The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in <i>Maleficent</i>

Jialiang Chen

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14

| Peer-Reviewed

The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent

Jialiang Chen

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 8, Issue 3)

Received: 27 February 2020 Accepted: 10 March 2020 Published: 8 April 2020

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Disney films have long been known as adapting classic fairy tales or legends from all over the world and creating distinctive princess images, among which, the development of different princess images manifests relative values in corresponding periods. Maleficent is adapted from the animated film Sleeping Beauty with similar story arrangements on the continuation of Sleeping Beauty as the main line. With the witch Maleficent as the narrative subject, the film subverts the traditional image of the witch under the patriarchal discourse, especially with respect to the subversion of the characters and themes. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the characters of different genders based on feminism shows the marginalization of male characters and the centralization of the female characters. The film is also characterized by postmodernism, reflecting the clinginess of the theme to the feminist values the US intends to convey. The subversion of characters and themes in the film is the product of the current social environment, which not only captures the spirit of the age, but also conforms to the psychological expectations of the audience in the new era. The paper first gives a general introduction and then provides a relevant literature review on feminism as well as postmodernism, and the development of feminism displayed in Disney princess films in different periods. Next, the paper analyzes the film Maleficent based on its progress from previous films, the centralization and marginalization of characters and the subversion of the theme, describing women's resistance to patriarchy and the subversion of identity. Last, the paper draws a conclusion and comments on the values of feminism delivered from Disney films.

Published in	International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 8, Issue 3) This article belongs to the Special Issue Humanity and Science: China’s Intercultural Communication with the Outside World in the New Era
DOI	10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14
Page(s)	127-133
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Disney Princess, Feminism, Subversion, Deconstruction and Reconstruction, Postmodernism

