ARTICLE

ANALYZING HIDDEN ELEMENTS IN DISNEY MOVIES AND EFFECTS ON CHILDREN

  1. HOME
  2. ARTICLE

10 Pages : 76-87

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gsr.2021(VI-II).10      10.31703/gsr.2021(VI-II).10      Published : Jun 2021

Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children

Abstract

    Disney characters and themes are inspiring for children. There is much more than an apparent setting of the Disney movies. Children learn to respect and help others; they also absorb some hidden messages. This research also aims to examine the hidden elements in the content produced by Disney as a major entertainment corporation. The researcher analyzed relevant movies and found prominent elements, i.e., escape, sexual content, jealousy, and stereotyping. Notably, parents of Disney movies' viewers do not guide their children or discuss the movies with the children to increase the potential influence of the movies on little minds. The effects of Disney movies include fear, low confidence, egoism, unrealistic expectations, ignorance, daydreaming, and contentment. Further, we have discussed the results and proposed recommendations for future researchers.

    Disney Movies, Hidden Elements, Themes, Effects, Children

    (1) Zahra Siddique
    Independent Researcher, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (2) Saadia Anwar Pasha
    Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Sana Ali
    MPhil Scholar, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Fulltext PDF

References

  • Azmi, N. J., Rashid, R. A., & Wahab, Z. (2018). Young Girls Perception of Beauty in Disney Princess Movies. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 8(9), 686-693. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2018. 89.686.693
  • Apperly, I. A. (2012). What is https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2012 .676055
  • Bancroft, T., & Cook, B. (Directors). (1998). Mulan [Motion Picture]
  • Barber, M. (2015). Disney's Female Gender Roles: Honors Thesis, 1-28.
  • Booker, M. K. (2010). Disney, Pixar, and the Hidden Messages of Children's Films. California: Greenwood. https://books.google.com.pk/books?hl=en
  • Brown, N. (2015). Individualism and national identity in Disney's early British films. Journal of Popular Film and Television, 43(4), 188-200.
  • Buck, C., & Lima, K. (Directors). (1999). Tarzan [Motion Picture].
  • Chapman, B., & Andrews, M. (Directors). (2012). Brave [Motion Picture].
  • Clements, R., & Christian, H. (Directors). (1989). The little mermaid [Motion Picture].
  • Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1992). Aladdin [Motion Picture].
  • Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1997). Hercules [Motion Picture].
  • Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (2016). Moana [Motion Picture].
  • Condis, M. (2015). She Was a Beautiful Girl, and All the Animals Loved Her. Race, the Disney Princesses, and Their Animal Friends. In Gender Forum 55, 39-54.
  • Coyne, S. M., Rogers, A., Shawcroft, J., & Hurst, J. L. (2020). Dressing up with Disney and Make- Believe with Marvel: The Impact of Gendered Costumes on Gender Typing, Prosocial Behavior, and Perseverance during Early Childhood. Sex Roles, 1-12.
  • de Leeuw, R. N. H., & van der Laan, C. A. (2017). Helping behavior in Disney animated movies and children's helping behavior in the Netherlands. Journal of Children and Media, 12(2), 159-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2017 .1409245
  • Disney, W. (Producer), Cottrell, W., Hand, D., Jackson, W., Morey, L., Sharpsteen, B., & Pearce, P. (Directors). (1937). snow white and seven dwarfs [Motion Picture].
  • Disney, W., Grant, J., & Huemer, D. (1940). Fantasia [Motion Picture].
  • Dyce, A., & Kendrick, B. (2015, December 13). The Secret Relations Between Disney Movie Princesses.
  • England, D. E., Descartes, L., & Collier-Meek, M. A. (2011). Gender role portrayal and the Disney princesses. Sex roles, 64(7), 555-567. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t- KP9FoROZc
  • Frankel, V. E. (Ed.). (2019). Fourth Wave Feminism in Science Fiction and Fantasy: 1. Essays on Film Representations, 2012-2019. McFarland.
  • Garlen, J. C. (2018). Interrogating innocence: https://doi.org/10.1177/090756821881 1484
  • Geronimi, C. (1959). Sleeping Beauty [Motion Picture].
  • Geronimi, C., Jackson, W., & Luske, H. (1950). Cinderella [Motion Picture].
  • Geronimi, C., Jackson, W., & Luske, H. (1951). Alice in Wonderland [Motion Picture].
  • Glassman, S. (2016, July 4). odyssey. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/10- great-disney-movies-that-also-teach-important- life-lessons
  • Goldberg, E., & Gabriel, M. (1995). Pocahontas [Motion Picture].
