{"id":361,"date":"2015-12-06T02:20:01","date_gmt":"2015-12-06T02:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/classicaldifference.com\/?p=361"},"modified":"2022-01-22T05:20:47","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T05:20:47","slug":"disneys-new-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicaldifference.com\/disneys-new-view\/","title":{"rendered":"Disney\u2019s New View"},"content":{"rendered":"
Fall 2015<\/pre>\n
Watch, Listen, and Read<\/h1>\n
by David Goodwin<\/pre>\n
\n
A Turn Toward Truth,<\/h3>\n
Goodness, and Beauty<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\"Lily<\/a>
Lily James is Cinderella in Disney’s live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, CINDERELLA, which brings to life the timeless images in Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzlling spectacle for a whole new generation.<\/p><\/div>\n
If Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Miley Cyrus embody the seedier side of Disney\u2019s entertainment empire, we might wonder at a recent development in the Disney princess franchise. Just when it seemed that Disney would never cease turning to preachy characters like Pocahontas and Mulan, we can see a hint that \u201cclassical values\u201d still sell.<\/p>\n
The most recent additions to the collection double down on Disney\u2019s original cache\u2014Western stories that inspire truth, goodness, and beauty. In fact, you might say that four of Disney\u2019s recent works surpass iconic originals like Snow White.<\/p>\n
St. Augustine, after St. Paul, points to the classical standards of truth, goodness, and beauty as a reflection of God\u2019s universal imprint on humanity, regardless of their source. If Disney\u2019s pre-teen audience is anything, it is teeming with the imprint of God that is evident on every human soul. So, it\u2019s no wonder that little girls, little boys, and their parents see something attractive in a few releases from Disney in recent years. And, the box office says they\u2019re demanding more.<\/p>\n
The first hint of this new course came in Disney\u2019s 2010 release of Tangled. Rapunzel lacks a sword or feminist machismo. Sure, she has a perky and determined way about her. But, her\u00a0tools are a paintbrush\u00a0and a frying pan\u2014a\u00a0breath of truth in an\u00a0age when we\u2019re expected to believe that\u00a0a 90-pound girl with\u00a0martial arts training\u00a0can thwart a posse of bad guys. Or that she should. And, it\u2019s even more refreshing to see Rapunzel\u2019s strength of vision and her ability to adorn her world with beauty as she paints the walls (and just about everything else) in her tower prison.<\/p>\n
Truth is served up as a dish of ironic humor for Disney in the 2013 film Frozen. \u201cHang on. You mean to tell me you got engaged to someone you just met?… Did your parents ever warn you about strangers?\u201d comes the voice of Kristoff, dismayed that Anna has become engaged after she experiences Disney\u2019s signature theme\u2014love at first sight. \u201cHans is not a stranger,\u201d Anna replies. \u201cOh yeah? What\u2019s his last name?\u201d \u201cUhh, Of-the-Southern- Isles?\u201d she replies. The two go back and forth to show the foolishness of ideas about love that, while they may have been the bread-and-butter of Disney\u2019s past princess stories, just aren\u2019t true to life.<\/p>\n
In both the 2012 release of Brave and in Frozen, we see the reemergence of traditional goodness. Brave\u2019s Merida rebels against her mother; a scene that evokes an expectation of \u201chere we go again\u201d\u2014 another Disney lesson on the wisdom of youthful independence. But there is something different this time. Not only\u00a0is Queen Elinor an uncommonly wise adult for this genre but, in the end, it is Merida\u2019s repair of the tapestry, which she had cut apart in a fit of independence,\u00a0that restores the kingdom. Fate, and our responsibility within the family, is evident to Christians who understand how God\u2019s will is woven into life\u2019s tapestry.<\/p>\n
\""FROZEN"<\/a>
“FROZEN” (Pictured) ELSA. \u00a92013 Disney. All Rights Reserved.<\/p><\/div>\n
The most captivating and stark example of goodness and beauty cannot be missed in the 2015 release of Cinderella. Disney returns to its roots with a twist toward goodness, thanks to the artistry of director Kenneth Branagh. Rather than recast Cinderella to \u201creflect diversity\u201d or reset her values as independent and self-sufficient, he chooses to give her two simple virtues\u2014courage and kindness. Cinderella reflects an inner fusion of goodness and beauty, thanks to excellent casting and Branagh\u2019s finesse.<\/p>\n
In the moment of triumph, rather than a pow-to-the-face as we see in Frozen, she gracefully says, \u201cI forgive you.\u201d One can almost see the reflection of Christ and his church in the prince and princess, as in the origin of these stories, pre-Disney. Of course, great authors like George MacDonald do a much better job. If you have not read The Light Princess or The Princess and Curdie to your children, there\u2019s still time\u2014even if they\u2019re in college.<\/p>\n
Beauty in these films has seen a real upgrade. From the inspired tapestries and patterns of Celtic and Norwegian textiles, to the symphonic music influenced by original folk tunes, to landscapes and castles\u00a0with elegant detail,\u00a0these films deliver.\u00a0But this beauty also\u00a0imprints on our children. While modern\u00a0art is locked in a museum, proud to be\u00a0displayed as \u201cart for art\u2019s sake,\u201d these visionary creations do what art has historically done\u2014they fulfill a purpose and do it with truth, goodness, and beauty.<\/p>\n
Has Disney turned over a new leaf? Probably not. Capitalism corrects those who drift too far from what attracts the most discriminating of critics\u2014eight-year-olds. So, for the time, Disney has returned to what works because it\u2019s worth a buck or two. Unfortunately, capitalism also rewards the shallow and hedonistic excesses of Disney\u2019s teen programming. Thus, we get the wrecks of teen stars who embody lies, vice, and ugliness. Disney\u2019s turn toward the more traditional princess themes has already brought criticism from progressives and feminists. And when pressure comes from the powerful elite, we\u2019ll eventually be back to preachy postmodern dullness. But while the sun is out, enjoy it. These four films are far from perfect, or Christian. But they certainly reflect some Christian truth, goodness, and beauty that we can enjoy with our kids.<\/p>\n
Take time to talk about it afterward\u2014and remember to read some George MacDonald. While you\u2019re at it, watch Branagh\u2019s screen version of Shakespeare\u2019s Henry V.<\/p>\n
We can see that the same standards taught in classical Christian schools apply, even for Disney. If filmmakers and artists take time to create truth, goodness, and beauty, the audience will come.\u00a0\"ACCS_graphic_sm1\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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