The Princess and the Frog immediately captured the media’s and critics’ attention since the heroine and later princess, Tiana, is Disney’s first African-American protagonist. Some scholars claim that the timely release of the film in the first year of Barack Obama’s presidency renders The Princess and the Frog an appropriate marker of America’s so-called ‘new age’ of racial harmony: While a black president resides in the White House, a black princess lives in the Disney castle.
When the characters sing “Dreams Do Come True in New Orleans” (Newman), the city – though accurately and authentically depicted – is presented as a dreamspace with racial harmony, contrary to the real New Orleans at that time. In this context, the peculiar absence of racial tension throughout the film might be an approach to overwrite the problematic position the city occupies in the minds of many Americans with a romantic fairy tale by Disney. Therefore it can be said that The Princess and the Frog serves as a tourist brochure for the city which makes viewers nostalgically look back.
To prove my theses of how blackness is formed in The Princess and the Frog, I will have a closer look at the setting of the Disney-movie since New Orleans, which is often considered as a place of ‘racial difference’, plays an important role in the film’s construction of blackness. At first I will give a brief overview of the city’s colonial history before explaining the concept of Creolization and link this idea to New Orleans. In the following part of my paper, I will analyze the representation of blackness in Walt Disney’s film The Princess and the Frog by on the one hand referring to the setting and its depiction and on the other hand taking into account Tiana, the first African American princess, and her illustration in the film. Due to limitations of space and since the portrayals of New Orleans and Tiana provide lots of interesting material for an analysis, the display of voodoo and the study of other characters in the film is omitted in this paper. Finally, in the conclusion I sum up my findings and elaborate on an issue, or respectively, answer a question which was often posed and discussed about after the release of the film: Does Disney neglect stereotypes in The Princess and the Frog or promote them?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 New Orleans as a Place of 'Racial Difference'
- 2.1 New Orleans and Its Colonial History
- 2.2 The Concept of Creolization
- 3 The Princess and the Frog and Its Representation of Blackness
- 3.1 New Orleans as a Place of Racial Harmony where "Dreams Do Come True"
- 3.2 Tiana as a “Princess for Today” and “the Girl Next Door”
- 4 Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the representation of blackness in Disney's "The Princess and the Frog," focusing on how the film portrays New Orleans and its history of racial difference. The analysis explores the film's depiction of racial harmony within the context of the city's complex past and present. The study also examines the character of Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess, and her role in shaping the film's representation of blackness.
- The historical context of New Orleans and its impact on the film's narrative.
- The concept of Creolization and its influence on the cultural landscape of New Orleans.
- The portrayal of Tiana as a complex character and her significance as Disney's first Black princess.
- The film's representation of racial harmony versus the historical realities of New Orleans.
- The use of stereotypes and clichés in the film's depiction of New Orleans and its culture.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by highlighting "The Princess and the Frog" as Disney's return to traditional animation and its first film featuring an African-American princess, Tiana. It emphasizes Disney's significant cultural influence and the immediate controversies surrounding the film's release, including discussions about Tiana's skin tone, the film's setting, and the potential for perpetuating stereotypes. The chapter establishes the importance of examining Disney's representation of blackness within the specific historical and cultural context of 1920s New Orleans.
2 New Orleans as a Place of ‘Racial Difference’: This chapter delves into the historical context of New Orleans, emphasizing its unique multicultural heritage shaped by colonization and slavery. It details the city's colonial history under French, Spanish, and American rule, highlighting the demographic, economic, and cultural transformations that resulted. The chapter introduces the concept of "Creolization," explaining its relevance to understanding the complex racial and cultural dynamics of New Orleans and its enduring impact on the city's identity. The diverse and sometimes conflicting elements of the city's history are discussed to showcase the complexity of representing it in a film.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The Princess and the Frog, Disney, representation of blackness, New Orleans, racial harmony, Creolization, colonialism, stereotypes, Tiana, African-American princess, 1920s, cultural representation, racial difference, multiculturalism.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Disney's "The Princess and the Frog"
What is the main focus of this academic preview?
This preview provides a structured overview of an academic paper analyzing the representation of Blackness in Disney's "The Princess and the Frog." It examines how the film portrays New Orleans and its complex history of racial difference, focusing on the character of Tiana and the film's depiction of racial harmony within that historical context.
What topics are covered in the paper's chapters?
The paper includes an introduction setting the stage for the analysis; a chapter exploring New Orleans' history of racial difference, including its colonial past and the concept of Creolization; a chapter analyzing the film's representation of Blackness, specifically focusing on Tiana and the portrayal of New Orleans as a place of racial harmony; and a concluding chapter.
What are the key objectives and themes of the analysis?
The analysis aims to explore the historical context of New Orleans and its impact on the film's narrative; the concept of Creolization and its influence on the city's culture; the portrayal of Tiana as a complex character; the film's depiction of racial harmony in contrast to historical realities; and the use of stereotypes and clichés in the film's representation of New Orleans and its culture.
What are the key themes explored in Chapter 2 ("New Orleans as a Place of ‘Racial Difference’")?
Chapter 2 delves into the historical context of New Orleans, focusing on its multicultural heritage shaped by colonization and slavery. It details the city's colonial history under French, Spanish, and American rule, highlighting the resulting demographic, economic, and cultural transformations. The chapter also introduces the concept of "Creolization" and its significance in understanding the complex racial and cultural dynamics of New Orleans.
What is the significance of Tiana's character in the analysis?
Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess, is a central focus of the analysis. The paper examines her role in shaping the film's representation of Blackness and analyzes her portrayal as a complex character.
What is the role of Creolization in the analysis?
The concept of Creolization is crucial in understanding the complex racial and cultural dynamics of New Orleans, as presented in both the historical context and the film's representation of the city. The paper explores how Creolization influences the cultural landscape of New Orleans and its depiction in "The Princess and the Frog."
What keywords best describe this academic work?
Key words include: The Princess and the Frog, Disney, representation of blackness, New Orleans, racial harmony, Creolization, colonialism, stereotypes, Tiana, African-American princess, 1920s, cultural representation, racial difference, and multiculturalism.
What is the overall purpose of this academic paper?
The paper seeks to provide a critical analysis of Disney's representation of Blackness in a historical and cultural context, examining the film's portrayal of New Orleans and its impact on viewers' understanding of race and culture.
- Quote paper
- Anna Wertenbruch (Author), 2012, The Representation of Blackness in Walt Disney's "The Princess and the Frog", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/208449