DOCSLIB.ORG

Animated Enchantment: a Psychoanalytic Exploration of The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Animated Enchantment: a Psychoanalytic Exploration of The Animated Enchantment: A Psychoanalytic Exploration of the Enduring Popularity of Disney’s First Feature Films Howard Jacobs Queen Mary, University of London Thesis submitted for the qualification of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) March 2014 2 Declaration I declare that the work presented in this thesis is my own. I have received professional assistance with styling, especially in making the bibliography and footnotes consistent, from Ms Chris Steel. (http://www.chrissteel-editorial.com/) Howard Jacobs Date: March 2014 Copyright The images in the Figures in this thesis are from: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs © Walt Disney Productions; Ivan the Terrible Part I © Mosfilm; Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde © Paramount Pictures; Pinocchio © Walt Disney Productions; Dumbo © Walt Disney Productions; Bambi © Walt Disney Productions. For all other parts of the thesis, the author’s copyright is Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND) 3 Abstract In this thesis I explore reasons for the widespread and enduring popularity of Disney’s first feature-length films (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Pinocchio (1940), Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942)). While acknowledging the historical, industrial and aesthetic features that have contributed to their success, my argument is that the continuing fascination of these films is in large part attributable to the manner in which they engage the spectator and evoke unconscious concerns about family cohesion, interpersonal conflicts and the death of parents. My investigation begins with an analysis of the films’ prefilmic provenance and narrative characteristics, placing an emphasis on the role of their narrative and extra-narrative components as embodying social, pedagogical and psychological meanings. In order to explore how the films engage with the spectator’s unconscious mind, I employ a number of Freudian and post-Freudian psychoanalytic concepts. The post-Freudian models include that of Jacques Lacan and those based on object-relations theory, particularly as developed by Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott. These conceptual models are used to explore the content of the films, while that of Winnicott is also used to explore the visual fascination of the form Disney gave them. Although these films were designed for family viewing, and many of the more distressing aspects of their original stories were toned down in Disney’s adaptations, the films portray a remarkably dystopic version of family life, of childhood and of growing up. Moreover, psychoanalytic investigation suggests that concealed within the films’ attractive animation, music and humour, there lie recurrent ruminations on anxieties about death caused by germs (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) and old age (Pinocchio) and about culpability for injury (Dumbo) and death of mothers (Bambi). I conclude that the films reward the spectator by offering her/him the opportunity to engage with, fantasise about and work through the problems encountered by the films’ protagonists. 4 Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables ................................................................................................. 6 List of Figures ............................................................................................... 7 Acknowledgements....................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................ 10 Chapter 2 Prefilmic Sources and Narrative Structures ............................ 58 Chapter 3 The Mirror of Envy: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ....... 110 Chapter 4 Time and Punishment: Pinocchio ........................................... 146 Chapter 5 Separation Anxiety and Primitive Envy: Dumbo .................... 176 Chapter 6 The Oedipal Trajectory: Bambi ............................................... 200 Chapter 7 Concluding Remarks ............................................................... 216 Filmography .............................................................................................. 233 Discography .............................................................................................. 238 Bibliography .............................................................................................. 239 5 Appendix 1 ................................................................................................. 262 Table 1.1 Shot Analysis of Segment A of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs .............................................................................................. 262 Table 1.2 Shot Analysis of Segment D of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs .............................................................................................. 266 Appendix 2 ................................................................................................. 268 Table 2.1 Shot analysis of Segment A of Pinocchio .......................... 268 Appendix 3 ................................................................................................. 279 Table 3.1 Shot analysis of Segment D1 of Dumbo ........................... 279 Appendix 4 ................................................................................................. 283 Table 4.1 Shot analysis of Segment A of Bambi ............................... 283 Table 4.2 Shot analysis of Segment D5 of Bambi ............................. 