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Welcome to Film, Fiction & Criticism Summer 2010
This is a non-chronological, discussion-based class that examines the relationship between literature and film. We’ll explore the aesthetic make-up of masterworks of literature chosen from the novel, the short story and the play, and will focus on the structure and meaning of these literary works. This blog is your place to play with the ideas discussed in class. Enjoy!
Seriously, this cat has too much time on his hands. Is he realy suggesting that the princess and the frog should be historically accurate? The movie is a fantasy, marketed to children. Disney gets a pass on this one. I want my three year old daughter to believe that a black girl can be a princess.
ReplyDeleteLet's save discussions of mammy, post civil war slavery and southern racism for a mature audience. Should they rerelease Song of the South? No, it's available for those who really want to see it. I saw the first ten minutes on YouTube
-Adib Musawwir
This review is as masterfully written as it is totally misguided. Clearly, the reviewer is looking for some platform for his Disney-bashing. He had to reach back to the 1940's to get it, but when he gets it, he does a great job of interweaving old reality with his lame attempt at defining a new reality with Princess and the Frog.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate/ unfortunate to see Song of the South as a child, while it was in theaters. For me, a product at that time of widespread bigotry and having been raised on such crap as Step-N-Fetchit, Amos N Andy, Jack Benny's Rochester, the ridiculous portrayal of Butterfly McQueen (I don' know nuthin' 'bout birthin' no babies) in Gone With the Wind, the movie/cartoon combination was magical. It had great songs, cartoons and real people together on one screen. . . It also held tons of racist remarks and situations that I, as a small child, was not aware of yet. After I grew up enough, this film and many other elements of racism of my youth began to become painfully exposed to me.
As I became more aware, I was able to look back to such terrible forms of bigotry as Song of the South in both amazement and shame. Amazed that we allowed such things to exist and shame that we raised children to think this was alright!
For this reviewer to invent this feeble attemot at linking The Princess and the Frog to Song of the South, through invented and misguided false bogotry (Oprah, covering the princess up as a frog, coloring the prince mocha, etc) shows that the reviewer either has a grudge against Disney, has nothing else to review, or both. But he does a good job with his misdirected invention.
Everyone wants to criticize. Why not live and just enjoy the movie for what it is…
ReplyDeleteMaybe because one thing in this common era of fiction is to criticize. This article
contains quite a few assumptions, and personal offense. None the less, strikingly quite a few research was done pertaining to this particular movie. The author is entitled to his opinion about what he thinks the princess and the frog failed to achieve. Yet other viewers may think differently than his accusations. Regardless everyone is entitled to there own opinion. I do feel as though this author is taking the film the Princess and the frog way to personal.
Adib is right, they have way too much time on their hands. I find it not fair. What if any of the other Disney movies where to star an African American? Would that make the movie as good or bad? Its a little kids movie and its meant for kids to show them they can do anything when they set their minds to it. Its a lesson, its not supposed to be about race or anything like that
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with the other posters on this one. Nelson is taking his interpretations of Princess and the Frog way too far, and, as Jack said, was probably just looking for a reason to bash Disney.
ReplyDeleteYes, there's no question about it, Song of the South was racist. Does that have anything to do with the latest animation? No. In a time where everyone is trying to be politically correct, it makes sense that Disney came out with this last film. They already have Pocahontas, Mulan and Aladdin; it was only a matter of time before they came out with a black princess.
Unfortunately, I have not seen either of these movies, though they are both on my "to watch list." I'd have to say the one thing that disappoints me most about this article is the fact that Disney will not be releasing Song of the South again. Anyone have a copy? I'm thinking movie night is in order.-Danielle Dye
Each work is a product of its own time. That Disney now has main characters of Native American, African American, Asian, and Middle Eastern descent speaks to the times that we live in, although present inclusion can only make up for, but not excuse past bigotry. The article brings an interesting / important issue to light, but to attack a film made in 1940s America for being racist is more like stating the obvious to me.
ReplyDelete-Josh Alandy
Okay, so first let me start off by saying that I have not seen either of these 2 movies, so i apologize if I am missing something obvious, but after reading these posts i have to wonder how much of the general indignation is over the intellectual merits of the reviewer or if its just because he is defacing the maker of our beloved children's movies. To me, he made a good point in that the corparate (and Disney is nothing if not a corporation) need to be politically correct can dampen the artistic and/or entertainment value of a film.-Joey Coble
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately "The Song of the South" is a product of a bye-gone era with stereotypes that are no longer considered socially acceptable. As for "The Princess and the Frog" I thought it was well done and personally liked it for it's good music, character development and for the return of the old 2-D animation style. I was curious how they were going to handle racial issues and I thought Disney did all right with it, (mentioned a few times in the film where the adults could catch it, though the younger members might not).
