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Is Mickey Your Cup of Tea?
BY
Carol Chan Wai-ying
 Disney, the world's most popular animated film and cartoon character producer, captures billions of fans worldwide. However, an increasing number of people are getting concerned over its cultural impact which critics say may affect children's perception of life.
A local Disney concern group, Disney Hunter, focused on the social influences of Disney. Formed by a group of college and university students, it aimed to raise public awareness of what they called the problems brought by the fantasy kingdom. They have been staging dramas at Mong Kok and talks on Disney films.
Disney Hunter pointed out that the stereotyping of its cartoon characters was a problem. They said women in the animated films, such as the princess series were almost always portrayed like with voluptuous body figures. Princes were always brave and intelligent. And their only aim was to rescue the princesses.
Disney Hunter said that children were not mature enough to understand sexual identities. As kids watched more Disney films, the perceptions they would have on gender matters might become more biased. It's possible that girls may overvalue body shapes, while boys may think they should be smart enough so as to marry pretty girls.
Meanwhile overseas concern groups have also been attacking the apparent racial and gender discriminations implied in Disney's cartoons. "Mickey Mouse Monopoly" (MMM), a controversial American documentary, revealed the negative social influence of Disney's animated films. Released in 2001, it collected comments from American scholars and media critics.
The story of "Tarzan", for example, took place in an African forest, but there were nearly no African people at all. Alvin Poussaint, Director of Judge Baker Children's Centre said in the documentary that "Tarzan" promoted "white supremacy". It's an ideology which holds that white race is superior to other races.
And in another cartoon "Mulan", the main character voluntarily replaced her ailing father to fight in the Emperor's army. However, describing ancient China as an oppressed society, "Mulan" was criticized as a film that debased women's value and status.
Chyng Feng Sun, producer of MMM said, "Women have no value at all, if they don't get married. They should follow men's orders instead of speaking their minds up in the society."
However, a self-claimed "Toy Story" super fan, Frankie Chan Lai-yin, did not agree with Disney Hunter.
"The comment from MMM and Disney Hunter are too harsh and subjective. Are those people who criticize Disney films thinking too much and making things too complicated? I think Disney just wants to bring joy to children," she said.
The 20-year-old local university student has collected more than one hundred "Toy Story" fun gadgets. She said she would usually spend two to three hundred dollars on those toys a month.
Ms Chan referred to the latest Disney animation "The Incredibles", which was about how family members support and help each other out. "I think every Disney film is meaningful with positive values and messages. Human beings are more likely to criticize each other rather than to appreciate each other," she added.
Beatrice Chau, assistant professor of sociology at Hong Kong Baptist University, also thought that Disney concern groups probably held too-radical views of Disney's animated films.
"Take 'Mulan' as an example, ancient China was actually a conservative society. I wonder if there is anything wrong to say it as 'an oppressed society'. Moreover, as the film was produced by westerners, they would use their own stereotyped ideas to draw the characters. That is, Chinese women should have 'phoenix eyes'. But, I will not say 'Mulan' is a Chinese cartoon, because it has applied with American ideology."
Ms Chau said people should look at the positive side of Disney cartoons, as different stories have different meanings behind. She thought it was also the reason of Disney's huge success all over the world.
"Many Disney films have clear meanings, say, 'Snow White'. It tells us that nice people will get good fortune and bad people will be punished eventually. On the other hand, those who criticize Disney should consider the historical and social background involved, since somehow its films are reflecting the realities at that time."
She said in metropolises like Hong Kong, people worked under pressures. Disney's fairy tales were escapes to help release people's stresses and worries. They might regard themselves as cartoon characters like princes and princesses and live in a fairy tale world.
Disney replied criticisms by saying that it would maintain its "traditional core value". In a recent response to an RTHK current affairs TV programme, Disney said in its announcement, "We try our best to provide high quality family entertainment. And our traditional core values are positive messages, optimistic view... all our stories are based on these values which stride across regional and cultural boundaries."
The fifth Disney theme park has landed in Hong Kong. Will Hong Kong be "Disneyized" or become a fantasy city? Perhaps only time will tell.
Edited by Bonnie Cao Yining |