Movies have become out contemporary storytellers. In his first full-length animated feature of 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney showed the power of cinema as a raconteur of mythic stories in modern guise. (p.152)
Based on but significantly differing from, the original 1810 story by the Grimm brothers, the story reminds us of the mythic power of womanhood beneath its textual surface. The only truly powerful characters in the story are two women-Snow White and the evil queen. The men are either dwarfs serving their newfound mistress faithfully, or else hey serve a perfunctory role*. Snow White is a ruler of Nature. All respond to her command, from the animals to the dwarfs and the Prince, who is beckoned to her side by an implicit natural instinct. (p.153)
*(such as providing an anonymous kiss).
Also evident in Cinderella (1950) and Sleeping Beauty (1959).
No comments:
Post a Comment