References

[1]	Huang Jialiang. (2005). "On the root of social discrimination and its elimination -- social discrimination from the perspective of social psychology," Ideological Front, (05): pp. 89-93.
[2]	Zhang Shuoyan. (2019). "Analysis of female stereotypes and social prejudices in animated films -- a case study of the transmutation of princess images in Disney films," Journal of Press Research, 10 (15): pp. 29-30+32.
[3]	Wu Yun and Qin Linyu. (2019). "Innovation mechanism analysis of Disney princess movies in the new century," China Film Market, (07): pp. 22-26.
[4]	Hua Jing. (2014). "Feminism, female status and female image -- on the transmutation of princess image in the classic American Disney cartoons," New film, (06): pp. 96-99.
[5]	Wang Zhujun. (2014). "On the changes of female characters in Disney animation in recent years from Frozen," Popular Literature and Art, (12): pp. 193-194.
[6]	Li Yinhe. (1997). The rise of women's power. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, pp. 91.
[7]	Liu Liqun. (2004). Gender and media communication. Beijing: Communication University of China Press, pp. 19.
[8]	Zhang Bo. (2017). "Deconstruction and construction -- feminist consciousness perspective of the film Maleficent," Film Review, (11): pp. 74-76.
[9]	Wu Lin. (2011). Research on the critical theory and practice of American ecofeminism. Beijing: People's Publishing House.
[10]	Karen J. Warren. (2000). Ecofeminist philosophy: a western perspective on what it is and why it matters. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc.
[11]	Ynestra King. (1989). Healing the wounds: feminism, ecology and nature /culture dualism. Alison Jaggar, Susan Bordo, eds. Gender/Body/Knowledge: feminist reconstructions of being and knowing. New Brunswick and London: Rutgers University Press, pp. 20.
[12]	Starhawk. Power. (1990). Authority and mystery: ecofeminism and earth-based spirituality. Irene Diamond, Gloria Feman Orenstein, eds. Rewearing the world: the emergence of eco-feminism. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, pp. 77.
[13]	Nangong Meifang, Zhu hongmei, Wu tiantian and Lv lita. (2011). Eco-feminism: a literary interpretation of gender, culture and nature. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, pp. 1.
[14]	Lu Shuyuan. (2000). Ecological literature and art. Xi'an: Shaanxi People's Education Press.
[15]	Cao Nanyan and Liu bing. (1996). "Eco-feminism and its significance," Philosophical Research, (05): pp. 54-60.
[16]	Chen Weihua. (2004). "A new perspective on the relationship between man and nature -- the natural view of eco-feminism," Science, Technology and Dialectics, (05): pp. 33-34.
[17]	Wu Lin. (2010)." The origin of western ecofeminism," Journal of Central South University: Social Sciences, (6): pp. 142-146.
[18]	Tan Sining. (2014). "Ecological feminist interpretation of Maleficent," Film Literature, (23): pp. 103-104.
[19]	Chen Kaiju. (2010). Cultural research of speech right. Guangzhou: Sun Yat-sen University Press.
[20]	Fiske, John. (1989) Understanding popular culture. London: Unwin Hyman.
[21]	Chen Kaiju. (2004). "On the clinginess and subversion of popular culture from the perspective of the sketch 'Red Sorghum Model Team'," Jiangxi Social Sciences, (06): pp. 181-184.
[22]	Chen Kaiju. (2018). Post-modern cultural entertainment criticism. Beijing: Intellectual Property press.
[23]	Ye Xiaojun. (2014). "On the value orientation of Maleficent," Film Review, (20): pp. 32-34.
[24]	Miao Yufei. (2008). "Evolution of Disney princess animation from a gender perspective," Journal of Chifeng University (Chinese philosophy and social sciences edition), 39 (08): pp. 120-123.
[25]	Jin Li. (2009). "American feminist movement, feminist literature and feminist criticism," American Studies, (01): pp. 62.
[26]	Wang Mengyao. (2016). "Sisterhood in Disney films -- a case study of Frozen and Maleficent," Journal of News Research, 7 (03): pp. 116-117.
[27]	Zhang Hanjiao. (2018). "A study on the image of the heroine in Disney animated films," Science and Technology Information, 16 (25): pp. 238-239.
[28]	Zhou Lai. (2016). "The modern transformation of witches in Disney films -- from Sleeping Beauty to Maleficent," Beauty and Times (Part 1), (02): pp. 73-75.
[29]	Chi Yunling, and Zhao Yuhong. (2016). "The evolution of Disney princesses from Frozen," Film Literature, (23): pp. 117-119.
[30]	Wang Jing. (2015). "A comparative study of Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty," New Film, (03): pp. 126-128.
[31]	Li Saike. (2014). "Making the myth of true love -- a semiotic analysis of Disney animated films Frozen and Maleficent," Film Review, (13): pp. 12-13.
[32]	Tian Yiwan. (2016). "Interpretation of female salvation and love in the movie Maleficent," Film Review, (16): pp. 68-70.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Jialiang Chen. (2020). The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 8(3), 127-133. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Jialiang Chen. The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2020, 8(3), 127-133. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Jialiang Chen. The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent. Int J Lit Arts. 2020;8(3):127-133. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14,
  author = {Jialiang Chen},
  title = {The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {127-133},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20200803.14},
  abstract = {Disney films have long been known as adapting classic fairy tales or legends from all over the world and creating distinctive princess images, among which, the development of different princess images manifests relative values in corresponding periods. Maleficent is adapted from the animated film Sleeping Beauty with similar story arrangements on the continuation of Sleeping Beauty as the main line. With the witch Maleficent as the narrative subject, the film subverts the traditional image of the witch under the patriarchal discourse, especially with respect to the subversion of the characters and themes. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the characters of different genders based on feminism shows the marginalization of male characters and the centralization of the female characters. The film is also characterized by postmodernism, reflecting the clinginess of the theme to the feminist values the US intends to convey. The subversion of characters and themes in the film is the product of the current social environment, which not only captures the spirit of the age, but also conforms to the psychological expectations of the audience in the new era. The paper first gives a general introduction and then provides a relevant literature review on feminism as well as postmodernism, and the development of feminism displayed in Disney princess films in different periods. Next, the paper analyzes the film Maleficent based on its progress from previous films, the centralization and marginalization of characters and the subversion of the theme, describing women's resistance to patriarchy and the subversion of identity. Last, the paper draws a conclusion and comments on the values of feminism delivered from Disney films.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent
AU  - Jialiang Chen
Y1  - 2020/04/08
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 127
EP  - 133
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14
AB  - Disney films have long been known as adapting classic fairy tales or legends from all over the world and creating distinctive princess images, among which, the development of different princess images manifests relative values in corresponding periods. Maleficent is adapted from the animated film Sleeping Beauty with similar story arrangements on the continuation of Sleeping Beauty as the main line. With the witch Maleficent as the narrative subject, the film subverts the traditional image of the witch under the patriarchal discourse, especially with respect to the subversion of the characters and themes. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the characters of different genders based on feminism shows the marginalization of male characters and the centralization of the female characters. The film is also characterized by postmodernism, reflecting the clinginess of the theme to the feminist values the US intends to convey. The subversion of characters and themes in the film is the product of the current social environment, which not only captures the spirit of the age, but also conforms to the psychological expectations of the audience in the new era. The paper first gives a general introduction and then provides a relevant literature review on feminism as well as postmodernism, and the development of feminism displayed in Disney princess films in different periods. Next, the paper analyzes the film Maleficent based on its progress from previous films, the centralization and marginalization of characters and the subversion of the theme, describing women's resistance to patriarchy and the subversion of identity. Last, the paper draws a conclusion and comments on the values of feminism delivered from Disney films.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Jialiang Chen