  • Gordon, A. C., & Olson, D. R. (1998). The relation between acquisition of a theory of mind and the capacity to hold in mind. Journal of experimental child psychology, 68(1), 70-83.
  • Guizerix, J. (2013). From snow white to brave: the evolution of Disney princess. Boca Raton, Florida: Florida Atlantic University.
  • Hand, D., Jackson, W., Sharpsteen, B., Cottrell, W., Morey, L., & Pearce, P. (1937). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [Motion Picture].
  • Harvey, K. (2020). Dressing Disney's children in the twenty-first century. Film, Fashion & Consumption, 9(1), 23-42. https://doi.org/10.1386/ffc_00010_1
  • Hasanah, U., & Octaviyanti, C. K. (2018). The Effect of Disney Movie in Creating Children Stereotype as Reflected in the Little Mermaid (1989) Movie. The Educational Review, USA, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.26855/er.2018.03.00 5
  • Hefner, V., Firchau, R. J., Norton, K., & Shevel, G. (2017). Happily Ever After? A Content Analysis of Romantic Ideals in Disney Princess Films. Communication Studies, 68(5), 511-532. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2017 .1365092
  • Howard, B., & Greno, N. (2010). Tangled [Motion Picture]
  • Hurley, C. (2018). Princess Power. Princess Power. Durham, North Carolina, United States: Duke University. https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitst ream/handle/10161/16601/Hurley, C ameron, Princess Power, 2018.p df?sequence=1
  • Disney, Pixar, and the hidden messages of children's films. (2010b). Choice Reviews Online, 47(11), 47-6144. https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.47-6144
  • Lee, J., & Buck, C. (2013). Frozen [Motion Picture].
  • Leigh, M. (2014, September 12). http://pop- verse.com/2014/09/12/disney- individuality-for-the-love-of-oddballs-outcasts- and-independent-thinkers
  • Luske, H., Geronimi, C., & Jackson, W. (1953). Peter Pan [Motion Picture].
  • McClure, E. (2019). Theorizing a Spectrum of Aggression: Microaggressions, Creepiness, and Sexual Assault. The Pluralist, 14(1), 91- 101. https://doi.org/10.5406/pluralist.14.1.009 1
  • McLean, C. (2017, December 11). is Disney sexiest? www.bbc.co.uk: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/24 e20f4c-5f17-45fa-9179-f8a9fdccbe9a
  • Meng, Q., Sheng, X., Zhao, J., Wang, Y., & Su, Z. (2020). Influence of Mothers/Grandmothers Coviewing Cartoons With Children on Children's Viewing Experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.0123 2
  • Min, L. (2016, January 26). Disney princess speaking time. hellogiggles.com: https://hellogiggles.com/lifestyle/disney- princesses-speaking-time/
  • Minkoff, R., & Allers, R. (1994). The lion king [Motion Picture]
  • Moore, R. (2012). Wreck-it Ralph [Motion Picture].
  • Morris, L. (2015, September 24). hopes and fears. www.hopesandfears.com: http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/cult ure/film/216573-disney-single-parents-dead- mothers
  • Morris, L. (2015, September 24). why are so many Disney parents missing or dead? http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/cult ure/film/216573-disney-single-parents-dead- mothers
  • Musker, J., & Clements, R. (2009). The Princess and the frog [Motion Picture].
  • Neumeier, P. B., & Condis, M. (2015). she was a beautiful girl, and all animals loved her: race the Disney princess and their animal friend. Gender forume issue 55, 39-54. http://genderforum.org/wp-
  • Azmi, N. J., Rashid, R. A., & Wahab, Z. (2018b). Young Girls Perception of Beauty in Disney Princess Movies. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 8(9), 686-693. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2018. 89.686.693
  • oh, my Disney contributor. (2014, 10 30). on my Disney. https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2014/10 /31/11-things-every-disney-movie-must- include/
  • Otnes, C. C., & Pleck, E. (2003). Cinderella dreams The allure of the lavish wedding (Vol. 2). Univ of California Press
  • Perlino, D. (2017). Interrogating Tales as Old as Time: The Subversive Power of Disney Fan Remixes (Doctoral dissertation, State University of New York at Buffalo)
  • Putnam, A. (2013). Mean ladies: Transgender villains in Disney films. Diversity in Disney films: critical essays on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and disability, 147-62.
  • Reitherman, W. (1967). The Jungle Book [Motion Picture].
  • Rönnberg, M. (2002). Why is Disney so famous? The animated feature films from a childish perspective.
  • Ross, D. (2004). Escape from Wonderland: Disney and the Female Imagination. Marvels & Tales, 53-66. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41388684?c asa_token=XY2dLkv6A2EAAAAA:Kl0xWYNqz jPu0BhU7bDMo3MePRkwBLsDOMgIHETcDd 4t2mR-6Y3o8fk_Xa4-
