dentify the thesis/the argument(s) in Jack Zipes' essay , Breaking the Disney Spell’. Do you agree or disagree with him? Justify the stance you take.
While the essay was well written, I found it difficult to take apart one thesis or argument in Zipes essay, "Breaking the Disney Spell".
I found the main argument to be that Disney was taking the classic fairy tales, and minimizing the lessons, replacing them with menial tales that were written and created to make money, and to show and demonstrate his skills as the owner of a company, and an animator.
I partially agree with what Zipes is saying. I do believe, since as he states that Disney was one of the first to use techniques in his animations and films, that Disney wasn't in the business to preserve and demonstrate classic tales. Disney adds too many commercial aspects into his films and stories to really care about the integrity of the stories themselves.
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It's true that Disney does commercialize fairy tales, but I don't necessarily feel that this is a bad thing... I could see how you would agree with Zipes saying that Disney somehow takes away from the originality of fairy tales, but I think it's also important to consider how Disney makes fairy tales more accessibly to everyone and how his films represent the constant changing of fairy tales.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the problem is that it is commercial I think it is important to consider what the fairy tale is turning into. His basic idea about what a fairy tale film has to be like and his ideas about Disnaey reminds me of Goebbels, his principle and UFA. Zipes says that he focuses on aesthetics and making a "simple" or one-dimensional film. He controlled every aspect of the film process. Zipes says that one of the requirements of the Disney tales is that "Everything is on the surface, one-dimesional, and we are to delight in its one-dimensional portrayal and thinking. It comfortable, fun, easy and adorable." His films are not taliored to the public like old tales were but they were tailored to his ideas. They don't reflect the greater community. Zipes makes it seem like propaganda or something. We are not suppose to read into the films just enjoy them and adopt their simple message.
ReplyDeleteI'm partial to film as an art form, so I don't have much of a problem with Disney using an easily recognizable, accessible story to a wide audience to showcase techniques that were groundbreaking for their time. I think combining experimental filmmaking with a story that an audience couldn't easily identify with is a recipe for disaster followed by obscurity.
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