Behind the Magic. An Examination of Gender Representations in Disney Princess Feature-length Animations

Bachelorarbeit , 2017 , 43 Seiten , Note: 75.0

Soziologie - Beziehungen und Familie

This study offers an examination of gender representations present in the Disney feature-length animations incorporated into the Princess Collection. The import of such films has become increasingly relevant in recent years due to the increased anxiety around media representations and the development of the Princess franchise into a dominant aspect of Disney. In an attempt to test the claims of the existing debate and update the discussion through the inclusion of male protagonists, as well as female, the method of content analysis was adopted to conduct an in-depth analysis of: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and Frozen (2013). This choice of films enables us to trace how these representations have changed over time to reflect the changing attitudes of gender in mainstream society, to answer the question of; to what extent do Disney princes and princesses represent traditional gender stereotypes?

After data was collected the results of the content analysis were interpreted by drawing on literature and situating them within their historical context. The findings have shown that these princesses have evolved
from passive damsels in distress to much more active, dynamic heroines. Whilst the male characters were found to have experienced less change but have become more feminised. However, both were found to still be influenced by traditional stereotypical ideas.

Contents

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Chapter One: Introduction
The Development of the ‘Mouse House’
Happily Ever After

Chapter 2: Investigating Gender
Stereotypical Ideas of Gender
Explaining Gender Differences
Gender in Hollywood Cinema
Gender Stereotypes in Disney

Chapter 3: The Study
Methodology
Findings

Chapter 4: Discussion
The Damsel in Distress and the Knight in Shining Armour
The Independent Heroine and the Feminised Man
The Post-Feminist Era?

Chapter 5: Conclusion

Bibliography
Filmography

Appendix – Coding Manual

• Hochschule: Keele University
• Note: 75.0
• Autor: Megan Hilditch (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2017
• Seiten: 43
• Katalognummer: V373435
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668508774
• ISBN (Buch): 9783668508781
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: behind, magic, examination, gender, representations, disney, princess, feature-length, animations, Sociology, Feminism, Masculinity, Film, Children's media, Dissertation