Analyze and take note of the physical features provided to Disney princesses. How have these princesses been influenced by the looks of other cultures, and how do they look today compared to their traditional appearance?
This is not necessarily Disney specific but I believe related. In the 1995 live action Pocahontas, the actress chosen to play her was Sandrine Holt. She is also chosen to play the a daughter of a First Nations chief in another movie, Black Robe. However, she is not First Nations at all and is of Chinese and French descent. While writing a paper about the latter movie I discovered this. Since the other actors portraying First Nations in that film were genuinely of First Nations descent, I found it suspect that she was not. I wondered if it had to do with an image thing. Did she better fit the look of the "Native Princess" to the tastes of the filmmakers? It's interesting to think how this plays in the realm of kid oriented animation versus live action films for adults. – EAlbright9 years ago
This article should also consider the many ways Disney's controls the looks and presentation of their "Princess line" it's very important to them fiscally. Consider the controversy with the "Princess debut" of Princess Meridai. Whose princessification cause a minor storm of controversy as much of what made her appealling was altered to suit her sameness with the more traditional disney princess. Consider also how all the Disney princesses have undergone this 'transformation' though some to a lesser extent. --- It can also be useful to consider how much Disney values their traditional delicate feminine Princesses and contrast that to their treatment of Black Widow the only female Avenger who lacks greatly in merchandising in spite of near steady constant pressure from fans. – wolfkin9 years ago
Disucssing the different periods of Disney in terms of Disney princesses could be a good way to look at the physical features. Starting with Snow White, the first Disney princess, and expanding to Sleeping Beauty and Ariel to the more recent princesses of Merida and Elsa and Anna, it's clear that the physical features hasn't changed as much as they could have. There are still the same skinny, mostly fair skinned young aged princesses. However, finding the differences that have come since the introduction of Snow White would be helpful. Also, why do these princesses have to look this certain way and why hasn't there been more progress on changing their features to something that more children can relate to? – ferrerodesrocher9 years ago
I would use a different word than Colonization because what you are asking for differs from the title. Maybe how the Princesses appropriate? difference cultural aspects. I think there is a topic here to discuss. I mean why are the princess so different looking now that their original representations? Sexier etc. Or how the princess take on the aspects of their supposed geographical location would be interesting. I mean theses are choices so looking why they are made is worth exploring. If you want to talk about princesses being colonized by a superior group and thus their physical appurtenance reflecting that then you are limiting it to Pocahontas (who is not considered a princess) and Jasmine. – Celeste Reeb9 years ago