Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Disney's Princess and the Frog
After watching the new Disney movie based on the "Frog Prince" stories, I was confused by how different the Disney version is from the Grimm's story. For example, in the Disney version, the frog prince wants to be kissed not to win the love of the princess, but to be turned back into a human for his own reasons. When she finally kisses him, he isn't transformed. Instead, she turns into a frog too and they have to go on an adventure to find a way to become human again. After reading the Zipes essay I think I can see why these changes were made to the story. Mating, or more applicable, "dating", has changed considerably since the times when marriages were arranged and fathers had the most authority in regards to their daughters' lives. Today, dating is all about choice on the part of both parties involved. The "prince" or man chooses to date a woman based on his attraction and interest in her, not on her status as a "princess". Disney showed this by making the prince indifferent to Tiana's status as a princess. He only wanted her to kiss him because he thought she fulfilled the criteria he needed in order to become human again. Women also choose mates now based on attraction and interest. Tiana didn't care that the frog claimed to be a prince. Even if he had actually turned into one when she first kissed him, she was only interested in his promise to help her obtain her dream restaurant. She was a modern woman focused on achieving something for herself beyond marriage and motherhood. The frog prince was simply a means to an end for her, not a romantic or inevitable love interest. The story does end up with the two frogs being transformed and getting romantically involved, but it is only after they have had the chance to fall in love properly. Each one's status, his as a real prince, and hers as a poor working girl, don't factor in to the relationship they foster over their time together as frogs. Disney took an age old tale and adapted it to fit modern mating ideals.
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Caroline,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about the update for a modern audience. The Disney brand has to make sure their version of the fairytale will appeal to a modern audience. If we compare two different Disney adaptations to each other, say Cinderella and The Princess and the Frog, the differences in the love story are vast. In the 1950s, audiences would still buy into the notion of "love at first sight," whereas now, like you mentioned, dating/ marriage include both parties; therefore, Tiana and Naveen have to fall in love over time and through real trials. Plus, the Prince in Cinderella, we can assume, simply thought she was stunning and was a maiden his father would approve of. Naveen, on the other hand, initially didn't care less about what Tiana looked like; he just wanted to get on with his playboy ways. I also think the fact that the prince in The Princess and the Frog actually has a name gives more depth to the love story.
Caroline,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Faith's comment above that Disney definitely changed this movie to fit the modern audience, and I think it shows the evolution of the fairy tale "princess." (I think Faith's comments above on Cinderella are really great). However, it really isn't just about true love because they cannot be transformed into humans UNTIL Tiana becomes a princess by marriage. I found this really interesting in the movie because if it really was about loving a person despite their social class, the kiss would have worked before Tiana became a princess by marriage. However, it is Disney, so the princess factor is required for the fairy tale.