Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability

by Johnson Cheu

Although its early films featured racial caricatures and exclusively Caucasian heroines, Disney has, in recent years, become more multicultural in its filmic fare and its image. From Aladdin and Pocahontas to the Asian American boy Russell in Up, from the first African American princess in The Princess and the Frog to "Spanish-mode" Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 3, Disney films have come to both mirror and influence our increasingly diverse society. This essay collection gathers recent scholarship on representations of diversity in Disney and Disney/Pixar films, not only exploring race and gender, but also drawing on perspectives from newer areas of study, particularly sexuality/queer studies, critical whiteness studies, masculinity studies and disability studies. Covering a wide array of films, from Disney's early days and "Golden Age" to the Eisner era and current fare, these essays highlight the social impact and cultural significance of the entertainment giant.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Genres: Nonfiction

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Daniel Perlino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most welcome addition to the growing field of Disney Studies. One of my favorite aspects of the book is that it does not solely focus on one facet of representation, but on many, which is what drew my attention to this text in the first place. What keeps this from being a 5/5 star book for me, though, is perhaps entirely of my own devising. I was excited when I saw that the book was covering the canonical minority groups: race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality, but what really enticed me was the inclusion of disability. I set myself up for disappointment here because, as one might expect, the field is just growing (or at least it was at the time of publication); therefore, the essays were not as strong as I would have liked them to be. Indeed, there seems to be a hesitancy when using disability studies as a lens by which to examine film simply because it is a (somewhat) novel approach. This sense that disability studies is the "new kid on the block" haunts the essays in this collection which are at times infused with uncertainty. Nevertheless, they are important in our understanding of Disney's approach to characters with disabilities / different abilities and the other essays in the book were well written, even if I didn't deem them superb. I would certainly recommend this text as a must-read for those studying Disney because of its scope and also because it gives us many tools with which to analyze films. Although I wish the essays included would have had a stronger impact on me than they seem to (at least at the moment), I cannot deny how important this text is. I hope other readers find it more suitable to their specific interests than I did.

[Autumn Chrunik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Really sheds light on the problems of diversity within an enterprise that has so much influence on the world. I did get bored while reading these essays though during some parts which is why my rating is low. I would recommend this.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to start being mindful of the information, symbols, etc. being consumed in media.

[Kamilla Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my PhD

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first essay on the historical racial stereotyping in Disney films is a important read especially in context of the last year in America. Disney animation, especially in the early days of the studio, reinforced and projected the black racial stereotypes of the people who believed they were white. The Disney Magic was not good magic for the children of another God. There is positive change in recent studio history but I think it is from a monetary realization that the market for the studio products has also changed. Thank you Mr. Chen for the collection of essays.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection.