I recently went to see the new live action Cinderella. I was disappointed because I love Disney and fairy tales, especially princess films. I couldn’t help compare it to the 1950 animated Disney film and Anna Kendrick’s performance in Into The Woods, which came out earlier this year; against both it seemed to fall short. Perhaps I didn’t like it as much because it’s not a musical.
Anyway, it got me thinking on princesses . . . so many princesses. Of the Disney films princesses have their own category, seemingly positioned above the others (makes sense for the monarchy to sit at the top of the hierarchy I suppose). Some are born princesses like Jasmine in Aladdin, or marry princes, like Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
This image of the Disney princesses is peculiar. It includes Mulan and Pocahontas who are not princesses. So apparently you now only have to be female to be a princess?
Furthermore, why no queens? Why princesses over queens? Queens typically feature in redundant passive roles, with little dialogue (Sleeping Beauty), don’t exist at all (Cinderella) or are the evil villains (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) – I think the only counter-example is Elsa, and she was very nearly in the villain role. I think there’s a bit of ageism and sexism at play here. Princesses are valued as being young (and here always attractive) whereas queens are older, and importantly have power.
Speaking of attractiveness, it’s nothing new to note how white-washed Disney is or how the women are usually unnaturally thin. I feel I must cover the corset controversy surrounding the new Cinderella. Even if it wasn’t changed with special effects, Lily James has said that she found it hard to eat and breathe in the corset she wore. Surely that is too thin!
Disney is not the only example of princess mania. It’s everywhere. From constant ‘news’ updates about Kate Middleton’s wardrobe, other film franchises such as Star Wars‘ princess Leia, the music sub-genre of pop-princess, or in video games. For instance there’s princess Zelda, princess Peach and the many princesses of the Final Fantasy franchise (Reina [V] and Garnet [IX] pictured) – all of whom typically need rescuing.
It just doesn’t sit right with me that a certain type of female is being privileged over others in popular culture – wealthy, young, attractive, passive, white, thin – the list goes on. It really grates when parents call their children princesses. I just don’t get it. Nevertheless I will continue to love Disney princess films, just not this new Cinderella.
Arian's Film Blog 