Disney Research Papers

INVENTORY

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Dreamworks Trolls (2016)

I arrived at this list because I wanted to consume content that were extremely contrasting. These movies are from two different production companies, different decades, with different characters and themes. These were also not movies I had consumed before.

It is easy to understand the idea of masculinity and femininity even as a young child. It is clear as day that the media we consume contributes to and is a reflection of how we think and function as a society. What is interesting about children’s movies is that there truly is such a wide variety of films; different genres, characters, and morals/themes. But, the majority of these films one way or another

The film stars Belle, who as described in the title of the movie is beautiful, a bookworm, young, and is very close with her father. You notice right away that she is more beautiful than the rest of the town, and the town notices this as well. They all swoon over her and comment on her attractiveness and how she is a bit weird for being interested in reading and not interested in Gaston. Gaston is a big, tall, macho, muscular fellow who shows interest in Belle. The first interaction we see with Belle and Gaston is a casual conversation between the two of them with Gaston flirting with Belle. Gaston literally says to Belle “It's not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas and thinking.” Belle dismisses Gaston and expresses to her father that she is not interested in Gaston, even though her father encouraged her to try to talk to Gaston. In scenes following, Gaston expresses lines that show him feeling entitled to Belle as a wife no matter if she shows interest or not (and she clearly does not). Right away, we have a clear set up of a very thin, white, conventionally beautiful, feminine woman who is quirky because she reads books. A big strong manly masculine man is interested in her and does whatever it takes to win over the beautiful Belle. This portrayal of masculinity and femininity in the form of a male/female relationship clearly outlines the confidence and ego there is in masculinity and the dainty femininity and how masculinity is dominant to submissive femininity. In the past semester of Gender and Society, we have discussed the relationship between masculinity and femininity and how they are described socially as polar opposites. Masculinity is tough, strong, emotionless, athletic, big, and powerful. Femininity is fragile, weak, soft, and slim. We especially see this play out when Belle meets the Beast and becomes his prisoner and lives with him at his castle.