Where Do The Mermaids Stand - 1219 Words

In current society today, technology is advancing at a rapid rate and with so much exposure to the media it is difficult to control what is being seen by children. Disney is one of the largest and most successful companies in the film industry. From children 4 years old to adults and every age in between, Disney has found a way to create films that entertain all ages. The seemingly innocent content of Disney movies are enjoyed from a very young age; however, behind the colorful and lighthearted storylines of many Disney films lies many unreasonable social ideologies that children may be subconsciously becoming accustomed to. In her work, â€Å"Where Do the Mermaids Stand,† Laura Sells discusses the hidden messages in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Sells explains how this movie expresses a hierarchy of gender and exaggerated femininity by demeaning the role of women in society. Susan Jeffords, author of â€Å"The Curse of Masculinity,† discusses similar ideologies in her article. This article looks at Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and focuses primarily the role of men and the how they perform to fit into this white male system by means of upholding hegemonic masculinity. The two articles â€Å"Where do the Mermaids stand† and â€Å"The curse of Masculinity,† bring to attention the reinforcement of the white male system, the racialization in the white male system, and the reinforcement of hegemonic masculinity in beloved childhood Disney movies. Firstly, both the articles reinforce the idea ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Movie Bella 1419 Words   |  6 Pagesshe will have to meet them their. Bella also invites her friend Emma. Bella goes in while Emma is getting candy from the small stand. Bella sees Sarah and Nathan at the snack stand together. Bella wonders how her best friend could betray her like that, with the guy she liked. Bella stormed away from the movie. Bella ran to the bridge over looking the beach where she goes to when she needs to be alone. While Sarah was chasing after her, Bella tripped and fell into the water. Sarah heard BellaRead MoreThe Female And Female Relationship1140 Words   |  5 Pagesversion of The Little Mermaid reinforces women’s struggle to make sure they secure a place in a patriarchal society. The Disney rendition is an allegory for women trying to gain access to the â€Å"male sphere† society by sacrificing women’s strength. â€Å"On the other hand, I see ‘The little Mermaid’ as also more liberatory because it contains the means of its own undoing in the camp character of Ursula the Sea Witch, and in Disney’s compulsory happy ending which bestows the mermaid with both access andRead MoreLife Lessons In Fairy Tales : Cinderella And The Little Mermaid1040 Words   |  5 Pagesand The Little Mermaid. Since these are the only fairy tales that I can say I’m familiar with these will be the ones that I will be discussing further. In these fairy tales, there are two very important lessons to be learned. 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It is my favorite movie because I relate to the kids who neverRead MoreEssay on From Delicate Damsels to Strong Self-Starters978 Words   |  4 Pagesperiod of time where society continues to show disapproval of Disney’s por trayal of women until the release of â€Å"The Little Mermaid† in 1989. Unlike the female protagonists before her, the protagonist of â€Å"The Little Mermaid†, Ariel, is strong-willed, independent, and rebellious - the spark of Disney’s future success. The next three princesses that Walt Disney creates continue to reflect society’s changing thoughts on female role models. Beginning with Ariel from â€Å"The Little Mermaid†, Disney startsRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock986 Words   |  4 Pagesgeneration, as they still can help the younger. If they do, they can stop the chaos in the world that stems from the isolation and loss of faith. Eliot, in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, argues that the younger generation isolates the older, and to stop the impending chaos the generations must come together. The speaker starts by describing a room, in which â€Å"the women come and go / Talking of Michelangelo† (13-14). The speaker stands outside and looks into a room with some women talking. TheseRead MoreAnalysis Of The Little Mermaid 1688 Words   |  7 PagesThe Little Mermaid is a perfect depiction of the typical teenage heroine who is striving to find happiness in her own life, but is restricted by the wicked femme fatale who attempts to destroy all that is good, and sabotage the heroine’s happy ending. Our teenage heroine in this case would be Ariel, the 16-year-old daughter of Triton, the king of the ocean. 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However, being a mermaid, the â€Å"innocent† detail was only an illusion.      Ã‚   You were a mermaid; stories of your breathtaking appearance yet deadly nature have been shared fromRead MoreThe Mermaid And Disney s The Little Mermaid2132 Words   |  9 PagesCipri Imaginative Literature 30 April 2013 Andersen’s â€Å"The Little Mermaid† vs. Disney’s The Little Mermaid: The Struggle to Find Sexuality Walt Disney’s movies have been thrilling young children, most especially young girls, around the world for years. One specific movie, The Little Mermaid, had young girls wanting to be just like Ariel and buying any paraphernalia they could after the movie came out. But have you ever wondered where these stories have come from? Or why they always end with a â€Å"happilyRead MoreThe Princess Of The Mermaid Queen1426 Words   |  6 PagesOnce upon a time in a kingdom deep in the ocean there lived a mermaid queen who had 6 mermaid princesses for daughters. The youngest and most rebellious princess was named Aria. She was 16 years old, and was not as uptight as her sisters. Aria was not your typical princess, she didn t swim straight or comb her hair out every second of the day. She loved adventures and to have fun with her friends under the sea. Aria s mother the Mer-Queen did not approve of Aria s behavior. She always felt like