(Student’s Full Name)
Classism and its Connection to Consumption as explored and presented in the Disney Films The Lion King and The Princess and the Frog
Classism and its Connection to Consumption as Explored and Presented in the Disney Films The Lion King and The Princess and the Frog
Introduction
Giroux (1999) notes that the power structure created by Disney allows children to relinquish “their roles as critical subjects for the passive role of consuming subjects” (Giroux, 1999, p. 23). This desire to consume has caused many to see the necessity to consume media as pointed out by Dafna Lemish (2015). The writer quotes the headline of a news article that states the following “Report: Teens now spend more hours consuming media than sleeping” (Lemish, 2015, p. 1). Therefore, it can be argued that this desire to consume has placed emphasis on acquiring the means to consume. One of the means that is necessary to consume is having access to finances or wealth. Being a part of the upper class will clearly assure that one gains access to this. Some might argue that Disney has helped to perpetuate the appeal of classist or elitist ideals, which celebrate materialism and consumption. This is best exemplified in the Disney films, The Lion King and The Princess and the Frog. After carefully analyzing these films, it can be said that although it is clear that there are other themes that are explored, it is evident that classism is a major theme that is explored and presented in both The Lion King and The Princess and the Frog. Furthermore, the Disney films’ portrayal of the upper classes helps to fuel the urge for young persons to consume.
The Lion King, which was released in 1994, is the story of a lion which rules Pride Lands of Africa. After Scar, his uncle, kills his father, Simba is blamed for it by him. After living away from the kingdom for years, the ghost of Simba’s father convinces Simba that he has the right to rule Pride Lands. After fighting and getting his uncle killed, Simba rules Pride Lands. The major themes that are portrayed in the film include the following: the divine right of kings; the influence of the nobility or the upper classes on the actions or behavior of the lower classes; the continuity of life; and the perpetuity of the hegemony.
In The Princess and the Frog (which was released in 2009), Tiana, the protagonist, is a waitress who works two jobs in New Orleans. Prince Naveen of Maldonia is unable to receive money from his parents who refuse to support his playboy lifestyle. Naveen is forced to marry Charlotte La Bouff, who is the daughter of a wealthy sugar plantation owner so that he can sustain his wealthy lifestyle. Naveen is turned into a frog by Dr. Facilier, who wants the fortune of Charlotte’s father. After many twists and plots within the storyline, Tiana marries Naveen and his able to break the spell after becoming a real princess. She is able to get the money to change an old sugar mill into her own restaurant. The themes that are dealt with in the film, The Princess and the Frog, include the following: the lifestyle of the working class versus the lifestyle upper class; magic and/or witchcraft; and attitudes to wealth or money.
Analysis
The Disney films, The Lion King and The Princess and the Frog share similarities in that they both focus on the influence of the upper class. Artz (2002) posits that it is easy to “dismiss the social inequality and brutality of feudalism” in the “fictional world of nature” created in The Lion King and allow the audience to perceive royal characters as having qualities that these characters are “‘believed to have’” rather than the qualities that they “‘actually’” possess (as cited in Artz, 2002, p. 3). In other words, the world created by the Disney film appears to support a rigid stratification of the society with an aristocratic class remaining at the very top of the social hierarchy. It should be noted that the animals at the top of the social hierarchy in the film are predators, which need to consume and destroy other animals so that they can remain at the top. Therefore, it can be argued that this reflects how the upper classes ‘prey’ on or take advantage of lower classes so that they can remain on top of the social hierarchy.
Artz (2002) posits that although it is said that Disney films, such as The Lion King, promotes “pro-social” and “family values,” these films only represent Disney’s attempts to fulfill its corporate self-interests (p. 4). The critic explains that Disney films are “self-contained confections mass-produced by adults writing, selling, and promoting themes for product licensing and private profits” (Artz, 2002, p. 4). In other words, Disney films inspire the young audience to consume the products that are inspired by their characters.
On the other hand, although class plays a prominent role in its storyline, The Princess and the Frog, the working class is afforded equal status with the upper class. For instance, Naveen, who no longer receives money from his parents because of playboy lifestyle, is portrayed as someone who is in a negative financial situation. However, although Tiana is part of the working class, she is in a better financial situation than Naveen since she is able to earn the money to change an old sugar mill into a restaurant after being paid by Charlotte to make beignets at a masquerade ball. Naveen has only noble birth to rely on but has no financial status to validate his noble birth, and needs to marry Charlotte to better his financial situation. On the other hand, although Tiana has to work two jobs to earn a living, she almost realizes her dream of owning her restaurant until she finds out later at the masquerade ball that she would lose the old mill to the highest bidder.
It should be recognized that Tiana wants to own a restaurant, which is a place where people consume food. Tiana believes that owning this restaurant, which symbolizes consumption, will enable her to realize her dream and to be socially mobile. This is ironic since Disney relies on the consumption of consumers so that it can remain a powerful player in the media and communications industry.
In addition, Lemish (2015) recognizes that there is a link between “media consumption and childhood obesity” (p. 2). Bradley J. Bond, Melissa N. Richards, and Sandra L. Calvert (2013) explain how media can influence literal consumption of food. The scholars point out that when “people eat on television, those at home may do so too” (Bond, Richards, & Calvert, 2013, p. 235). The writers indicate that is primarily “due to priming appetitive thoughts or to the imitation of observed on-screen food consumption” (Bond, Richards, & Calvert, 2013, p. 235). Hence, the media consumption or consumption on media can influence literal consumption of food and other material items. Therefore, it can be said that the storyline of The Princess and the Frog emphasizes the point Disney’s intention in ensuring that the market consumes the products that it has to offer.
Response/ Reaction to Learning about the Material
As it relates to my personal response to the learning material and films covered, I would have to say that I was not shocked by the findings that Disney is focused on the fact that consumers consume their product offerings. It is clear that Disney is running a corporation and if they would like to run this corporation successfully they would need to ensure that persons are willing to consume their products.
References
Artz, Lee. Animating hierarchy: Disney and the globalization of capitalism. Global Media Journal 1.1 (2002).
Bond, B. J., Richards, M. N., & Calvert, S. L. (2013). Media and obesity. The Routledge international handbook of children, adolescents, and media, 232-239.
Ebert, R. (1994, June 24). The Lion King Movie Review & Film Summary (1994) | Roger Ebert. Retrieved May 08, 2016, from http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-1994
Giroux, H. A. (1999). The mouse that roared: Disney and the end of innocence. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Lemish, D. (2015, December 11). Media moral panic about screens and teens. Retrieved May 6, 2016, from http://gatewayjr.org/2015/12/11/media-moral-panic-about-screens-and-teens/
