The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s Brave
Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20249404 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lauren Dundes (0000-0002-4681-761X, McDaniel College, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 83 |
| Publication date | 2020-08-16 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Humanities (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2076-0787 • E-ISSN: 2076-0787 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/h9030083 |
| OpenAlex | W3049514999 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 33 |
Princess Merida, the “tomboy” princess in Disney/Pixar’s Brave, won praise for escaping the strictures of femininity and maternal demands for feminine propriety. In addition to her overt defiance of gender roles and demand for agency, Merida also enacts hegemonic masculinity by mocking her suitors during an archery contest in which she is the prize. The ridicule is the prelude to her dramatic, winning bullseye that feminizes the men, in a scene rich in symbolism about gender and power. In enacting the final phase of the tomboy paradigm, however, Merida reverses her trajectory as her rebellion against femininity ebbs. She then resolves conflict by displaying vulnerability rather than performing brave deeds. This marked shift to a more traditional gender role raises questions about her stature as a model of autonomy able to withstand the pressure to conform
Art · CONTEST · Decadence · Femininity · Literature · Masculinity · Political science · Praise · Sociology · Digital Games and Media · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · History · Law · Media, Gender, and Advertising
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Reel Royal Diversity? The Glass Ceiling in Disney’s Mulan and Princess and the Frog
Magical manes and untamable tresses
Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length AnimatedFilms
Animal Blood Sport
Gender Role Portrayal and the Disney Princesses
Sport and the maintenance of masculine hegemony
Sissies, Mama’s Boys, and Tomboys
Frozen in Time
Bad Witches
From the Sleeping Princess to the World-Saving Daughter of the Chief
From Shapeshifter to Lava Monster
The Rise of the Androgynous Princess
Storm Power, an Icy Tower and Elsa's Bower
Many Hands Make Light Work or Caught in the Act of Screwing in Light Bulbs
Into the Endzone for a Touchdown
Being the butt of the joke
Bloody Mary in the Mirror
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |