We need feedback on this. Can anyone explain (or give your thoughts) why Disney films tend to have only one parent in the family (the other parent either is deceased or dies in the movie)?
Since many of Disney's earliest movies were adaptations of Grimm's Fairy Tales, I blame Germany. Also, many of the Grimm's Tales have their origins in earlier tales from the Middle Ages. To borrow from Thomas Hobbes, live at that time was "nasty, brutish, and short". You had things like the Bubonic Plague, the Crusades, serfdom/slavery, etc. Give that context it was often the rule that one or both parents were dead rather than the exception. My guess is that they were just writing about the world they lived in.
There are very few exceptions...and I think Kevin is on the right track. I've seen a great deal of blogging on this issue and no one knows for sure...however, with that said, here are some more examples:
Lion King...father dies Beauty and the Beast...she only has a father Bambi...mother dies
1.Cinderella - both parents dead or die at beginning of story. 2.Pinocchio - kind of an odd case since he was created, but still kind of fits for this discussion. 3.Repunsel - both parents dead 4.Aladdin - he's an orphan 5.Aristocats - Even the cats only had one parent
Since many of Disney's earliest movies were adaptations of Grimm's Fairy Tales, I blame Germany. Also, many of the Grimm's Tales have their origins in earlier tales from the Middle Ages. To borrow from Thomas Hobbes, live at that time was "nasty, brutish, and short". You had things like the Bubonic Plague, the Crusades, serfdom/slavery, etc. Give that context it was often the rule that one or both parents were dead rather than the exception. My guess is that they were just writing about the world they lived in.
ReplyDeleteWell, how about we just start by naming the movies and lack/death of parents for reference.
ReplyDeleteI'll start: Finding Nemo, mother dies in opening scenes leaving Nemo and Marlin alone.
(I suppose you could try to post exceptions)
There are very few exceptions...and I think Kevin is on the right track. I've seen a great deal of blogging on this issue and no one knows for sure...however, with that said, here are some more examples:
ReplyDeleteLion King...father dies
Beauty and the Beast...she only has a father
Bambi...mother dies
Please feel free to list more...
1.Cinderella - both parents dead or die at beginning of story.
ReplyDelete2.Pinocchio - kind of an odd case since he was created, but still kind of fits for this discussion.
3.Repunsel - both parents dead
4.Aladdin - he's an orphan
5.Aristocats - Even the cats only had one parent