Dismal
Disney Drama
For years, big
pink castles and beautiful princesses have characterized young children’s
dreams. Disney has explored unthinkable amounts of profit-inducing marketing
schemes, and the world has come to love anything and everything associated with
the fictional lives it has created. Lately, though, Disney has gotten heat about
its approach to racial diversity. With the introduction of Princess Sofia in
2012, Disney presented the media and opinionated Internet users with a new,
ever-expansive outlet for discussion.
The majority of information
about Princess Sofia is presented in disgust, or at least a relatively negative
light. These articles are the ones that initially informed me Disney was even
creating a new princess in the first place, because they were written in a way
that made me want to do more research on Disney’s subliminal messages, which
ultimately helped these articles stick out in my memory. CNN.com countered
Disney’s announcement with the harshest language of any sites I stumbled
across. Ruben Navarrette, the editor, began his article with a news video from
a different source, sharing the opinion he would soon delve into. His initial
word choice delivers the force of his argument, exclaiming, “The breathtakingly incompetent way that
Disney handled the introduction of what was thought to be the Magic Kingdom's
first Hispanic princess has me wondering: What kind of Mickey Mouse operation
is this?”[1].
Within an instant, Disney’s innocent characters are charged with serious identity
issues beyond their animated control. The article focuses mostly on how the
Latino community has potential to be a humungous pool of consumers, but that
Disney screwed up their marketing schemes. According to CNN, “As recently as
seven days ago, Sofia was Hispanic. In fact, she was introduced -- informally,
haphazardly and clumsily -- as Disney's first Hispanic princess by someone who
ought to know: the executive producer of the TV movie, Jaime Mitchell.”[2] About
a week later, though, Disney made a statement arguing Sofia is just Sofia,
neither directly confirming nor negating her Hispanic culture. After informing
readers of the situation, the article then dives in detail into the
controversy. Sofia’s name is spelled with an “f” instead of a “ph”, which makes
her name sound Hispanic, and a Hispanic actress voices her mom. Not only is
Sofia’s voice different from her mother’s, but also her skin is pale, her hair
light, and her eyes a sweet shade of baby blue. CNN pays close attention to the
way Disney has presented princesses in the past, and categorizes them, saying
“Sofia is the latest addition to a very exclusive club that also happens to be
one of the most lucrative franchises in the Magic Kingdom. You have the Old
Guard: Snow White, Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty. Then you have the
racial and ethnic wing: Mulan (Asian), Jasmine (Middle Eastern), Pocahontas
(Native American) and Tiana (African-American).”[3]
Navarrette emphasizes that each of these princesses is proud of her heritage
and defines the three major arguments associated with Disney’s presentation of
Sofia: first, those who found it insulting that Disney would not embrace their
first Hispanic princess as coming from the background that she supposedly did;
second, those offended by her lack of dark skin like her mother’s; and third, those,
mostly in the blogosphere, who don’t agree that her skin must be dark to
identify as Hispanic. CNN’s approach, starting off with strong
opposition, is beneficial for drawing in Hispanic readers, as well as those
simply opposed to Disney’s actions.
Many who
understand Disney’s attempt to relate to all consumers are more focused on the way
Disney handled the situation, and less on Sofia’s background. As quoted on
NBCLatino, one week after the executive producer uncomfortably let Sofia’s
Spanish heritage slip, Disney announced, “What’s important to know is that Sofia is a fairytale
girl who lives in a fairytale world. All our characters come from fantasy lands
that may reflect elements of various cultures and ethnicities but none are
meant to specifically represent those real world cultures.”[4]
In response, a skeptical blogger responded, “What Disney executives meant was
that Sofia could be anything you wanted her to be because she’s a fictional
character. If they wanted her to be our first Latina princess, they would have
been shouting it out themselves.”[5]
When Huffington Post reported on the issue, it merely introduced both sides of
the argument, quoted Disney’s removal of Sofia’s “Hispanic status”, and
continued with details about the movie and TV shows’ airdates. This approach
focuses on appealing to all audiences and informing curious adults and children
about this new character. With Huffington Post’s approach to announcing Sofia,
readers who want their opinions confirmed will not be interested in its
article. It serves more as a general announcement and analysis than an argument
or petition of sorts.
While the
majority of articles and blog posts related to the introduction of Sofia are
focused on a side of the controversy, many focus on other aspects of Sofia’s
introduction. DisneyMoviesList.com blogs about how Sofia is catering to a new
audience, 2-7 year olds, which received literally no publicity on the major
news sites.[6] The New
York Daily News used a similar focus, writing an entire article on the consumer
products and toys already being produced and Sofia’s anticipated success.[7]
The only quote from Disney in the entire article is, “Sophia the First”, note the reference
to her more official title than the other news sources provided, “will feature
plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes, but with an emphasis on ‘what makes
a real princess is what's inside, not what's outside.’"[8]
This focus is entirely different from the controversy altogether.
Still, others put
the attention on how Sofia’s introduction is no different from the way Disney
has handled any other princesses. In fact, many others have been altered
between TV and commercial items in order to appeal to a certain audience. “Cinderella
had strawberry-blonde hair and silver dress in her film, but is blonde with a
blue dress in the franchise”[9] Changing
the princess’ appearance is one way to draw different fan crowds, but so is
following cultural norms. When Tiana, the first African-American Disney
princess was introduced, people wondered how sales would do. Yet, with the
Obama girls being seen as popular icons today, youngsters do not even know the
difference. “Girls of all races have already caught
princess fever, and young black girls embrace the white stars of ‘Hannah
Montana,’ the Jonas Brothers
and "High School Musical" without worrying about race. But some of
their moms are making sure their daughters understand the significance of the
princess with her brown doe eyes, fuller lips and elegant tiara.”[10]
In cases like these, it is apparent that sometimes parents emphasize things
that kids have grown up with different feelings towards. Perhaps once Sofia
takes off, the controversy over her heritage will disappear. After all, the
point Disney is trying to make has everything to do with morals and personal
characteristics and should not be based off of appearance. That said, so many
Disney characters pride themselves on looking prim and proper for their perfect
princes.
From articles about Sofia
being Hispanic or not, to those discussing how Disney approached the issue, to even
commercial items-based articles and opinionated pieces, all are doing one thing
similarly. Each of these articles is bringing attention to Disney and its new
addition of Sofia the First, so whether or not people are in favor of what she
represents, Disney is given an opportunity to prove itself because everyone
will be watching her debut.
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/25/opinion/navarrette-disney-hispanics
[2] http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/25/opinion/navarrette-disney-hispanics
[3] http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/25/opinion/navarrette-disney-hispanics
[4] http://nbclatino.com/2012/10/22/disney-our-first-latina-princess-isnt-actually-latina/
[5] http://nbclatino.com/2012/10/22/disney-our-first-latina-princess-isnt-actually-latina/
[6] http://www.disneymovieslist.com/blog/1658/a-new-disney-princess
[7] http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/disney-unveils-newest-princess-sophia-toddlers-article-1.991655
[8] http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/disney-unveils-newest-princess-sophia-toddlers-article-1.991655
[9] http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Franchise/DisneyPrincess?from=Main.DisneyPrincess
[10] http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/movies/canadian-press/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22575138
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