4th summary

Summary
According to Elizabeth Bell in this book “From Mouse to Mermaid” (Elizabeth Bell, Chapter Ten, 1995), the author discussed masculinity and “Beauty and the Beast.” First, Bell talked about male heroes in the movies from 1980’s and 1990’s. The writer observed that the norm of hero characteristics was not always the same in each movie because starting in the 90’s, Hollywood tried to make males more sensitive and have feelings. In addition, Bell described that this includes the Disney movie too because the audience can notice the Beast changing his violent personality to be more calm and sensitive. The author clamed, however, the “clumsy” (Elizabeth Bell, p 169, 1995) beast is just changed because of a beautiful girl “Belle.” Also, Bell observed that the Beast represents “a stereotyped image of masculinity” (Elizabeth Bell, p 170, 1995) as hunting, drinking, and male bonding before he becomes a beast. Finally, Bell concluded that the Beast finally changes to a prince when he is twenty-one which states that many boys act like beasts until they reach the age 21 years old.




Analysis

In Beauty and the Beast, they show the beast to represent a very ferocious male character that is being insensitive. He is rude, violent, and strong, but he becomes a gentle prince at the ending. I think this may give young audience viewers the wrong impression, too. Some boys will believe it is acceptable to behave like Beast, and when they become adults it will be natural for them to act like a gentle human being again. This is obviously false, and may be very bad for society. Girls who may imitate Belle and fall for violent and insensitive boys think that one day the boy will become a prince and everything will create happy endings.

Summary-Third

According to Elizabeth Bell in this book “From Mouse to Mermaid” (Elizabeth Bell, 1995), the author described Disney movie Bambi and gender stereotypes which are included in that. Bell stated that the movie also shows Bambi’s father as “the Prince of the Forest” ” (Bell, p140, 1995) which is “The Great Stag” (Bell, p140, 1995) and he has power above the other animals. The writer observed that the male leader is illustrated to be strong, smart, and to have ability to command everything. On the other hand, Bell claimed females are presented to obey their husbands and have the main purpose of mating to produce new children. Bell stated that when hunters kill a female animal, the film wants children to know that it is nature, and it is usual. In addition, Bell described this can be translated to be meaning that maybe it is normal to have female victim because it is ‘natural’ (Bell, p144, 1995). Bell observed Bambi must become the hero at the end of the movie because the role is expected for his gender and the audiences slowly are educated by subtle stereotypes.



Analysis
After reading the chapters, I got a new outlook on Disney movies. Both of them were talking about the male characters in their movie and how they are very stereotypical. First of all, in Bambi, they displayed the male deer as part of a type of military force like it was necessary and appreciated in the forest. Children who watch this show will keep these thoughts in their mind that they should be tough like the deer when they grow older and that they should be a hero in difficult situations. For example, Bambi had to rescue other animals and his wife in the forest fire. These are good things, but children do not know how to be realistic and can easily imitate. Disney is enforcing a definition for being ‘manly’. Overall, I believe the messages that Disney gives audiences are not always great. Some people know about realism, but most people don’t and they do not realize that the stereotypes are actually learned from watching the movies.