288 6 List of Tables Table 2.1 Narrative functions in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ...... 64 Table 2.2 Spheres of action in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ........ 65 Table 2.3 Snow White: Main points of difference between Grimms’ Fairy Tale and Disney’s Film ........................................................................... 70 Table 2.4 Plot segmentation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ....... 74 Table 2.5 Spheres of action in Pinocchio ................................................ 85 Table 2.6 Plot segmentation of Pinocchio ............................................... 87 Table 2.7 Spheres of Action in Dumbo ................................................... 95 Table 2.8 Plot segmentation of Dumbo ................................................... 95 Table 2.9 Spheres of Action in Bambi................................................... 104 Table 2.10 Plot segmentation of Bambi ................................................ 105 Table 4.1 Magical transformations in Pinocchio .................................... 166 Table 5.1 Dumbo in tears ..................................................................... 187 7 List of Figures Figure 3. 1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Establishing shot of the castle. ........................................................................................................................ 120 Figure 3. 2 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Queen sees her reflection in the magic mirror. Snow White and the Prince see their reflections in the Wishing Well ................................................................................................................. 121 Figure 3. 3 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Scenes of cleaning and washing ........................................................................................................................ 129 Figure 3. 4 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Dwarfs leave the mine after work. Ivan the Terrible, Part 1 (1945): Ivan discusses policy with his ambassador to England. ...................................................................................................... 134 Figure 3. 5 Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1931) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ........................................................................................................................ 136 Figure 3. 6 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Queen in her disguise as the old peddler woman, framed by the open window of the Dwarfs’ cottage .......... 138 Figure 3. 7 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Snow White’s sleep of death.. 142 Figure 4. 1 Pinocchio: Some of the clocks on display in Geppettos’ shop ........ 153 Figure 4. 2 Pinocchio: Geppetto paints the finishing touches to the marionette that is about to become Pinocchio. .................................................................. 155 Figure 4. 3 Pinocchio: Pinocchio chases after Honest John and Gideon.. ........ 161 Figure 4. 4 Pinocchio: The Cossack marionettes need their strings to dance. but Pinocchio needs no strings. ............................................................................. 162 Figure 4. 5 Pinocchio: Lampwick’s transformation seen directly, in reflection and as a shadow. ................................................................................................... 169 Figure 4. 6 Pinocchio: Monstro dives through the air. Most of his body is outside the film frame. .................................................................................................. 171 Figure 4. 7: Pinocchio: Pinocchio is mourned by his father. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Snow White is mourned by the Prince ...................................... 173 Figure 5. 1 Dumbo: Dumbo after the sneeze ................................................... 184 Figure 5. 2 Dumbo: Projective identification. .................................................... 185 Figure 5. 3 Dumbo: The dance of the Pink Elephants begins. .......................... 194 Figure 6. 1 Bambi: Bambi on the day of his birth, the image
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Racism and Stereotypes: Th Movies-A Special Reference to And
    People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific ResearchResearch Larbi Ben M’h idi University-Oum El Bouaghi Faculty of Letters and Languages Department of English Racism and Stereotypes: The Image of the Other in Disney’s Movies-A Special Reference to Aladdin , Dumbo and The Lion King A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the D egree of Master of Arts in Anglo-American Studies By: Abed Khaoula Board of Examiners Supervisor: Hafsa Naima Examiner: Stiti Rinad 2015-2016 Dedication To the best parents on earth Ouiza and Mourad To the most adorable sisters Shayma, Imène, Kenza and Abir To my best friend Doudou with love i Acknowledgements First of all,I would like to thank ‘A llah’ who guides and gives me the courage and Patience for conducting this research.. I would like to express my deep appreciation to my supervisor Miss Hafsa Naima who traced the path for this dissertation. This work would have never existed without her guidance and help. Special thanks to my examiner Miss Stiti Rinad who accepted to evaluate my work. In a more personal vein I would like to thank my mother thousand and one thanks for her patience and unconditional support that facilitated the completion of my graduate work. Last but not least, I acknowledge the help of my generous teacher Mr. Bouri who believed in me and lifted up my spirits. Thank you for everyone who believed in me. ii ا ا أن اوات ا اد ر ر دة اطل , د ه اوات ا .
