The case for Princesses

So many people these days complain about everything. From what's in their food, what's in their music and what's in their movies.
It also seems that moviemakers have caught on, and began making movies to fit people's tastes and need for realism and believability. Disney is no exception. Beginning in the 1980s, Disney's princesses, specifically, have become more realistic and fleshed-out, resulting in more complex storylines. This, of course, is much different than the 'traditional' princess as seen in classics like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White.

However, it's not that these new princesses are feminist or un-lady-like, they are just reflecting the new method in movie-making. Walt Disney was following the old traditional fairytales more closely than the modern writers are. As you've read, old fairytales are less about the characters and more about the story. These days, movies have turned more character driven, and the story seems to fall into place. I happen to prefer the second method, but that doesn't mean the 'old Disney' method was better or worse... Just different.

Another thing to consider is the time periods and cultures these movies were set in. It's almost unfair to compare the princesses to one another on a scale of 'useless' and 'her own hero'.

That said, I think everyone should calm down, and that's including the feminists AND the Christians. Although the newest princess Merida is a bow-shooting, horse-riding, fiery girl, this does NOT mean that she is better OR worse than the other Disney princesses. They are all unique in their own way.  (And didn't we have this whole problem with Pochahontas, Mulan and Rapunzel? Really... )

Wasn't it brave of Cinderella to keep strong all of those years being a servant in her own house?
And wasn't it brave of Rapunzel to leave the only life she's ever known in favor of the unknown?
Wasn't it brave of Belle to sacrifice herself to the Beast for her father?
Wasn't it brave of Snow White to keep smiling and singing even though she knew the Queen was out to kill her?

" They can't order me to stop dreaming." - Cinderella

" I should be free to make my own choices." -Jasmine

"I want much more than this provincial life!"  -Belle

"I'm a big tough girl. I tie my own sandals and everything." -Meg


 Every girl is brave and every girl has her own special talents. Not everyone can be the same.

So calm down. Stop taking cartoons so seriously.