Before this class, we all likely thought of Disney films as just that. As childhood movies. When we think of animated movies, we think of Disney. HOWEVER! If you were to ask us to name a fairy tale, what would we have said? Little Red Riding Hood. Hansel and Gretel. Jack and the Beanstalk.
Somehow, in the course of learning how to be critical about fairytales and the media this semester, the idea has quickly been created that Disney is the primary medium for fairy tales in the US. Then, quickly we jump further and believe that Disney IS and EQUALS fairy tales for us, since its exposure to our popular culture. But let's step back for a moment.
The three examples I gave have NOT been made into Disney movies, yet they are probably the three most famous fairy tales to Americans today. This was clearly not mediated by Disney. Also, of the first 5 animated movies put out by Disney, 3 were NOT fairy tales (Fanasia, Dumbo, and The Three Caballeros [my personal fav]). Pinnochio may fit the bill, but is certainly not in the german/french tradition that we've come to understand thus far this semester. Of the next 5 put out by Disney, again 3 of 5 were not fairy tales (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp). The next TEN released were also not fairy tales, including AristoCats, Pete's Dragon and Basil; The Great Mouse Detective.
Certainly the effect of those movies that WERE fairy tale recreations is strong, but we must first discount the idea that Disney was a "fairy tale teller" and that his mainstay was that of Grimm's old stories. Rather, they were a combination of old tales and new, aimed toward children with a nod toward their adult caretakers, with an apparant intent on literary exposure and technical achievement on their own part (i.e. Fantasia's groundbreaking format, Sleeping Beauty's groundbreaking widescreen format, Pete Dragon's integration of live action and animation).
Thanks to the aptly named disneymovieslist.com!
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I think that even if Disney was a "fairytale teller," though he was actually a filmmaker and animator, his adaptations of these tales should still be acceptable. This is because the fact that fairytales were changed all the time to fit the culture and time in which they were being told. So, although it is true that the utopian theme that Disney created was in response to what the masses wanted and what would sell most, the changes in the stories can also be looked at as the changes a storyteller made. Disney kept with the tradition of change associated with the retelling of stories.
ReplyDeleteDisney was a fairytale teller in the sense that he spun tales and created a whole new world of dreams for the public to enjoy. I don't think he targeted the grimms or historical tales. Disney wanted to tell an old story in a new way, bringing imagination, color and song to many beloved and new stories. It is a good point that the majority of Disney's film were not fairytales, which makes Zipes vendetta unfounded.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an interesting point. Your post made me realize that as a child I never really thought of the Disney stories as fairy tales, rather, I thought of them as Disney stories. I remember being surprised when my mother told me that Disney did not actually create these stories. I don't know if this fact supports towards Zipes' argument or not. In that sense Disney did "co-opt" popular versions of fairy tales however he did so in a very specific non-traditional way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have to wonder if Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and Jack and the Beanstalk are thought to be the most popular fairy tales because the others were transformed into Disney products.