    [Show full text]
  • UPA : Redesigning Animation
    This document is downloaded from DR‑NTU (https://dr.ntu.edu.sg) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. UPA : redesigning animation Bottini, Cinzia 2016 Bottini, C. (2016). UPA : redesigning animation. Doctoral thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/69065 https://doi.org/10.32657/10356/69065 Downloaded on 05 Oct 2021 20:18:45 SGT UPA: REDESIGNING ANIMATION CINZIA BOTTINI SCHOOL OF ART, DESIGN AND MEDIA 2016 UPA: REDESIGNING ANIMATION CINZIA BOTTINI School of Art, Design and Media A thesis submitted to the Nanyang Technological University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2016 “Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible.” Paul Klee, “Creative Credo” Acknowledgments When I started my doctoral studies, I could never have imagined what a formative learning experience it would be, both professionally and personally. I owe many people a debt of gratitude for all their help throughout this long journey. I deeply thank my supervisor, Professor Heitor Capuzzo; my cosupervisor, Giannalberto Bendazzi; and Professor Vibeke Sorensen, chair of the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore for showing sincere compassion and offering unwavering moral support during a personally difficult stage of this Ph.D. I am also grateful for all their suggestions, critiques and observations that guided me in this research project, as well as their dedication and patience. My gratitude goes to Tee Bosustow, who graciously
    [Show full text]
  • The Disney Strike of 1941: from the Animators' Perspective Lisa Johnson Rhode Island College, Ljohnson [email protected]
    Rhode Island College Digital Commons @ RIC Honors Projects Overview Honors Projects 2008 The Disney Strike of 1941: From the Animators' Perspective Lisa Johnson Rhode Island College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/honors_projects Part of the Labor Relations Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Johnson, Lisa, "The Disney Strike of 1941: From the Animators' Perspective" (2008). Honors Projects Overview. 17. https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/honors_projects/17 This Honors is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Projects at Digital Commons @ RIC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Projects Overview by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ RIC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Disney Strike of 1941: From the Animators’ Perspective An Undergraduate Honors Project Presented By Lisa Johnson To The Department of History Approved: Project Advisor Date Chair, Department Honors Committee Date Department Chair Date The Disney Strike of 1941: From the Animators’ Perspective By Lisa Johnson An Honors Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Honors in The Department of History The School of the Arts and Sciences Rhode Island College 2008 1 Table of Contents Introduction Page 3 I. The Strike Page 5 II. The Unheard Struggles for Control: Intellectual Property Rights, Screen Credit, Workplace Environment, and Differing Standards of Excellence Page 17 III. The Historiography Page 42 Afterword Page 56 Bibliography Page 62 2 Introduction On May 28 th , 1941, seventeen artists were escorted out of the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.
    [Show full text]
  • Digital Surrealism: Visualizing Walt Disney Animation Studios
    City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Publications and Research Queens College 2017 Digital Surrealism: Visualizing Walt Disney Animation Studios Kevin L. Ferguson CUNY Queens College How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/qc_pubs/205 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] 1 Digital Surrealism: Visualizing Walt Disney Animation Studios Abstract There are a number of fruitful digital humanities approaches to cinema and media studies, but most of them only pursue traditional forms of scholarship by extracting a single variable from the audiovisual text that is already legible to scholars. Instead, cinema and media studies should pursue a mostly-ignored “digital-surrealism” that uses computer-based methods to transform film texts in radical ways not previously possible. This article describes one such method using the z-projection function of the scientific image analysis software ImageJ to sum film frames in order to create new composite images. Working with the fifty-four feature-length films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, I describe how this method allows for a unique understanding of a film corpus not otherwise available to cinema and media studies scholars. “Technique is the very being of all creation” — Roland Barthes “We dig up diamonds by the score, a thousand rubies, sometimes more, but we don't know what we dig them for” — The Seven Dwarfs There are quite a number of fruitful digital humanities approaches to cinema and media studies, which vary widely from aesthetic techniques of visualizing color and form in shots to data-driven metrics approaches analyzing editing patterns.
    [Show full text]
  • A Totally Awesome Study of Animated Disney Films and the Development of American Values
    California State University, Monterey Bay Digital Commons @ CSUMB Capstone Projects and Master's Theses 2012 Almost there : a totally awesome study of animated Disney films and the development of American values Allyson Scott California State University, Monterey Bay Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/caps_thes Recommended Citation Scott, Allyson, "Almost there : a totally awesome study of animated Disney films and the development of American values" (2012). Capstone Projects and Master's Theses. 391. https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/caps_thes/391 This Capstone Project is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ CSUMB. It has been accepted for inclusion in Capstone Projects and Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CSUMB. Unless otherwise indicated, this project was conducted as practicum not subject to IRB review but conducted in keeping with applicable regulatory guidance for training purposes. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Social and Behavioral Sciences Department Senior Capstone California State University, Monterey Bay Almost There: A Totally Awesome Study of Animated Disney Films and the Development of American Values Dr. Rebecca Bales, Capstone Advisor Dr. Gerald Shenk, Capstone Instructor Allyson Scott Spring 2012 Acknowledgments This senior capstone has been a year of research, writing, and rewriting. I would first like to thank Dr. Gerald Shenk for agreeing that my topic could be more than an excuse to watch movies for homework. Dr. Rebecca Bales has been a source of guidance and reassurance since I declared myself an SBS major. Both have been instrumental to the completion of this project, and I truly appreciate their humor, support, and advice.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lion King Audition Monologues
    Audition Monologues Choose ONE of the monologues. This is a general call; the monologue you choose does not affect how you will be cast in the show. We are listening to the voice, character development, and delivery no matter what monologue you choose. SCAR Mufasa’s death was a terrible tragedy; but to lose Simba, who had barely begun to live... For me it is a deep personal loss. So, it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne. Yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era... in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and glorious future! MUFASA Look Simba. Everything the light touches is our kingdom. A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here - and will rise with you as the new king. Everything exists in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance, and respect for all creatures-- Everything is connected in the great Circle of Life. YOUNG SIMBA Hey Uncle Scar, guess what! I'm going to be king of Pride Rock. My Dad just showed me the whole kingdom, and I'm going to rule it all. Heh heh. Hey, Uncle Scar? When I'm king, what will that make you? {beat} YOUNG NALA Simba, So, where is it? Better not be any place lame! The waterhole? What’s so great about the waterhole? Ohhhhh….. Uh, Mom, can I go with Simba? Pleeeez? Yay!!! So, where’re we really goin’? An elephant graveyard? Wow! So how’re we gonna ditch the dodo? ZAZU (to Simba) You can’t fire me.
