Disney's Encanto

 

I have always been a Disney fan.  I truly thought of it as magical, but never dug deep into the critiques or stereotypes that are portrayed in their films.  I guess you could say I am kind of naive.  I enjoyed the “Happy Ending” and how the characters fell in love, but through the reading “Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us Critiquing fairy tales and cartoon” by Linda Christensen and the class discussion after the Encanto movie, I know now I was blinded by the magic.  

These movies are filled with stereotypes, sexism, classism,ect… (I guess the list can go on).  I always knew that there was a female character (princess) that was saved by her prince charming, but never saw what she lost to receive that happy ending.  

I found the Disney movie Encanto to be slightly different.  Yes there were some stereotypes thrown in it, but it focused on the women having the power and leading the story.  The men were on the sidelines as supporting characters, which was refreshing to see.  

What I loved about this movie is the power of family, vulnerability and honesty,  past struggles and being yourself .  What I also loved about this movie is how they incorporated mental health through the feeling of stress and pressure in Louisa.  Let’s face it , we have all felt like the weight of the world is on our shoulders as adults, but we forget the children feel the same way too. It is wonderful that children can see this in Lousia’s character and connect with those feelings.  They know there are others like them that feel pressure and the stress of having to be strong when all you really want to do is cry.  And of course the music in this movie was amazing… you just can’t help singing to  “We dont dont talk about Bruno” and “The Family Madrigal”.  

 

Here are some notes from movie night from  the Princess Conventions Chart:   

CONVENTION	HISTORICAL/ TRADITIONAL/ CONVENTIONAL	Encanto
Main Female Characters: How are women represented?	In a traditional princess story… Beautiful Dainty Domestic Weak Need to be saved Damsel in distress Kind At home with animals Soft spoken Compliant Naive Trusting	How does this film play with the idea of a princess? What do we learn about the power and limitations of girls/women through these female characters? Mirabel-  She was the main character of the movie who did not receive a gift, but found out that she was the gift that saves the family.  She was an outcast like her tio Bruno, but found her way back into her grandma’s heart.  SHe saw the best in everyone, but couldnt see it in herself.  Isabella-  She was the “perfect” child or as Mirabel called her “the golden child”.  She resembled  a princess with her long, dark, flowing hair, and her power which  was to bloom beautiful flowers (like herself).  But we find out in the film it’s hard to be perfect and she rather be ordinary.   Luisa- She was the strong sister with masculine traits ( deep voice, muscles) but with strong feelings that made her want to cry (pressure and stress).  She demonstrated vulnerability in the movie. The women are seen as the stronger ones in this film.  They are the problem solvers and have more responsibilities than the men .
Main Male Characters: How are men represented?	In a traditional princess story… Strong Handsome Heroic Adventurous Leaders Providers Risk takers Barrel chested Decision makers Heads of households Confident	How does this film play with the idea of masculinity? What do we learn about the power and limitations of boys/men through these male characters? (Why don’t we talk about Bruno?) The men in this film  are more on the sidelines to the females.  They are sensitive, caring and understanding.    I finally found out why we don’t talk about Bruno (no,no,no!), which is because he flees the family due to a prophecy that he thinks was going to hurt his family.  Here you can see the sensitive, caring and understanding trait of a male character
How to be a princess: what are the rules, regulations and requirements that the princess must follow? What does it mean to be groomed to lead?	In a traditional princess story… Obedient In search of prince Remain pristine Obligation to…. Some of the characteristics Well kept Wear dressed Be modest Look beautiful Passive Don’t cause trouble Don’t questions things	How does this film use Mirabel to teach us about leadership? What values are associated with her ability to lead in the Madrigal Family? What does she “have?” What is she “missing?”  Does the film shift from the beginning to the end in the way it views her ability to lead?    Mirabel doesn't show strong leadership until the end of the movie.  In the beginning of the movie Mirable was not confident.  She didn't have a gift like the rest of her family members so it seemed like she didn’t see herself worthy or valued as a family member.  Due to her strong family value and wanting to do good for her family she shifts into this strong leader at the end. She brings back Tio Bruno and leads in the reconstruction of her “casita”.
Knight in Shining Armor: In a traditional princess story, there is usually one of these!
Sidekicks/Helpers: In a traditional princess story, there is usually one of these!	Helper Less attractive Smaller in size  Comic relief Dwarfs Lefue Monkey Abu Tiger Raja Mice in Cinderella Household objects in Beauty Olaf in Frozen
Evil Character In a traditional princess story, there is usually one of these!	Dark Bodies are different than the heroine Scowl Evil prop Boils and blemishes Idealize beauty Evil music Smoke Neon green Magical element
CONVENTION	HISTORICAL/ TRADITIONAL	Encanto
What does Happily Ever After look like?	In a traditional princess story… Marriage between man and woman Wealth True love’s kiss Song, swelling music Happy animals Evil disappears/dies	The film uses the common trope of happily ever after -- it all gets wrapped up in the end.  Crescendo and SCENE Where do you see this? Describe all the elements that get resolved in the end of this film. Happily ever after was seen at the end of the movie: Tio Bruno coming welcomed back to family The house being rebuilt with the help of the community Mariano   Fall in love with Dolores Isabella  does not have to marry      is able to be herself Family members get gifts back Abuela’s family is together again Louisa gets to relax instead work because of her strength
What cost is associated with power/reward? Who has to pay and with what?	In a traditional princess story… Death and revival Sacrifice family Sacrifice their passion Lose their voice Lose Femininity (Mulan)	Think about the ending…  what losses and gains do we see? How does the film calculate the resolution? At the end Mirabel gains her own magical, golden knob to the “casita”, which symbolizes that she does have a gift like the rest of her family. It also demonstrates being part of her family again and that her family problems are solved.
Language/Tropes/Humor	Sidekicks Design of buildings/art Visual of the story Music Sexual innuendo	How does this film use humor to engage adults and children? Agustin’s allergic reaction to bees Pepe controlling weather with her emotions Camilo changing into different people (especially when he changes into the baby head lol) The rats and how they had a personality
LGBTQ Resistance In a traditional princess story, there is usually some of this!	Who gets coded as gay (mocking or powerful)
Pleasure:   What do you enjoy about this text?
Historical Context