http://news.iheart.com/articles/national-trending-pop-104650/watch-sarah-michelle-gellar-as-cinderella-13417490/
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Disney Princess Rap Battle
This needed to be shared. The only thing greater than this actual rap battle is the fact that there are 2 more videos of other princess rap battles:
Monday, March 16, 2015
I don't even live in a state with a Disney-anything
I live in New Jersey, specifically Union City, New Jersey. We are not a particularly Disney-focused city. My hometown is nothing like Disneyworld's Main Street, or even Disney's failed suburb, Celebration, yet on my most recent trip to the airport I saw this Frozen display in the Hudson News. You know, just in case you get bored, or cold, or want some nice Frozen-themed china for the plane ride home. It kind of wow's me how ubiquitous Disney paraphernalia is and how I could even impulse-buy Disney items on my way home to college. Way to go Disney, if you've made it in Newark Airport, you'll make it anywhere.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Newly Acquired, Time for a New Name?
As Disney continues to grow and acquire all the possible childhood-memory-building franchises it can (those of children that came before the prime of Disney, those who didn't enjoy Disney's films, etc.), it comes time that Disney changes its park's name again. I don't really know what you would classify the formerly MGM Studios, now(ish) Hollywood Studios park as -- it's not traditional Disney, that's for sure, but it's not specifically any conglomerate's park. Will it just be called "All Major Movies Parks" and just be an eclectic collection of rides themed after big-hit movie franchises? The world may never know. Or at least, not until Disney figures out how to market this park-mess.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-hollywood-studios-new-name-20150312-story.html
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-hollywood-studios-new-name-20150312-story.html
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
If Disney Princesses Could Give Their Younger Selves Advice
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alivelez/these-grown-up-disney-princesses-have-some-solid-life-advice#.siWYwx9vP
This is a pretty great idea. The princesses do make mistakes and do have insecurities and it's really inspiring to see them give their earlier/younger selves advice on life that would've made their lives even better in the movie. Recently, I've started wishing I could've done the same. I was a really nervous/subdued middle-schooler and it fed into my high school years. Rather that being my real, quirky self I tried to conform to the interests of people I never really meshed with. I saw this quote on Pinterest that said "Die with memories not with wishes" and that is basically my mantra since getting to college: I want to be myself and experience everything so that I don't ever have the regret of never having tried something. If I regret doing something, I can move on. If I never gave something a chance, all I'll do is languish. Each person faces these kinds of regrets, of not doing something or of not being someone, and each of the princesses did, too. This'd be a nice addition to the princess-vien of Disney if it were targeted to middle-schoolers. A nice, positive, self-love type message to help them get through some of the toughest years of their young lives.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
The Lion King
http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-lion-king#.lg3zWB6xQ
Here are some interesting little background tidbits from the minds behind Buzzfeed.
Now to my actually response to the Lion King: I really love it. I loved it when I was little, I loved it when I watched it on a Broadway stage, I love the score, and I just love everything about it. What I love most is that it's relatable at every age because like the boy in the movie Boyhood, you watch Simba's entire life -- his tumultuous childhood, his formative teen years, the difficulties he faces as a young adult, making difficult decisions on his own, and finally you see him as a success, with a family, ready to start the next circle of life. I related to the movie when I first watch the movie -- when I was young and care-fee and just couldn't wait to be older, to go to school, and to be a big kid. I could also relate to the movie when I was older and finally I had to begin to "adult" but didn't want to. The Lion King shows the range of one individual's life, it also shows multiple lifestyles (#teamTimonandPumbaa), multiple moralities, and multiple spiritualities. The multiple lifestyles are exemplified by the traditional heterosexual relationships such as Sarabi and Mufasa's or Nala and Simba's, while a possible homosexual relationship could be seen in Timon and Pumbaa's possibly coupling, there might even be an example of asexual lifestyle in Rafiki or Zazu's choice to never take a mate or show a true sexual inclination. There are multiple moralities that are very clearly delineated: Mufasa has an almost Kantian moral stance -- he treats all others fairly because, I assume, he would want all those within his kingdom to behave morally. On the other hand, Scar behaves like a scavenger (it's funny that he chooses to hang around scavengers like the hyena's too because he behaves like one) and behaves opportunistically, disregarding familial relationships and all that is traditionally considered "right" to achieve power. Zazu exemplifies a strict, rule-following idealism, his sense of "goodness" comes from serving and abiding by his duty. The Lion King even shows multiple spiritualities. Initially, the animals of the savannah worship the circle of life with not clear "God-like" figure. However, when Simba is older and needs advising from his father, the image of Mufasa in the sky is reminiscent of a prophet conversing with God looking for wisdom or guidance. Basically, I love the Lion King because unlike many of the other Disney movies, there's a little something for everybody, of every creed and every lifestyle, in this movie. Unlike many of the other Disney movies, I also found it didn't really subjugate any of the identities represented: it didn't represent females as weak, they were just the non-main characters, all of the sexualities were respectfully represented, and the movie fairly rewarded moral behavior. This would be one of the first movies I let my children watch, especially if movies are as influential on childhood development as the news wants us to believe. I'm really glad I got to rewatch this movie because I think it's a really valuable movie in Disney history. In my opinion, it's the turning point for Disney to become the more progressive Disney the company is still working on becoming today.
