I find it fascinating how two humans can view the exact same situation and report it completely different. Having multiple witnesses in any case is always a good thing, but rarely do they ever say the exact same thing. There are always differences - some big and some small - but different nonetheless.
(Now for the segue...) I love Disney movies. I always have. I would rather watch Disney movies than most any other movie even as an educated adult. I have read articles promoting the good things that come with watching Disney movies and I have read articles that tear Disney movies apart and show you all the subliminal messaging that is contained in the films. I have read both sides to the argument that Disney movies are or are not good for our young children. Obviously, someone somewhere knows someone else who locked herself in a tower for 15 years waiting for her prince to come and someone else knows a young man who spent all his time wielding an imaginary sword and expecting the perfect girl to fall into his lap. If not, why all the spite towards children's fairy tales?
Maybe it is because the Disney version isn't the way the story was originally told? But then Disney gets slammed for being "too dark" and "too inappropriate" and those people want the real Grimm versions of the stories? Not me. I've read them. *shudder*
Ok ok. I don't want to hate on people who hate on Disney. I really understand that it's not for everyone. However, I would like to stand as one example of one girl who watched Disney probably every day of her growing up years and turned out as normal as most people do these days (which isn't really saying much, I get it, but at least I'm average-ish). I think a couple of things that factored hugely into my resulting "normalcy" in adulthood despite my inundation with princesses and talking animals as a child are
1: parents who watched the movies with me
2: parents who helped me understand what imagination is and the very definite line between fantasy and reality
3: parents who taught me my own worth as a child, not dependent on anything else.
Not everyone gets the amazing parents I had. I know that. However, after watching Moana with Hannalyn yesterday (and many many other Disney movies before that), I know that I will continue to let her watch them and I will watch them with her - and maybe even without her. ;) And I will also always cry and love the movies and I wanted to share why. So here is a list of some of the Disney princesses and what I learned from them.
-- Snow White - Patience & kindness. No kidding. She was a child when her stepmother tried to kill her multiple times and she never once turned against her stepmother or against others who were smaller than her. The bully system prevalent in our schools in perpetuated by the "biggest & baddest" who torment those smaller, weaker, whatever. Those tormented in turn become the tormentors of those smaller and weaker. How much better would things be if we could be kind - not even necessarily by turning the other cheek (though we should) - but by showing kindness unfeigned to those around us. Plus, her patience was unending. Now she didn't not do anything. She still lived where she was - she was working at her castle, she was working at the dwarves' house - not sitting still on her butt, but waiting patiently for a better day. Not moping and being uphappy about it, just waiting.
-- Ariel - Listening is better than talking. Is that a weird thing to learn from this movie? Maybe. If you think about it though, when Ariel gets her voice back, she says only a few things: truth "I wanted to tell you", apology "Daddy, I'm so sorry", defiance & courage "You monster!" (to Ursula), love "Eric, you need to get out of here" and "I love you, Daddy". That's it. She has five lines in the remainder of the movie. Before she loses her voice, she talks a lot. After, listening is better.
-- Pocahontas - Often the right path is the hardest. The decisions that we make will always change us, though not always in the ways we expect. Being brave enough to make the right choice - and stick to it no matter the adversities we encounter - makes us better and stronger.
-- Cinderella - When you follow the rules, you'll get blessings. Isn't that funny? I was never truly afraid that I would turn into a pumpkin at midnight (even though on my first date my dad told me if I missed curfew I would, but I was 16 then so I knew better...). Though if you notice, Cinderella heard the clock chime and immediately left. She didn't say "Oh shucks. I missed it. Guess I'll stay here." She got up and she left. Because she ran, the prince was able to find her and free her later. Can you imagine her transforming right there on the bench while sitting by the prince? Now I'm going to get all sorts of "he should love her anyway" crap and let me tell you - he would. His father would be much less understanding. But seeing the prince's zeal to find her, the king was ready to let the prince marry for love. It wouldn't have happened if she'd not obeyed and gone home.
-- Mulan - Inner strength comes when you're at the darkest moment. It's no coincidence that in Disney's story, Mulan left her family to protect them and then failed miserably in training before being sent home in the middle of the night. Lots of symbolism there. It was dark - literally and figuratively - yet she gave it another try and was ultimately the most successful.
-- Rapunzel - Having a dream (even in the "real world") is NOT a bad thing. Dreams are beautiful and inspiring. Dreams can change you and those around you - encouraging and bettering life and even just simple moments in life. Dreams can be big and small, take a day or take years. But they must be dreamt.
-- Tiana - What is really important in life? Hard work, yes. Absolutely. But so is family and love. Hard work
with your family really seems the perfect blend to me.
-- Elsa - When fear controls you, you are controlled. We do not need to be afraid of who we are, of what other people think, of uncontrollable circumstances that come into our lives. The best way to overcome fear is with faith and love. Then we are finally free.
-- Anna - This girl's love for her sister is my favorite. I need to be more like Anna in searching out my sisters and making sure they know that I love them always and forever no matter what.
-- Moana - Since watching the movie again this week, I've had one line stuck in my head: "Moana, you've come so far. Do you know who you are?" Moana left home and everything she knew trying to figure out who she was and what the voice inside her meant. She traversed oceans, argued with a demi-god, fought creepy coconuts, and "lost" to TeKa. She was more alone than ever and yet she still needed to learn about herself. I've really wondered this week if I know who I am. I know my heritage (not as thoroughly as I should, but some), including that I am a daughter of God. I believe it, but do I
know it? We don't all need to undertake terrifying journeys (although life is basically that) to learn who we are - sometimes we just need to look inside ourselves and accept what we find.
-- Belle - I saved my favorite for last because I can. :) Belle has always been amazing to me. She is smart, loves her father, resourceful, and doesn't let the villagers get to her (too much). When she goes to the Beast's castle, she shows courage and the willingness to stand up for herself. She is willing to look beyond the facade of the monster to the person within. Getting a prince out of it is just a bonus in my opinion. I think she honestly grew to love the Beast. She went back after saving her father. She didn't have to - she'd done plenty. And really, she knew the Beast could take care of himself. But her ability to look past the hurt and the pain and find the best in someone else has always been admirable to me. Plus she reads a lot and I love all fellow bookworms. ;) I could go on, but that's the most important stuff right there.
So there you are. I believe in empowering young women AND young men. I believe in strength in one's self and standing up for what you believe in. I think that courage, modesty, and faith are some of the greatest traits a person can possess.
I think a movie-watching afternoon may be in order.
