8/15/2023 0 Comments Disney brave figures![]() ![]() Through the villains, Disney comments on body image, demonstrating that beautiful is good, and ugly is bad. The intimidating features do add to the character, but the larger body shape often has no purpose. The female antagonists of Disney animations are strikingly presented in a similar unattractive manner. Mother Gothel, in her younger form, however, and Lady Tremaine each possess a normal body shape, but seem almost overweight in comparison to the princesses. Ursula is a giant octopus and completely contrasting in figure to Ariel's size zero body. Maleficent and Mother Gothel (as an old woman) are not necessarily larger in body size than the princesses of their films, but their body features, including hands, face shape, and hair, are quite eerie. In both their facial features and their body shape, these characters are specifically designed by Disney to appear ugly and frightening. Ursula, from The Little Mermaid, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, Mother Gothel from Tangled, and Lady Tremaine from Cinderella, for example, are female antagonists of their films and all possess traits culturally defined as unattractive. In addition to promoting society's thin ideal, Megara encourages the idea of appearance over personality within relationships, and the use of sexuality to attain what one desires.įurthermore, there is a stark contrast in the appearance of Disney villains compared to the female protagonists. In an episode of the TV series version of Hercules, Meg " shows very little remorse in using her sexual abilities to manipulate the young Hercules" ("Megara" 2014). In fact, Meg is very smug and often tricks Hercules, and the plot line presents little reason for why Hercules would be interested in Meg's personality. Throughout the picture, it seems as if Hercules is attracted to her based on solely her appearance, rather than her character, which is apparent in their first meeting in the way he reacts to her movements and her comments. She has exaggerated curves with an almost nonexistent waist. Yet, Meg is known as the skinniest, most outrageously shaped female Disney character of all. She, too, has a strong personality for a female character, as she is independent and defiant, and plays a large role by helping defeat the antagonist and saving Hercules. The female protagonist in Disney's production Hercules, Megara, is treated as merely a sexual interest by the men in the film. Despite the negative response from a portion of its audience, Disney continues to adhere to the unchanged cultural definition of typical beauty and has made little to no effort to alter the standard over the years Disney's rhetoric on body image demonstrates to viewers that to be beautiful and successful, one must be thin. Disney movies present the idea of beauty that society seeks, but then also increase the negative influence of the "ideal" body type. ![]() Disney has continued this trend since the earliest productions with female leads. ![]() If the company were to present a woman with a different body type, society may not find her beautiful, and Disney could risk losing popularity and profit from the production. Disney follows society's expectations of stereotypical beauty with its animations. Our society views a slender, hourglass figure as beautiful, and the media reflects that. Also, the media influences society - the impact goes both directions ("Disney Princesses & Disappearing Waistlines" 2009). The "thin ideal" has existed in American culture since the 1960s, and it is still increasingly prevalent today in numerous forms of media. This unnatural, and unhealthy, body size presented in Disney's animated characters however, is what society calls for. Princesses and other female protagonists are displayed with size zero waists, skinny limbs, and even small feet. Despite advances in the rhetoric on race and gender, Disney lags in advancing their portrayal of body image. ![]()
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