Here are some interesting little background tidbits from the minds behind Buzzfeed.
Now to my actually response to the Lion King: I really love it. I loved it when I was little, I loved it when I watched it on a Broadway stage, I love the score, and I just love everything about it. What I love most is that it's relatable at every age because like the boy in the movie Boyhood, you watch Simba's entire life -- his tumultuous childhood, his formative teen years, the difficulties he faces as a young adult, making difficult decisions on his own, and finally you see him as a success, with a family, ready to start the next circle of life. I related to the movie when I first watch the movie -- when I was young and care-fee and just couldn't wait to be older, to go to school, and to be a big kid. I could also relate to the movie when I was older and finally I had to begin to "adult" but didn't want to. The Lion King shows the range of one individual's life, it also shows multiple lifestyles (#teamTimonandPumbaa), multiple moralities, and multiple spiritualities. The multiple lifestyles are exemplified by the traditional heterosexual relationships such as Sarabi and Mufasa's or Nala and Simba's, while a possible homosexual relationship could be seen in Timon and Pumbaa's possibly coupling, there might even be an example of asexual lifestyle in Rafiki or Zazu's choice to never take a mate or show a true sexual inclination. There are multiple moralities that are very clearly delineated: Mufasa has an almost Kantian moral stance -- he treats all others fairly because, I assume, he would want all those within his kingdom to behave morally. On the other hand, Scar behaves like a scavenger (it's funny that he chooses to hang around scavengers like the hyena's too because he behaves like one) and behaves opportunistically, disregarding familial relationships and all that is traditionally considered "right" to achieve power. Zazu exemplifies a strict, rule-following idealism, his sense of "goodness" comes from serving and abiding by his duty. The Lion King even shows multiple spiritualities. Initially, the animals of the savannah worship the circle of life with not clear "God-like" figure. However, when Simba is older and needs advising from his father, the image of Mufasa in the sky is reminiscent of a prophet conversing with God looking for wisdom or guidance. Basically, I love the Lion King because unlike many of the other Disney movies, there's a little something for everybody, of every creed and every lifestyle, in this movie. Unlike many of the other Disney movies, I also found it didn't really subjugate any of the identities represented: it didn't represent females as weak, they were just the non-main characters, all of the sexualities were respectfully represented, and the movie fairly rewarded moral behavior. This would be one of the first movies I let my children watch, especially if movies are as influential on childhood development as the news wants us to believe. I'm really glad I got to rewatch this movie because I think it's a really valuable movie in Disney history. In my opinion, it's the turning point for Disney to become the more progressive Disney the company is still working on becoming today.
In Response to Timon and Pumbaa's Alternative Lifestyle Dilemma
So, a lot of the articles we've read I've disagreed with, for example the phallus-filled article by Roberta Trite about the innuendo of the Little Mermaid. I don't, however, have much to disagree with regarding this most recent article "Timon and Pumbaa's Alternative Lifestyle Dilemma," by Gael Sweeney. I never registered Timon and Pumbaa as a gay couple, maybe because I was four or so when I first watched the Lion King, until reading Sweeney's article. After reading the article and comparing it to my most recent memories of the Lion King, I could not only see Timon and Pumbaa as a gay couple but they seemed almost akin to Cam and Mitchell from Modern Family (maybe their relationship was an earlier inspiration? -- might be a stretch). While I'd never really considered their relationship to be romantic, their bickering, general relations with one another, and the way they tended to an adopted "child" (Simba) really did remind me of a more familial relationship than just pals kickin' it.
