Tangled in Stereotypes
Jaazmyne Stringer
English 101
4/7/2014
Paper two
Getting Tangled in Stereotypes
Stereotypes are apparent in numerous forms of media such as Disney movies, resulting in generations behaving accordingly to these perceived ideas. Disney movies are bursting with context that can mold the minds of younger viewers about gender, race, age, and beauty. In the article “Escape from
Wonderland: Disney and the Female Imagination”, Deborah Ross expresses how Walt Disney is known for control and believes he and the company epitomize Auschwitz on how they thrive on the strict devotion to rules (Ross 554). The Disney empire insist on targeting our mindsets at a young age with films filled with timeless songs, amusing humor, and adventurous plots to mask the obscure subliminal messages. Disney’s Tangled keeps the tradition of the Disneyfied feminine/masculine norms and conveys an impractical idea that all dreams come true. Yes, this stunning animation is humorous and fast paced while being romantic at the same time, but it rehashes the same predictable concepts Disney continuously supports.
The most noticeable stereotype of course is focused on Rapunzel. Although she has been imprisoned in a tower since she was a child, she manages to obtain her bubbly, spunky personality. She struts around in her pink and purple dress singing songs about typical female hobbies of cooking, cleaning, painting, and brushing her hair, which is over 70 feet long, and consists of magical elements. As she sings, her golden long locks light up like a Christmas tree and show extraordinary capabilities. It is almost impossible to see beyond her long flowing blonde hair. In the movie, Rapunzels hair is the main
focal point. Her glorious hair suggests that femininity is equivalent to only blonde hair and green or blue eyes. What possessed the writers to have Flynn address Rapunzel as “blondie” anyway (Fogelman)?
This situation can be problematic because it prohibits understandings
English 101
4/7/2014
Paper two
Getting Tangled in Stereotypes
Stereotypes are apparent in numerous forms of media such as Disney movies, resulting in generations behaving accordingly to these perceived ideas. Disney movies are bursting with context that can mold the minds of younger viewers about gender, race, age, and beauty. In the article “Escape from
Wonderland: Disney and the Female Imagination”, Deborah Ross expresses how Walt Disney is known for control and believes he and the company epitomize Auschwitz on how they thrive on the strict devotion to rules (Ross 554). The Disney empire insist on targeting our mindsets at a young age with films filled with timeless songs, amusing humor, and adventurous plots to mask the obscure subliminal messages. Disney’s Tangled keeps the tradition of the Disneyfied feminine/masculine norms and conveys an impractical idea that all dreams come true. Yes, this stunning animation is humorous and fast paced while being romantic at the same time, but it rehashes the same predictable concepts Disney continuously supports.
The most noticeable stereotype of course is focused on Rapunzel. Although she has been imprisoned in a tower since she was a child, she manages to obtain her bubbly, spunky personality. She struts around in her pink and purple dress singing songs about typical female hobbies of cooking, cleaning, painting, and brushing her hair, which is over 70 feet long, and consists of magical elements. As she sings, her golden long locks light up like a Christmas tree and show extraordinary capabilities. It is almost impossible to see beyond her long flowing blonde hair. In the movie, Rapunzels hair is the main
focal point. Her glorious hair suggests that femininity is equivalent to only blonde hair and green or blue eyes. What possessed the writers to have Flynn address Rapunzel as “blondie” anyway (Fogelman)?
This situation can be problematic because it prohibits understandings
Cited: Khani, Hadil. "The Inclusion of Stereotypes in the Disney Movie Tangled." Web log post. Hadil Ks Blog. N.p., 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 06 Apr. 2014. Ross, Deborah. "Escape from Wonderland: Disney and the Female Imagination." English 101 Louisiana Tech University (2011): 553-66. Print. Tangled. Dir. Nathan Greno and Bryon Howard. Perf. Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy. Rotana, 2011. DVD. Tangled. Screenplay by Don Fogelman. Buena Vista, 2011. Transcript.