ReplyDeleteAs for the review, whenever some form of media comes close to a controversial topic it's going to draw some flak. "Oh this movie didn't adress this issue enough!" "This movie isn't politically correct!" "There shouldn't be racial issues in a children's movie!" People like to complain and sometimes they have a point and other times there just complaining for the hell of it. Myself I like it when a "children's" program has a more mature theme to it without becoming overly preachy. And I think that Disney managed to pull off a successful gamble in this movie.
-Matt Hecker
Disney's decision to not releasing "Song of the South" is kind of odd. I think most would understand that the movie was created in a different time period where the derogatory views were acceptable. The author mentions that the movie has merits that would make it worth watching for movie aficionados. I see nothing wrong with releasing something with merit. They can fill it with disclaimers and such to their heart's content to deal with whatever problem they for see.
ReplyDeleteFor the portion dealing with the "Princess and the Frog": huh? Its a kids movie, skipping over some historical accuracies shouldn't be a big deal. If they want to avoid some issues for a kids movie, let them.
The point brought forth by the author of the article is in my opinion only is stirring up controversy and should be disregarded for the sake of the children. Both of the cartoons have a mass younger audience and should not be exposed to superficial political or socioeconomic propaganda. Children are to explore the story of both tales and help them grow to better individuals, rather being closed minded adults who base decisions on superficial "facts."
ReplyDeleteI acknowledge that everything gone through production lines has a political agenda and it is impossible to safeguard cartoons and programs intended for children, but it is ridiculous to introduce our children to this garage. Sooner or later they will find this poison themselves and stop being children but until then lets allow them to watch cartoons with rosy glasses on.
Levon Barnett
I was not sure why the author's tone was so incensed, this is not the first time Disney has faced criticism for whitewashing historical story lines, nor will it be the last. The most powerful weapon the consumer has is choice; so if parents do not want to expose their children to corporate hype and hypocrisy, then there are other choices, like an afternoon outing to the neighborhood park instead.
ReplyDeleteDawn Beck
It's interesting how out of all the Disney movies with many different ethnicity The Princess and the Frog and Song of the South are the only ones that have controversy. I think the only reason Song of the South came out was because it was a different time.
ReplyDeleteKevin Pujol
While "Song of the South" is perceived as a product of its time, there is no place for this movie in our contemporary society, merit or not. This movie should forever be seen as a stain on the fabric of Walt Disney's reputation of past works, just as slavery is a seen as a flaw woven into the history of the U.S. This movie is obviously the sugar coated portrayal of African American people in the South. The real songs of the south can be read in W.E.B. DuBois' "The Souls of Black Folks". I don't mean to bash on DIsney either, I just found the movie really offensive and was appalled by the fact that it is a Disney movie.
ReplyDeleteAs far as "The Princess and the Frog", I agree with my fellow classmates in that the author of the article is taking it too far in trying to compare/contrast both movies. Regardless if they based around the same time frame, they are debuting in completely different eras. The objective of most Disney movies, or at least the ones that I have seen since I was a child basically from Lion King and then on, is to assure self-confidence and the belief that no dream is out of reach. And as a kid, that motivation is nice to feel. A kid is not worried as to if the movie is politically correct or not, they just want to see a happy ending. =)
I wonder what would motivate someone to try so hard find a racial issue in a disney movie. It's a Disney movie. The only awareness of racial issues the viewers (children) might have derives from the fact that there aren't many black characters in other disney classics.
ReplyDeleteHe tries to make Disney sound bad by using terms like "Corporate" big heads and what not, to support his claim that they maybe have crossed some sort of line, when I think they just want to appeal to more ethnicities.
He complains that racial issues are sidestepped; riiiigghhhhttt, a kids movie is a great time to take the issues of race head on!
One of his writer's "sidestepping" example was how the princess was turned into a frog. I don't need make a sarcastic remark to point out the stupidity of that claim.
Lastly, or firstly, I must denote this guy's opinion overall due to this remark: "And, of course, by setting the movie in pre-Katrina New Orleans, we are clearly in a fantasy world from frame one." Wow, I just think this guy/girl should stop watching kids movies if he wants to discuss racial issues. Fantasy world, no shit, it's a disney movie. I haven't read the rest but I bet at least some of you agree this guy's no credibility.