    [Show full text]
  • The University of Chicago Looking at Cartoons
    THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LOOKING AT CARTOONS: THE ART, LABOR, AND TECHNOLOGY OF AMERICAN CEL ANIMATION A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE DIVISION OF THE HUMANITIES IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF CINEMA AND MEDIA STUDIES BY HANNAH MAITLAND FRANK CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AUGUST 2016 FOR MY FAMILY IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER Apparently he had examined them patiently picture by picture and imagined that they would be screened in the same way, failing at that time to grasp the principle of the cinematograph. —Flann O’Brien CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES...............................................................................................................................v ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................................vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS....................................................................................................................viii INTRODUCTION LOOKING AT LABOR......................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 ANIMATION AND MONTAGE; or, Photographic Records of Documents...................................................22 CHAPTER 2 A VIEW OF THE WORLD Toward a Photographic Theory of Cel Animation ...................................72 CHAPTER 3 PARS PRO TOTO Character Animation and the Work of the Anonymous Artist................121 CHAPTER 4 THE MULTIPLICATION OF TRACES Xerographic Reproduction and One Hundred and One Dalmatians.......174
    [Show full text]
  • Animação De Personagem 3D: Expressão Facial
    209 ANIMAÇÃO DE PERSONAGEM 3D: EXPRESSÃO FACIAL 3D CHARACTERS ANIMATION: FACIAL EXPRESSION LA ANIMACIÓN DE PERSONAJES 3D: EXPRESIÓN FACIAL José Carlos Miranda * ([email protected]) RESUMO Durante os últimos anos, emergiu um interesse crescente em animação 3D de caracteres e expressões faciais. EsTe facto está relacionado com a nova participação de actores virtuais em televisão, cinema e indústrias de jogos interactivos, entre outros. Nestes casos, o objectivo principal é criar personagens virtuais que simulam o corpo e todos os detalhes de movimento do rosto, da forma mais realista possível. Neste artigo é efectuada uma revisão dos métodos mais usados na animação 3D. O método base do esqueleto é o mais utilizado para criar os movimentos principais, como o andar, por exemplo; os métodos base de mistura de formas são usados para criar deformações mais subtis. Em áreas que exigem um maior controlo e realismo, como alguns músculos do rosto, é possível adicionar camadas de deformação. Normalmente, curvas de NURBS ou grelhas de FFD são usadas para realçar algumas características do rosto. Os vários métodos têm vantagens e desvantagens. Assim, a melhor solução é combinar as diferentes técnicas. Palavras-chave: Animação de personagem, Objectos de Deformação, Transformação, Animação do esqueleto, Expressão Facial. ABSTRACT During the last years a growing interest in 3D animation of characters and facial expressions has emerged. This is related with the new participation of virtual actors in television, cinema and interactive games’ industries among others. In these cases, the main goal is to create virtual characters that simulate body and all the facial movement details, in the most realistic possible way.
