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 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 the know the story. I also
read an article from Glamour that
made me think of a new perspective for this article. Today Disney wasn’t the
most inclusive of people of different backgrounds. Even though in their 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.
