Shrek, an enormous, disgusting green ogre falling in love with a beautiful princess (later turning into a nasty ogre) is a perfect example of a stereotypical fairytale, right? Well in the movie Shrek, the voice over in the trailer talks about a “hero” attempting to rescue a “fair princess” with the help of “his trusty companion." Besides the fact that the hero is a voluptuous green ogre and the companion is a donkey, everything fits in normally to the definition of a traditional fairytale (Diaz). Also according to Mary Kunimitsu, in fantasy films “There may be characters with magical or supernatural abilities such as witches, wizards, superheroes, mythical creatures, talking animals, and ghosts” (Kunimitsu). In Shrek, there are many of these different characters. Therefore, by explanation, a traditional fairytale with the beautiful princess getting saved by the prince and falling in love is exactly what happens in the movie Shrek, just with a twist. The voice over in the trailer for Shrek states it perfectly as he says “Shrek is a highly irreverent take on the classic fairytale” (Adamson). As an untraditional fairytale, and a parody, the movie Shrek poses the breaking of stereotypes of gender and film fairytales all the while keeping the criteria of a fairytale.
The original Disney fairytales portray their princesses as beautiful, elegant, and very ladylike. Although this is portrayed in most fairytales, it is not a qualifying factor to determine if a film is a fairytale or not. In the movie Shrek, Princess Fiona starts out as a very stereotypical girl, but as the movie progresses, she becomes more comfortable and starts to break these stereotypes. For example when Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey are walking back through the woods Fion...
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...le. Movies like this resist gender stereotypes that say women have to be beautiful and ladylike to live like a princess. There should be more films like Shrek because it breaks norms and teaches people that the only thing that matters is what’s on the inside.
Works Cited
Adamson, Andrew and Vicky Jenson, Shrek, Dreamworks Animations, 2001.
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Diaz, E. "From Ogre to Beloved Husband." Our Animated World. Jura Gentium Cinema, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013.
Kunimitsu, Mary. "Fantasy3." Fantasy3. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2013.
Westland, Ella. "Cinderella In The Classroom. Children's Responses To Gender.." Gender & Education 5.3 (1993): 237. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
Disney Princess movies target children and are none other than a transfigured fairytale story in which innocence and moral virtue are questioned. In pursuit of romance and having the mindset of doing whatever it takes for love, Disney creates this magical world and targets the youth, especially young girls. Walt Disney was a creative and “radical filmmaker who changed [one’s] ...
Disney princess movies are inappropriate for young girls. People blame adult media for a child’s corruption, but they fail to see where it all started: Disney princess movies. Women should not see Disney princesses as their role model. They should accept themselves for who they are than comparing themselves to unrealistic Disney characters. If young girls continue to emulate Disney characters, it might affect their future. It is better to stop them at their early age. Therefore, they should not be encouraged to watch Disney princess movies for the betterment of their future and society.
A princess image is very specific and made clear through the descriptions of each princess. Every princess had long hair and all ware extravagant dresses. The princesses wore make-up, jewelry, and some type of head piece. They made sure the princess image was always clean and fashionable. The majority of the time for the princesses was spent interacting with animals, singing, or dancing and cooking, cleaning, serving, and grooming. I never saw a princess working or fighting. These unreal expectations to fulfill were unattainable. Growing up I thought that these princesses represent the social norm, but found out how unrealistic they were when I got older. Most princess stories follow the pattern of marrying her prince charming and then they have it all. Jasmine, Ariel, and Snow White were already princesses at the start of the movies. They really didn 't have anywhere to go, but they were able to achieve even more happiness by marrying the man of their dreams. Aurora and Rapunzel were also princesses from the start of the movie, but they didn 't know it. So, they lived modest lives and received their true inheritance at the end of the stories. Belle and Tiana were also able to find happiness by marrying the man of their dreams. In snow white she sings my prince will come written Barbra Streisandby and highlights gender roles. It begins “Someday my prince will come. Someday I 'll find my love and how thrilling that moment will be when the prince of my dreams comes to me”, this shows she is waiting for a man instead of facing her own problems. These princesses end up winning their man at the end due to the fact that they are so sweet, simple, and
Disney movies are generally known for defining gender roles. The characters in Disney movies are depicted differently based on their gender. Male characters are mostly defined as trustworthy,
All fairy-tales have the same stereotypical characters, conflictions and climax. There are never distinctive features in traditional fairy-tales that make them enchanting. Shrek is not a typical fairy tale, which falls under the usual fairy tale category. Shrek is an unusual fairy tale which changes our perceptions on the standard morals and beliefs of a traditional fairy-tale. Characters which alter in their traditional fairy-tale roles and have special characteristics which make them intriguing and idiosyncratic than prosaic characters, contradicting values and beliefs and a usual but slightly twisted plot is what makes Shrek a fractured fairy-tale.
