Disney Diversity
I'm all for being politically correct, but some of the objections to Disney's first black heroine seem a bit far fetched. Even for me. This from Studiobriefing.com:The part about her being a chambermaid I guess I can understand, although it did wonders for Cinderella's popularity over the years, but "The Frog Princess" as a slur against the French? Gimme a break.PROTESTS COME EARLY TO DISNEY'S PRINCESS
Almost two years before its hoped-for release of its first hand-drawn animated film produced under the supervision of Pixar's John Lasseter, Disney has already drawn fire for alleged racial and ethnic insensitivities that were detected in its original announcement of the film, according to Disney watcher Jim Hill. Since the original title, The Frog Princess, might be regarded as a slur on the French, the title has been changed to The Princess and the Frog. The main character, named Maddy -- who was to become Disney's first black princess -- has had her name changed to Tiana, since Maddy reportedly sounded too much like Mammy. She will no longer be seen as a chambermaid working for a rich, white spoiled Southern débutante. In a statement, Disney, which said that it ordinarily does not comment on its animated films in the early stages of production, observed: "The story takes place in the charming elegance and grandeur of New Orleans' fabled French Quarter during the Jazz Age. ... Princess Tiana will be a heroine in the great tradition of Disney's rich animated fairy tale legacy, and all other characters and aspects of the story will be treated with the greatest respect and sensitivity."
Labels: Corporate America, Pop Culture
posted by Michael @ 3:34 PM
5 Comments:
Is that pronounced like "Tiara" or like "Diana"?
Either way, I'm underwhelmed.
Jeeze Louise! The freakin' "PC Police" are getting a bit tiresome.
Liberty fries were okay, but Frog Princess is a problem? You're kiddin' me, right? And Maddy and Mammy...? I don't get it. I think we may have all lost our minds.
Okay, that's it! The politically correct have jumped the shark! Make it stop. Make it stop, NOW! Maddy sounds too much like Mammy? Oh fer Christ's sake. And a name like Tiana doesn't sound like stereotyping? I have to go beat my head against a wall now.
Well, yes and no. Disney didn't create the too-easily offended society we live in, they're just reacting to it.
And, I believe, the PC movement was never as strong as the anti-PC movement that causes us to goad folks like Don Imus closer and closer to the edge of civility until he trips and falls over that same edge. When you've got half of a society determined to disrespect others at every turn, you're going to encourage another segment of society determined to be offended at the slightest innocuous thing.
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