    [Show full text]
  • The Animated Roots of Wildlife Films: Animals, People
    THE ANIMATED ROOTS OF WILDLIFE FILMS: ANIMALS, PEOPLE, ANIMATION AND THE ORIGIN OF WALT DISNEY’S TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURES by Robert Cruz Jr. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Science and Natural History Filmmaking MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana April 2012 ©COPYRIGHT by Robert Cruz Jr. 2012 All Rights Reserved ii APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Robert Cruz Jr. This thesis has been read by each member of the thesis committee and has been found to be satisfactory regarding content, English usage, format, citation, bibliographic style, and consistency and is ready for submission to The Graduate School. Dennis Aig Approved for the School of Film and Photography Robert Arnold Approved for The Graduate School Dr. Carl A. Fox iii STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree at Montana State University, I agree that the Library shall make it available to borrowers under rules of the Library. If I have indicated my intention to copyright this thesis by including a copyright notice page, copying is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with “fair use” as prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this thesis in whole or in parts may be granted only by the copyright holder. Robert Cruz Jr. April 2012 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTORY QUOTES .....................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • Michele Leigh Paper : Animated Music
    GA2012 – XV Generative Art Conference Michele Leigh Paper : Animated Music: Early Experiments with Generative Art Abstract: This paper will explore the historical underpinnings of early abstract animation, more particularly attempts at visual representations of music. In order to set the stage for a discussion of the animated musical form, I will briefly draw connections to futurist experiments in art, which strove to represent both movement and music (Wassily Kandinsky for instance), as a means of illustrating a more explicit desire in animation to extend the boundaries of the art in terms of materials and/or techniques By highlighting the work of experimental animators like Hans Richter, Oskar Fishinger, and Mary Ellen Bute, this paper will map the historical connection between musical and animation as an early form of generative art. I will unpack the ways in which these filmmakers were creating open texts that challenged the viewer to participate in the creation of meaning and thus functioned as proto-generative art. Topic: Animation Finally, I will discuss the networked visual-music performances of Vibeke Sorenson as an artist who bridges the experimental animation Authors: tradition, started by Richter and Bute, and contemporary generative art Michele Leigh, practices. Department of Cinema & Photography This paper will lay the foundation for our understanding of the Southern Illinois history/histories of generative arts practice. University Carbondale www.siu.edu You can send this abstract with 2 files (.doc and .pdf file) to [email protected] or send them directly to the Chair of GA conferences [email protected] References: [1] Paul Wells, “Understanding Animation,” Routledge, New York, 1998.
    [Show full text]
  • Tracing Fairy Tales in Popular Culture Through the Depiction of Maternity in Three “Snow White” Variants
    University of Louisville ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses College of Arts & Sciences 5-2014 Reflective tales : tracing fairy tales in popular culture through the depiction of maternity in three “Snow White” variants. Alexandra O'Keefe University of Louisville Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/honors Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons, and the Comparative Literature Commons Recommended Citation O'Keefe, Alexandra, "Reflective tales : tracing fairy tales in popular culture through the depiction of maternity in three “Snow White” variants." (2014). College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses. Paper 62. http://doi.org/10.18297/honors/62 This Senior Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Arts & Sciences at ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository. This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has retained all other copyrights. For more information, please contact [email protected]. O’Keefe 1 Reflective Tales: Tracing Fairy Tales in Popular Culture through the Depiction of Maternity in Three “Snow White” Variants By Alexandra O’Keefe Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Graduation summa cum laude University of Louisville March, 2014 O’Keefe 2 The ability to adapt to the culture they occupy as well as the two-dimensionality of literary fairy tales allows them to relate to readers on a more meaningful level.
    [Show full text]
  • Snow White: Evil Witches Professor Joanna Bourke 19 November 2020
    Snow White: Evil Witches Professor Joanna Bourke 19 November 2020 Each generation invents evil. And evil women have incited our imaginations since Eve first plucked that apple. One of my favourites evil women is the Evil Queen in the story of Snow White. She is the archetypical ageing woman: post-menopausal and demonised as the ugly hag, malicious crone, and depraved witch. She is evil, obscene, and threatening because of her familiarity with the black arts, her skills in mixing poisonous potions, and her possession of a magic mirror. She is also sexual and aware: like Eve, she has tasted of the Tree of Knowledge. Her story first roused the imaginations of the Brothers Grimm in 1812 and 1819: the second version stripped the story of its ribald connotations while retaining (and even augmenting) its sadism. Famously, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was set to song by Disney in 1937, a film that is often hailed as the “seminal” version. Interestingly, the word “seminal” itself comes from semen, so is encoded male. Its exploitation by Disney has helped the company generate over $48 billion dollars a year through its movies, theme parks, and memorabilia such as collectible cards, colouring-in books, “princess” gowns and tiaras, dolls, peaked hats, and mirrors. Snow White and the Evil Queen appears in literature, music, dance, theatre, fine arts, television, comics, and the internet. It remains a powerful way to castigate powerful women – as during Hillary Clinton’s bid for the White House, when she was regularly dubbed the Witch. This link between powerful women and evil witchery has made the story popular amongst feminist storytellers, keen to show how the story shapes the way children and adults think about gender and sexuality, race and class.
    [Show full text]