There are seven traditional Disney princess movies made between 1937 and 1995, and they all illustrate stereotypical gender roles (The Rhetoric of Disney). These movies include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas. “...marriage was a natural and desirable role for a white woman… The typical portrait of the colonial woman depicts a strong, sturdy good wife, producing household necessities and plying her crafts and her plow besides a yeoman husband” (Kessler 4). The stereotypical woman characteristics as stated above, range from maintaining the household, being beautiful, to weak and powerless. These characteristics are seen in all the traditional Disney
Although seemingly set in medieval time, Shrek 2 actually presents modern references as a form of satire and parody on today’s world. Knowing that Fiona is a princess as well, we instantly know that Far Far Away is where the royals
Heteronormativity is prevalent in both, fairytales and Arthurian literature. The idea or belief that people fall into distinct and complementary genders (man and woman) with “natural” roles in life can be hurtful to people who identify with both, the opposite, or neither gender. Shrek the Third reveals two characters that do not fit into the gender binary including Doris, who is introduced as Cinderella’s ugly step-sister, is a transgender sporting make- up similar to that of a drag-queen with a deep male voice. And second, the Big Bad Wolf, dressed in grandma’s clothing and reading a book when encountered by Prince Charming. These characters’ roles can be explained as a transgender agenda with an effort to deconstruct the heteronormativity
"Disney Princesses: Classic Fairy Tales Or Gender Stereotypes?" Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.
of the Cinderella story are psychologically harmful to women.” (p648). The fact that Cinderella is a limited character may give the girl an impression that she should be happy with what she has and not have any or aspirations in her life. That is, until her Prince comes to rescue her. Since these comments were made, the Cinderella story has been modified and changed. In order to see how gender roles have changed in fairy tales from the old to the new, let’s compare the classic version of Cinderella by Charles Perrault to a recent version which is a movie that was released in 1998 called “Ever After”which was directed by Andy Tennant.
In addition to her manly behavior, Fiona also rejects Farquaad’s marriage proposal and choose to stay with Shrek instead because she rejects the conventional life she has been told to have. She wants to marry whoever she loves and to take control of her life, showing her independence. This shows that being different from the Disney princesses choosing to live “happily ever after” with a prince, Fiona defies society’s expectations and stereotypes of a ‘’good’’ woman who is thought to be submissive and domesticated but not rebellious or independent (Barker 317). Undeniably, fairy tales are so important that they facilitate children's imagination, but on the other hand, they limit their ways of thinking and somehow set gender stereotypes in youngsters’
A typical American girl’s room consists of: books about princesses, dresses, tutu’s, pink bed sheets, a white dresser, with nail polish, and childlike make-up on top. Different kinds of dolls scattered throughout, and Princess movies stacked up next to her television ready to pop in whenever she pleases. Obsessing over how princesses live their perfect lives is detrimental to a young girl’s gender construction, be...
Throughout the movie,Shrek takes us deep into the concept of inner vs outer beauty. Whilst Shrek, the protagonist represents a non-stereotypical prince, there is also Princess Fiona. The traditional fairy tales portray princesses as dependent, ladylike and weak. Although in the beginning of the film, Fiona embodies the typical feminism and ladylike qualities, a thin, beautiful princess. As the movie goes on Fiona acts more comfortably and breaks these princess qualities. There is a scene where Fiona interrupts Shrek and Donkey with her rather unfeminine
Snow White (1937), Cinderella (1950), and Sleeping Beauty (1959) were the first Disney princesses in the era. All three princess were portrayed as helpless or a damsel in distress, who were saved by a prince's sword or kiss. Cinderella, in particular, was a prime example of this stereotype. Living with her neglectful stepmother and sisters, she was repressed from all of the daily activities her step family would partake in. She was regularly tormented and made to slave around; cleaning and cooking for her spoiled family members. She didn't have the self esteem to stick up for herself. All three of these princesses had secondary characters to care for them, to have a happy ending and "marry the prince". The godmother in Cinderella magically giving her a dress, carriage and glass slippers, and the house mice helping her as well. Snow White has the seven dwarfs, and Sleeping Beauty had her three fairy godmothers.
A princess image is very specific and made clear through the descriptions of each princess. Every princess had long hair and all wear extravagant dresses. Princesses also wear make-up, jewelry, and some type of headpiece. The creators made sure the princess image were flawless and fashionable, creating impossible beauty standards. Princesses spend the majority of the time interacting with animals, singing, or dancing and cooking, cleaning, serving, and grooming. I never saw a princess working or taking action. These expectations to fulfill were unattainable. Growing up I thought that these princesses represent the social norm, but found out how unrealistic they were when I got older. Most princess stories follow the pattern of marrying her prince charming and then their life is complete. Jasmine, Ariel, and Snow White were already princesses at the beginning of the movies. They really did not have anywhere to go, but they were able to achieve even more happiness by marrying their prince. Aurora and Rapunzel were also princesses from the start of the movie but were not aware of it. Therefore, they lived regular lives and received their crown at the end of the stories. In Snow White, she sings, My Prince Will Come, written Barbra Streisandby and highlights the gender roles at that time. It begins “Someday my prince will come. Someday I 'll find my love and how thrilling that