Jenna Wynes- The Evolution of the Disney Princess Archetype

 Some questions I have to begin my research:

- How do modern adaptations of princess stories differ from those of historical nature?

- How have Disney princesses transformed from passive damsels to strong, independent characters? (I want to analyze how societal changes have influenced these portrayals, using examples like Snow White, Belle, and Moana.)

- How they now show the natural flaws of the women (in making mistakes) rather than how “fair and gentile” one is. 

The role and expectations of women in society transform with the times, and therefore change along with the media. Modern adaptations of women in media connect with their portrayal in artistry. In Film to Memes by O’Meara, Jennifer (2022), she discusses vocal agency as it connects to female characters’ voices and how they convey power, autonomy, and emotional depth over time. (O’Meara, 2022, p. 25). Early Disney princesses, like Snow White, often had soft, passive voices that reinforced traditional femininity, whereas modern protagonists, such as Moana, exhibit more dynamic vocal expressions that signal independence and self-determination. This shift aligns with O'Meara's argument that the reception of women's voices in media has changed alongside technological and cultural transformations. The evolution of Disney Princess archetypes reflects maturing societal attitudes toward gender roles and empowerment, illustrating a growing acceptance of nuanced, flawed characters as authentic and relatable heroes. It transitions from early portrayals of passive characters like Snow White, who embodied traditional femininity, to modern protagonists like Moana, who embrace their imperfections and inner struggles. Disney’s narratives have adapted to reflect contemporary values. This evolution highlights society’s increasing recognition of diverse expressions of strength and vulnerability for women and broader cultural support to celebrate characters with complex, multidimensional identities that challenge conventional ideals of heroism.


O’Meara, Jennifer. Women’s Voices in Digital Media: The Sonic Screen from Film to Memes. 1st ed., University of Texas Press, 2022, https://doi.org/10.7560/324431.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kip Redick Example of a Blog Post

 Page 4 Michael Taussig would suggest Juan's understanding of the meaning of a place emerges out of the process of an imitation of all the “differences” that we discern there. We mimic (in language and action) the full range of sounds, movements, and other sensory perceptions that come to us from the more than human world.” It’s hard to put a place that strikes us as sublime into mere words; we can try to describe it as a feeling and try to put language to that feeling, but sometimes the feeling of the beauty of nature or the power of a sacred space is too big to try to translate or make sense of. Would every place and experience be subjective, and would the discourse be the same? Would the mountain top make me feel the same as another? Or does my personal experience with the natural world and divine keep it intimate/ unique, or would my experience be relatable enough? The author uses the messiness, ambiguity, and mystery of people's deeply personal experience of ...
Read more

Rose Baker - Herbert's "Dune" and Martyrs

  In class, we talked about Jesus and Christianity as an example of myth. Myths and martyrs are dangerous to systems of control because even if they’re suppressed, they can survive and grow stronger. They last because they’re tied to belief, memory, and emotion---things you can’t fully erase. That’s what makes them more powerful than systems built on forced order or control. Even though much of the early church died gruesome deaths, and were consistently ordered to stop spreading the gospel, the "myth" of Jesus has continued for over 2000 years.      In Frank Herbert's  Dune , we see something similar. The Bene Gesserit know how powerful myths can be, and instead of waiting for one to form naturally, they build one on purpose. Through the Missionaria Protectiva , they plant stories and prophecies across different cultures, preparing the world for someone to fulfill the one part they can't fabricate, the living, breathing "savior" who must be visible and prov...
Read more

Joanah Eresechima - Blue Lock's Exploration of Flow

In the sixth chapter of American Camino , the concept of flow is extensively explained in the context of spiritual walking. It is described as unification of action and awareness to create a state in which thoughts are non-existent. The hiker just moves through the world, extremely aware and focused on the wilderness around them but unable to thoroughly reflect on it in that moment. It is only afterwards that the hiker is able to recall the memories from their flow state. Flow can occur in different types of people like artists, scientists and athletes (Redick 249). I was actually very surprised to see this term in the book because it becomes one of the central components in a manga I read called Blue Lock. The story followed a boy named Isagi Yoichi, a high school soccer player who got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a soccer program called Blue Lock meant to create the greatest striker in the world. Out of 300 players, he was ranked 299 th , making him one of the weakest p...
Read more