Advice to young girls from a cartoon princess

[kate_wdw]

Have you seen these web videos from Second City? (Warning: They're both mildly risque at times.)

Advice to Young Girls from Belle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuk-h2ZYNJU


Advice to Young Girls from Ariel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8xCgC3w1zs&feature=player_embedded

Please note that I am NOT trying to stir up a heated conversation. I'm posting this because: 1) They're Disney-related (obviously), 2) They're funny (IMO), and 3) I think they bring up some good points about some of the messages that Disney cartoons send.

 

[kristilew]

Those are great! Thanks for sharing!

When DD was very young, I read a book called Raising Strong Daughters that did a whole thing about the real messages Lady and the Tramp send to young girls. Never been able to watch a Disney movie in the same way since. And poor DD has had to listen to me harp on the subtext for almost 13 years now! She'll get a kick out of these videos.

 

[punkin]

I refused to let my girls have a copy of The Little Mermaid (the Disney version) because it is essentially about a hormonal teen who runs away from home for some guy who doesn't even know she exists. That's not the subtext. That is the entire plot of the movie.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I refused to let my girls have a copy of The Little Mermaid (the Disney version) because it is essentially about a hormonal teen who runs away from home for some guy who doesn't even know she exists. That's not the subtext. That is the entire plot of the movie.

find and have them read the origional story. it has a much different ending that the one disney dreamed up.

she ends up as sea foam, then an air "spirit"

and the "Message" was to pay attention to what your parents said and not make rash decisions, or else you could suffer the concequences.

and there is a very deep religious overtone to the story.

http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html

 

[punkin]

find and have them read the origional story. it has a much different ending that the one disney dreamed up.

she ends up as sea foam, then an air "spirit"

and the "Message" was to pay attention to what your parents said and not make rash decisions, or else you could suffer the concequences.

and there is a very deep religious overtone to the story.

http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html

I have read the original. In fact as a child I had the translated collected works of Hans Christian Andersen (some of those stories were quite terrifying). That's why I specifically referenced the Disney version. I do think the original was more about love and self-sacrifice than parental authority though.

 

[kate_wdw]

Glad you liked them!

 

[kate_wdw]

and the "Message" was to pay attention to what your parents said and not make rash decisions, or else you could suffer the concequences.

Do you mean in the movie or the original version of the story? Because in the movie version, her travails certainly seem to be overshadowed by the fact that she lands a prince.

 

[mhsjax]

I am so glad that I don't get worked up over these movies. My DD loves them all and she wasn't harmed by them, really I am sorry but that is craZy to think that a little girl watching a princess movie is going to cause problems.
I would love to know the "real" message about Lady and the Tramp, I mean talking dogs, get real, it is a cute little story.


My DD watched them all over and over again, she is now 11. she doesn't even really remember what they were about. I would be much more worried about other things if a movie that a little girl watched influenced her decisions as a young adult. And I don't think you will find a DD stronger than the one I have, she is so independent and smart and doesn't even think about boys yet. I don't think thoses movies damaged her, but then again she is smart enough, as are yours, to know that these movies are make believe, just as the castle in wdw is.

 

[Sparx]

I love these!

I don't like how Belle said Gaston was a good choice though. He was just as overbearing an abusive as Beast was.

I love the disney movies, since I grew up watching them. I think its important to talk to girls about these movies though. They have serious undertones that are very dangerous if the children don't understand.

I don't think all media is bad for children though. I grew up with a lot of strong female influences from video games. I didn't want to be Cinderella, I wanted to be Samus, Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Laura Croft. Those were strong, powerful women who got what they wanted and changed the "world" they were in. I'd rather be Jill, Samus, Claire or Laura any day over Cinderella or Aurora.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I love these!

I don't like how Belle said Gaston was a good choice though. He was just as overbearing an abusive as Beast was.

I love the disney movies, since I grew up watching them. I think its important to talk to girls about these movies though. They have serious undertones that are very dangerous if the children don't understand.

I don't think all media is bad for children though. I grew up with a lot of strong female influences from video games. I didn't want to be Cinderella, I wanted to be Samus, Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Laura Croft. Those were strong, powerful women who got what they wanted and changed the "world" they were in. I'd rather be Jill, Samus, Claire or Laura any day over Cinderella or Aurora.

I grew up in the 70's and I wanted to be Wonder Woman.

 

[punkin]

I grew up in the 70's and I wanted to be Wonder Woman.

Hey I still want to be Wonder Woman. Have you seen how great Lynda Carter looks for her age.

Anyway, the messages are clear to little girls on a subconscious level. Does that mean that my girls didn't watch Disney movies? Of course not. I just have a particular antipathy towards the little mermaid. For some reason it bothers me more than the others.