I was really excited when I found out that they were making a live action version of Beauty and the Beast. For one it’s a movie that I loved growing up and two they were making it with real people. I must say that Disney did an outstanding job making this movie. It stayed very close to the original and it featured a multiracial cast as well as a “gay character” (LeFou) much to some people’s dismay. But if you’ve seen the original then you’d know that he’s a little too fond of Gaston. If not you weren’t paying enough attention.
We’ve all seen the world’s point of view on Disney’s decision to feature two men dancing but who really cares. The five second scene, that riled everyone up more than likely went over the heads of many of the kids who saw the movie.
I wanted to give a synopsis of the story, but every millennial and their mother has already seen it or they know the story. I also read an article from Glamour that made me think of a new perspective for this article. Disney wasn’t always the most inclusive of people of different backgrounds. Even though in the time Disney came to be, America looked down on people of darker skin tones, but that doesn’t make it right.
If you watched Disney movies growing up as a kid many of the settle (or sometimes no so settle) racist moments went over your head. If you’ve had theory classes particularly in communications, media or women and gender studies then you probably notice sexist, gender objectification and racist moments without even actually realizing it. Or even trying to find the situations in the movie.
I know for me I never paid attention to Pocahontas and how the European settlers referred to the Native American’s as “savages.” In the song, they also call them barely human and dirty. But in Disney’s defense the Native American’s sing the same song. Aside from the song it’s probably an inaccurate portrayal of Pocahontas the person.
Even though Pocahontas came out in 1995, long after we’ve made progress on racial differences as a nation. Using racial and derogatory words to a group of people like this, only validates that it’s ok. Specifically, in children’s media because they may or may not have anyone teach them that using such derogatory words are wrong and unacceptable.
While, I personally have no ill will towards Disney and I continue to watch programs that feature racism and objectification of women and or men and so on. Whether or not we’re old enough to know better we can take these instances as a learning experience, for both us and our children. One we can teach our kids that Disney movies and the like are make believe, but also that people are treated as though they are not equal to their peers on a day to day basis. And what people go through because of who they love, or the color of their skin isn’t make believe. It’s a very real situation for them day in and day out.
