As previously expressed in the blog-post Implicit and Explicit Ideology this is a expansion on the points raised in regards to the ideologies found within Disney films and animations. It is fair to suggest that on watching a Disney film, it is easy to watch it as it is being portrayed to you, however in some cases all is not what you think as Turner (1988) suggest: “Although audiences might recognize the preferred reading as one of that was implicit in the text’s formal properties, they could still refuse that reading for an alternative” (Turner, 1988: pp. 143)
Walt Disney is renowned for his entertainment during the last century. Disney’s animation production company Walt Disney Productions which he set up with his brother is the most recognized motion picture Company in the world, with their films predominantly fantasy, designed for children. However, as you grow up with Disney films, you are likely to still love at least one Disney film.


One of the reasons that it is not easy to recognize the ideologies within Disney films is due to the way they are portrayed to the viewer. According to Duncum one of the reasons is “Ideologies are interwoven with such naturalness and with such aesthetic features that most viewers most of the times are unaware of them” (Duncum, 2008: pp. 129). Giroux and Pollock have a different insight regarding this, according to them “innocence serves as primarily as a rhetorical device that cleanses the Disney image of tainting influence of commerce, ideology and power.” (Giroux and Pollock, 2010: pp. 32), in other words, you are not expecting to see the implicit ideologies due to the nature of a Disney film.
Racism is not the only ideology expressed in Disney films, one of the early examples, which has been improved in the last few decades, is the depiction of women, through the princesses. Disney Princesses may be the most popular theme in the Disney film empire; however they draw on unfair stereotypes in their portrayal: “Some have sought to reveal her beauty as stereotype; her good-nature as submissiveness, but still she prevails” (Rozario, 2010: pp. 34). The Princesses tend to be beautiful, young women who have found themselves out of luck and love at home. They normally find themselves on an “adventure” away from the “evil” older women who is supressing them; finally being saved by a handsome prince, and living happily ever after – as the fairy tale would like you to believe. However, this image of a princess, and ultimately women, suggests that all women need, if they are unhappy at home, or in whatever circumstances, is a man, who will ultimately make it all better. This is an unfair image to depict, especially for the young children who are watching it, who are naively lead to believe this is what you need in life.
Many different academics have argued over the way in which women are portrayed in Disney films. Older women, who have married into the family, as “step-parent” are readily portrayed as being “evil”. This is many examples of this, such as Cinderella, Snow White and even more recently, The Little Mermaid. The older women are portrayed as being jealous of the young princesses, and ultimately wanting what they have and also the image which is characterised on this older women is that she is “ugly”, bringing back the hidden ideology of ugly being bad and beauty being good. It was not until more recently, perhaps to keep up with modern times, that the older, evil women, appear to be heavily made up, and beautiful for their age, such as “Mother Gothel” in the film “Tangled” (2010). The only way an older women can be good is in the case of the “Fairy God Mother”, she is often seen in white, is very beautiful and is ultimately looking out for princess.
Colour plays a key part in the implicit ideologies within Disney films, are previously brought up in regards to racism and ethnicity. The colours black, for evil, and white for good are heavily used. Evil characters, such as Ursula in “The Little Mermaid” (1989) is portrayed as being very dark, using a lot of dark shades and having a dark skin tone. In contrast to this, Ariel is very pale with striking red hair, as is her father with pale skin and white hair and beard. This use of colour, to suggest good and evil still prevails today to some extent. Towbin and associates suggest that “Non-dominant cultures are represented negatively” (Towbin et al, 2004: pp. 32) they found that this could be seen in up to 10 different films, such as the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp (1955) having slanted eyes, buck teeth and speaking with poor grammar – suggesting they are dangerous; Arabs in Aladdin (1992) being portrayed as dirty, cheap and thieving and Tito in Oliver and Company portrayed as being Hispanic, who chases women, gets into street fights and hot wires car (Towbin et al, 2004). The suggest that these negatively represented characterisations are still happening as recently as 1992 is terrible. Disney do get it right in some films however, with the likes of Pocahontas where, where she lives in accurately described, without introducing any prejudices.
The final ideology which is going to be discussed is in relation to more recent times. In the 2008 film Wall-e, it appears that the film is about a robot love story. Looking deeper into the film though it can be imagined that it is in fact about the suppression of humanity, due to technological advancements. Humans have to leave earth and travel continuously in space as the earth has become full of rubbish. This could be a suggestion of what may happen due to lack of recycling. The advances in space travel in also apparent with the human race being able to survive without returning to earth. The characters are pictures as fat and lazy, and dependent on technology to survive, and do not appear to understand anything that is going on around them. All these images are important in the depiction of technological advancements. However, true to Disney’s nature there is a happy ending and the characters realise what is happening to their world.
With the innocence of childhood it is easy to imagine these storylines as being as straightforward as they are being portrayed. However looking at them now you can see that cleverly Disney has incorporated many different ideologies into them. Perhaps this is what makes them appealing to people of all ages.
References
Towbin, M et al. (2004). Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length AnimatedFilms. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy. 5 (4), pp. 19-44.
Turner, G. (1988). Film, Culture and Ideology. In: Taylor and Francis Film as Social Practice. London: Routledge. pp. 151-187.
Comolli, J.M and Narboni, P.. (1971). Cinema/Ideology/Criticism. Screen. 12 (1), p. 27-38.
Rosini, L. G, (1997). English with an accent: language, ideology and discrimination in the united states. London: Routledge. pp. 79-80.
Duncum, P. (2008). Holding a esthetics and Ideology in Tension. Journal of Issues and Research. 49 (2), 122-135.
Rozario, R.A. (2004). The Princess and the Magic Kingdom: Beyond Nostalgia, the Function of the Disney Princess. Women's studies in communication. 27 (1), 34-59.
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