Granted some of her points weren't as strong. Personally I didn't think that Timon calling Pumbaa his "bestest best friend" indicated a gay relationship -- the terminology was too child-like or infantile so instead it reminded me of the way two kindergarteners would refer to a close friend. Similarly, I don't think the hula-dancing scene codes the two as a gay couple because I think it's just a colorful, whimsical dance scene more than anything. Children love bright colors, music, and dancing and we have to keep in mind that Disney is producing movies mostly for children. While there are luau-themed drag shows, I doubt that this is one of them. In fact most of their songs are really more friendship-inspired than insinuating romance.
The reason I still see them as possibly a romantic couple is because a relationship isn't purely sexual or lovey-dovey. When a relationship gets to the point where a couple is ready to raise a child (Simba), the two people are friends as well as romantic partners. They can have moments of being friends that are entirely platonic because Timon and Pumbaa have been together for a long time and so are no longer in the "lovey-dovey" stage that Simba and Nala are when you see the next instance of romantic love in the movie. Mufasa and Sarabi aren't particularly romantic-seeming when you see them as a couple at the beginning of their movie (literally no other couple in the movie is as traditionally couple-y as Simba and Nala). The most convincing evidence of Timon and Pumbaa as a romantic couple is the fact that they raise a child together. They teach Simba how to behave, what's right and wrong, and how to live life after he is totally isolated from his pride.
Also, the fact that Nathan Lane SAID that he tried to portray Timon as a gay, Jewish man means it's probable that Timon could be read as a gay man (and should be). They could be just another set of friends, but also the fact that neither Timon nor Pumbaa ever end up with their respective female meercat and warthog could support the assumption that they're a gay couple.
Personally, I support it and I really hope that Disney included a same-sex couple in their movie even as early as 1994. It'd mean they were super progressive even that far back in Distory. I'd be proud of Disney and proud that Disney's first introduction of a same-sex couple is as a couple that raises not only a successful child, but one who later becomes a successful King with a strong moral compass and a way with the ladies. It would show how even Disney, generally a fairly conservative company, believes that same-sex couples can behave in a way people tend to view as "normal" (not exclusively a hyper-flamboyant way) and can raise a happy, healthy child that doesn't necessarily conform to the same sexuality. I will choose to believe Sweeney's viewpoint and I hope it becomes a more broadly accepted comprehension of the Lion King.
Granted some of her points weren't as strong. Personally I didn't think that Timon calling Pumbaa his "bestest best friend" indicated a gay relationship -- the terminology was too child-like or infantile so instead it reminded me of the way two kindergarteners would refer to a close friend. Similarly, I don't think the hula-dancing scene codes the two as a gay couple because I think it's just a colorful, whimsical dance scene more than anything. Children love bright colors, music, and dancing and we have to keep in mind that Disney is producing movies mostly for children. While there are luau-themed drag shows, I doubt that this is one of them. In fact most of their songs are really more friendship-inspired than insinuating romance.
The reason I still see them as possibly a romantic couple is because a relationship isn't purely sexual or lovey-dovey. When a relationship gets to the point where a couple is ready to raise a child (Simba), the two people are friends as well as romantic partners. They can have moments of being friends that are entirely platonic because Timon and Pumbaa have been together for a long time and so are no longer in the "lovey-dovey" stage that Simba and Nala are when you see the next instance of romantic love in the movie. Mufasa and Sarabi aren't particularly romantic-seeming when you see them as a couple at the beginning of their movie (literally no other couple in the movie is as traditionally couple-y as Simba and Nala). The most convincing evidence of Timon and Pumbaa as a romantic couple is the fact that they raise a child together. They teach Simba how to behave, what's right and wrong, and how to live life after he is totally isolated from his pride.
Also, the fact that Nathan Lane SAID that he tried to portray Timon as a gay, Jewish man means it's probable that Timon could be read as a gay man (and should be). They could be just another set of friends, but also the fact that neither Timon nor Pumbaa ever end up with their respective female meercat and warthog could support the assumption that they're a gay couple.
Personally, I support it and I really hope that Disney included a same-sex couple in their movie even as early as 1994. It'd mean they were super progressive even that far back in Distory. I'd be proud of Disney and proud that Disney's first introduction of a same-sex couple is as a couple that raises not only a successful child, but one who later becomes a successful King with a strong moral compass and a way with the ladies. It would show how even Disney, generally a fairly conservative company, believes that same-sex couples can behave in a way people tend to view as "normal" (not exclusively a hyper-flamboyant way) and can raise a happy, healthy child that doesn't necessarily conform to the same sexuality. I will choose to believe Sweeney's viewpoint and I hope it becomes a more broadly accepted comprehension of the Lion King.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)