ZebraspotsThe Princess and the Frog vs People who hate fun
May 31st 2009 17:37
For some, it's all in black and white.
Brooks Barnes has written over at the New York Times a very thoughtful piece looking at the controversy over Disney's upcoming return to their traditional animated feature, The Princess and the Frog.
The debate surrounding “The Princess and the Frog” illustrates how difficult it is to deal with race in animation, experts say. Cartoons by their nature trade in caricatures.
In light of Disney's background in portraying racial stereotypes (ie, they existed throughout the 20th century with their finger on the pulse of the nation and thus reflected its attitudes; a crime), certain interest groups and associations have been voicing their displeasure and disapproval of Disney's choices. Casting the first black princess created problems from the start, including a name change for the heroine from Maddy to Tania because Maddy sounded too much like Mammy. . . (Apparently Tania doesn't echo certain African-American stereotypes.)
Many of the complaints are ludicrous, made by people who bruise far too easily and who recreationally grasp at straws.
“Disney obviously doesn’t think a black man is worthy of the title of prince,” Angela Bronner Helm wrote March 19 on the site. “His hair and features are decidedly non-black. This has left many in the community shaking their head in befuddlement and even rage.”
Others see insensitivity in the locale.
“Disney should be ashamed,” William Blackburn, a former columnist at The Charlotte Observer, told London’s Daily Telegraph. “This princess story is set in New Orleans, the setting of one of the most devastating tragedies to beset a black community.”
. . . A rumor surfaced on the Internet that an early script called for her to be a chambermaid to a white woman, a historically correct profession. Too much like slavery.
And wait: We finally get a black princess and she spends the majority of her time on screen as a frog?
Others see insensitivity in the locale.
“Disney should be ashamed,” William Blackburn, a former columnist at The Charlotte Observer, told London’s Daily Telegraph. “This princess story is set in New Orleans, the setting of one of the most devastating tragedies to beset a black community.”
. . . A rumor surfaced on the Internet that an early script called for her to be a chambermaid to a white woman, a historically correct profession. Too much like slavery.
And wait: We finally get a black princess and she spends the majority of her time on screen as a frog?
Helm's complaint is burdened with the same problems that affirmative action-- from an objective point of view--suffers and also indicates an aversion to miscegenation, despite the recent election of the nation's first biracial president. Blackburn's complaints are thoughtless and eespecially offensive to anyone who even tries to consider both sides of a situation; it is the equivalent of someone bemoaning a movie about Cambodians set in Cambodia, set pre-1970s. He is also denying the opportunity to celebrate the city in art and music.
Donna Farmer, interviewed in the article, says, "I don’t know how important having a black princess is to little girls — my daughter loves Ariel and I see nothing wrong with that — but I think it’s important to moms." This is an observation that is refreshing because people often forget to find out how the target audience-- kids-- feel. And to color-blind kids, these are princesses, regardless of what or who they are. Anyone who allows their world view-- or allow their children's worldview-- to be influenced by especially Disney characters is not approaching life or even logic from the right direction; imagine if Donna Farmer or her equivalent didn't let her kids watch the Little Mermaid for various reasons. Frankly, if we should bemoan portrayals in Disney that could have an effect on young children, particular girls, it should be the spectacular proportions of Ariel & Co. (She also has an exceedingly large head. . .)
Barnes provides an insightful quote from a Youtuber: "“This is one of those situations where I am ashamed of the black community,” Levi Roberts said in a YouTube video. “Are we being racist ourselves by saying this movie shouldn’t have a white prince?”" Barnes calls this "backlash to the backlash," and I'm certainly joining the ranks. I am excited to see if Disney can return to their traditional style as anticipated, and just looking at the concept art for the films (linked) promises a richly colored, highly developed world. It's up to Disney to make a good movie, and not let bitching and whining from the usual suspects to obscure that goal. They should go complain about the obvious colonial conquest allegory that was the third Pirates movie (British woman minorities covet takes over Oriental pirate ship. . . becomes their queen. . . hmmm. . . of course that necessitates taking that movie seriously). . . or maybe just go keep complaining about the Jazz Singer.
Related: Read thoughts from Floyd Norman, an old school Disney animator and one of the first blacks to work in the studio.
Related: Watch the trailer.
All quotations are found in Brook Barnes' "Does Tiana, Disney's First Black Princess, Conquer Stereotypes?"
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