School of English for International Business, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Jialiang Chen. (2020). The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 8(3), 127-133. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Jialiang Chen. The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2020, 8(3), 127-133. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Jialiang Chen. The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent. Int J Lit Arts. 2020;8(3):127-133. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14,
  author = {Jialiang Chen},
  title = {The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {127-133},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20200803.14},
  abstract = {Disney films have long been known as adapting classic fairy tales or legends from all over the world and creating distinctive princess images, among which, the development of different princess images manifests relative values in corresponding periods. Maleficent is adapted from the animated film Sleeping Beauty with similar story arrangements on the continuation of Sleeping Beauty as the main line. With the witch Maleficent as the narrative subject, the film subverts the traditional image of the witch under the patriarchal discourse, especially with respect to the subversion of the characters and themes. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the characters of different genders based on feminism shows the marginalization of male characters and the centralization of the female characters. The film is also characterized by postmodernism, reflecting the clinginess of the theme to the feminist values the US intends to convey. The subversion of characters and themes in the film is the product of the current social environment, which not only captures the spirit of the age, but also conforms to the psychological expectations of the audience in the new era. The paper first gives a general introduction and then provides a relevant literature review on feminism as well as postmodernism, and the development of feminism displayed in Disney princess films in different periods. Next, the paper analyzes the film Maleficent based on its progress from previous films, the centralization and marginalization of characters and the subversion of the theme, describing women's resistance to patriarchy and the subversion of identity. Last, the paper draws a conclusion and comments on the values of feminism delivered from Disney films.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent
AU  - Jialiang Chen
Y1  - 2020/04/08
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 127
EP  - 133
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200803.14
AB  - Disney films have long been known as adapting classic fairy tales or legends from all over the world and creating distinctive princess images, among which, the development of different princess images manifests relative values in corresponding periods. Maleficent is adapted from the animated film Sleeping Beauty with similar story arrangements on the continuation of Sleeping Beauty as the main line. With the witch Maleficent as the narrative subject, the film subverts the traditional image of the witch under the patriarchal discourse, especially with respect to the subversion of the characters and themes. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the characters of different genders based on feminism shows the marginalization of male characters and the centralization of the female characters. The film is also characterized by postmodernism, reflecting the clinginess of the theme to the feminist values the US intends to convey. The subversion of characters and themes in the film is the product of the current social environment, which not only captures the spirit of the age, but also conforms to the psychological expectations of the audience in the new era. The paper first gives a general introduction and then provides a relevant literature review on feminism as well as postmodernism, and the development of feminism displayed in Disney princess films in different periods. Next, the paper analyzes the film Maleficent based on its progress from previous films, the centralization and marginalization of characters and the subversion of the theme, describing women's resistance to patriarchy and the subversion of identity. Last, the paper draws a conclusion and comments on the values of feminism delivered from Disney films.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download