated with you.

    ReplyDelete

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