Watching Disney through a Critical Lens

To have watched the Encanto movie after reading Barbara Ehrenreich's, "Bonfire of the Disney Princesses", Christensen's, "Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us" articles, and watching Professor's Bogad's "Disney Slide Deck", was eyeopening and made me aware to watch Disney movies through a critical lens which I didn't do before. Do I actually want to do that? When you watch a Disney movie I can imagine you want to be carried away into a fantasy world where they live happily ever after. And where you forget all about your troubles in life for an hour or so. I am glad to have been made aware of watching Disney movies through a critical lens and to have learned from the readings how oblivious I was to not see how real world issues and problems are not portrayed, or portrayed in minuscule doses in Disney movies. What will my experience be in the future when I watch a Disney movie? Am I going to criticize the movie and not enjoy watching Disney movies anymore?  I will be more aware of the message that is sent through a Disney movie. Leaves me to say that I hope that young boys and girls will let loose in their imagination in the fantasy world of Disney but that we as adults have the important task to guide and make them aware about the message of the movie and discuss the movie after watching to their level.

Encanto, shows a switch how male and female characters are portrayed. Mirabel, as a female takes the lead in the movie plus the fact that this movie took place in Colombia, a country in South-America where the  machismo culture rules, and how in this movie the male characters aren't the heroes, I think progress is being made.

I added the filled out guide to the movie Encanto beneath.

*If you want to type on this, go under FILE and “Make a Copy...” to save to your own Google Drive.

Understanding the Secret Education of Disney Princesses

Use these prompts as a guide for watching Encanto (2022). 

Take notes as you watch to help you think about the ‘secret education’ of this text. Focus on the green boxes in particular.

Make sure you have read the Christensen text (in the book) and viewed the Disney Slide Deck FIRST (before you watch the film.)

CONVENTION	HISTORICAL/ TRADITIONAL/ CONVENTIONAL	Encanto
Main Female Characters: How are women represented?	In a traditional princess story… Beautiful Dainty Domestic Weak Need to be saved Damsel in distress Kind At home with animals Soft spoken Compliant Naive Trusting	How does this film play with the idea of a princess? What do we learn about the power and limitations of girls/women through these female characters? Mirabel: The Movie started for me as Mirabel being the black sheep of the family and ended up the hero Isabella: Isabella was definitely the princess of the family. Luisa: Louisa had the gift of being strong physically with male features but emotionally she wasn’t
Main Male Characters: How are men represented?	In a traditional princess story… Strong Handsome Heroic Adventurous Leaders Providers Risk takers Barrel chested Decision makers Heads of households Confident	How does this film play with the idea of masculinity? What do we learn about the power and limitations of boys/men through these male characters? (Why don’t we talk about Bruno?) Bruno was considered different and that was not a good standard for the outside world. The appearance of the Madrigal family needed to be high. The movie didn’t really focus on men as heroes. Maybe only with the spirit of Pedro through the character of the Casita. The fact that Pedro, male figure died and Bruno was an outcast shows that men were not the highlight in this movie.
How to be a princess: what are the rules, regulations and requirements that the princess must follow? What does it mean to be groomed to lead?	In a traditional princess story… Obedient In search of prince Remain pristine Obligation to…. Some of the characteristics Well kept Wear dressed Be modest Look beautiful Passive Don’t cause trouble Don’t questions things	How does this film use Mirabel to teach us about leadership? What values are associated with her ability to lead in the Madrigal Family? What does she “have?” What is she “missing?” She has determination and is emotionally strong. She is curious and follows her heart. Family is important to her even if abuelita doesn’t  want to see it. She brings the family back together including Bruno, who was the outcast.She was also liked in the community.  Does the film shift from the beginning to the end in the way it views her ability to lead? I don’t think so. I believe she showed leadership all through the movie. Even at times when she showed vulnerability.
Knight in Shining Armor: In a traditional princess story, there is usually one of these!		In a different way portrayed it was Bruno
Sidekicks/Helpers: In a traditional princess story, there is usually one of these!	Helper Less attractive Smaller in size  Comic relief Dwarfs Lefue Monkey Abu Tiger Raja Mice in Cinderella Household objects in Beauty Olaf in Frozen	Mirabel’s father had a disproportionate ear and nose. Mirabel’s aunt’s husband is black small and stocky but with a great attitude.
Evil Character In a traditional princess story, there is usually one of these!	Dark Bodies are different than the heroine Scowl Evil prop Boils and blemishes Idealize beauty Evil music Smoke Neon green Magical element	There were none in this movie
CONVENTION	HISTORICAL/ TRADITIONAL	Encanto
What does Happily Ever After look like?	In a traditional princess story… Marriage between man and woman Wealth True love’s kiss Song, swelling music Happy animals Evil disappears/dies	The film uses the common trope of happily ever after -- it all gets wrapped up in the end.  Crescendo and SCENE Where do you see this? Describe all the elements that get resolved in the end of this film. Foundation of house and family is rebuild Family is reunited with Bruno
What cost is associated with power/reward? Who has to pay and with what?	In a traditional princess story… Death and revival Sacrifice family Sacrifice their passion Lose their voice Lose Femininity (Mulan)	Think about the ending…  what losses and gains do we see? How does the film calculate the resolution? The loss of Pedro who stays around in the form of symbols (Casita, butterflies)
Language/Tropes/Humor	Sidekicks Design of buildings/art Visual of the story Music Sexual innuendo	How does this film use humor to engage adults and children? Louisa carrying piano’s and donkey’s around like it is nothing. (Feminist hint?), The gifts, as in the great strength of Louisa, the weather carried by another sister,  Bruno with his slide show entertainment.  The disproportionate face of dad,
LGBTQ Resistance In a traditional princess story, there is usually some of this!	Who gets coded as gay (mocking or powerful)	Isabella. She rejected the wedding proposal and at the end of the movie she was projected with rainbows everywhere.
Pleasure:   What do you enjoy about this text?		I enjoyed the movie and oved the music. So upbeat. Loved Mirabel as a strong character in every way. She was determined and didn’t give up. I like a good for the  soul ending. There’s to much terribleness going on in the world and it is nice to have a different mind set for an hour.
Historical Context