In “Breaking the Disney Spell”, Jack Zipes argues that Walt Disney “employed animators and technology, not to enhance the communal aspects of narrative and bring about major changes in viewing stories to stir and animate viewers, but to enhance his own image and to get viewers to stop thinking about change, to return to his films, and to long nostalgically for long established patriarchal ideals.
I do not know if I fully agree or disagree with this thesis. There is evidence that points towards both sides of the argument. I believe Mr. Zipes is erring when he contends that the technology was not mean to enhance the communal aspect of fairy tales. Film, as a medium, promotes viewing in groups. Whether it is in a theater or at home, viewers generally watch a film with the company of others – especially “family films (a designation that animated features have achieved ever since Disney made them popular). So in that regards, I don’t think I necessarily agree with Mr. Zipes.
However, he makes a very strong case for Disney’s penchant for inserting himself into his movies as the hero. The evidence from Puss in Boots and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is unarguably supporting Zipes’ theory. I would not label the similarities apparent in Disney’s life and these stories as coincidental simply because of Walt Disney’s personality. It promotes the viewing of these films as almost fantastical adaptations of his own life.
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I agree that Disney did use his life as a background for his version of the fairy tale, but isn't that was traditional fairy tales did? The different versions of the same tale came from storytellers changing the story to fit their circumstances.
ReplyDeleteYour statement that the similiarities were not coincidental because of Disney's personality does not have any backing. Where did this come from, or what evidence do you have of that?
ReplyDeletePerhaps Disney just felt that the story represented himself well, which was why he produced it.
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