  • Rowe, M. L. (2017). Understanding Socioeconomic Differences in Parents' Speech to Children Child Development Perspectives, 12(2), 122- 127. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12271.
  • Russ, S. W. (2020). Mind-wandering, fantasy, and pretend play: a natural combination. In Creativity and the Wandering Mind (pp. 231- 248). Academic Press
  • SAKELLARIOU, A. (2017, March 23). the things. https://www.thethings.com/15-times-disney- took-away-our-innocence/
  • Schimmel, J. (2019). Violence in Disney: An Examination of Early and Recent Animated Major Motion Picture Films Based on European Fairy Tales.
  • Sharma, A., & Suri, C. S. (2020). Effect Of Cartoon Programs On Language And Behaviour Of Children. PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 17(6), 5853-5875.
  • Sharp, M. L. (2015). Merchandise and media effects: Young girls' fantasy play with Disney princess dolls (Doctoral dissertation, The Ohio State University).
  • Steinhoff, H. (2017). Reinventing the Disney Fairy Tale in Frozen. Heroes, Heroines, and Everything in Between: Challenging Gender and Sexuality Stereotypes in Children's Entertainment Media. London: Lexington Books, 159-176.
  • Streiff, M., & Dundes, L. (2017). Frozen in Time: How Disney Gender-Stereotypes Its Most Powerful Princess. Social Sciences, 6(2), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6020038
  • Tanner, L. R., Haddock, S. A., Zimmerman, T. S., & Lund, L. K. (2003). Images of Couples and Families in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 31(5), 355-373. https://doi.org/10.1080/019261803902 23987
  • Tenzek, K. E., & Nickels, B. M. (2019). End-of-life in Disney and Pixar films: An opportunity for engaging in a difficult conversation. OMEGA- Journal of Death and Dying, 80(1), 49-68
  • Things, T. (2018, October Wednesday, 24). 10 Disney Movie Characters Who Are Related You Never Knew About. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD8cH GQvZNQ
  • Thomas, K. D., Cross, S. N., & Harrison III, R. L. (2018). Race and ethnicity (pp. 206-10). London: SAGE Publications.
  • Todorov, A. (2017). Face value: The irresistible influence of first impressions. Princeton University Press.
  • Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (1991). Beauty and the beast [Motion Picture].
  • Tsintziras, A. (2018, Feburary 13). The things. https://www.thethings.com/20-subliminal- messages-hidden-disney-movies/
  • VILLANI, S. (2001). Impact of Media on Children and Adolescents: A 10-Year Review of the Research. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(4), 392- 401. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583- 200104000-00007
  • Wasko, J. (2020). Understanding Disney: The manufacture of fantasy. John Wiley & Sons
  • Watson, A. (10 November 2020). Disney - Statistics & Facts. https://www.statista.com/topics/1824/dis ney/
  • Wills, J. (2017). Disney Culture. Rutgers University Press.
  • Xavier, M. (2018). Dreamscapes: The Dream- Worlds of Shopping Malls, McDonald's, and Disneyland. In Subjectivity, the Unconscious and Consumerism (pp. 193-206). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
  • YouTube. (2012, January 20). www.youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG6Nm 2rtib8
  • Zaki, N. M., & Abdullah, N. S. (2015). Animation Propaganda: The Hidden Messages in Disney Princess Animation. Journal of Media and Information Warfare, Vol 7 (26). https://jmiw.uitm.edu.my/images/Journal/v 7c2.pdf
  • Zhang, S. (2017). Investigating the Possible Effects of Disney Princess Culture on Young Women: Approach, Ideals, and Gender Roles Within Intimate Relationships (Doctoral dissertation, City University of Seattle).

Cite this article

APA

CHICAGO

    CHICAGO : Siddique, Zahra, Saadia Anwar Pasha, and Sana Ali. 2021. "Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children." Global Sociological Review, VI (II): 76-87 doi: 10.31703/gsr.2021(VI-II).10

HARVARD

    HARVARD : SIDDIQUE, Z., PASHA, S. A. & ALI, S. 2021. Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children. Global Sociological Review, VI, 76-87.

MHRA

    MHRA : Siddique, Zahra, Saadia Anwar Pasha, and Sana Ali. 2021. "Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children." Global Sociological Review, VI: 76-87

MLA

    MLA : Siddique, Zahra, Saadia Anwar Pasha, and Sana Ali. "Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children." Global Sociological Review, VI.II (2021): 76-87 Print.

OXFORD

    OXFORD : Siddique, Zahra, Pasha, Saadia Anwar, and Ali, Sana (2021), "Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children", Global Sociological Review, VI (II), 76-87

TURABIAN

    TURABIAN : Siddique, Zahra, Saadia Anwar Pasha, and Sana Ali. "Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children." Global Sociological Review VI, no. II (2021): 76-87. https://doi.org/10.31703/gsr.2021(VI-II).10