EKPHRASTIC EXPRESSION PROMPT RESPONSE
Disastrous Pairings of Disney Movies & Characters
When Lizzie Lizard Brain edits iconic photos
Satire. Patricia Jeanne’s alter-ego Lizzie the Inappropriate Lizard Brain is helping with this examination of Disney Corporation’s exploitation of innocence.
Walt Disney saw dollar signs in the film and wondered if mouse ears would taste like chicken. Insignificant Minnie Mouse wasn’t fully actualized yet.
Walt had trouble finding a straight rib in Mickey when he decided to add her to his wonderful creation of Life. Rumors would swirl for the next century over Minnie’s sexuality. (She asked if she could hold a rainbow flag in the photo, but Walt wouldn’t give her hands or a mouth yet.)
As Micky and Minnie began to interact on screen, it was apparent they shared a toxic co-dependent relationship. Mickey’s emotional depth ranged from high squeaky voice complaints to higher squeaky voice complaints.
Minnie was called a shrew and was summoned to appear before the US Subcommittee on Un-American Affairs.
Her acting career faltered as other actors and directors refused to work with the blacklisted “problematic mousey dame.”
These girls are learning how to duck and cover in case the Soviet Union launches a nuclear attack. Later, they’ll be told Prince Charming will help find lost slippers and make all the decisions about every little thing and they’ll live happily ever after.
Fortunately, male doctors created “Mother’s Little Helper,” aka Valium. Macramé joined sewing and alcoholism as women’s favorite pastimes.
Boys’ well-defined but impossible roles made them barely human.
Men never complained because feelings were illegal.
They designed computers they hoped to one day emulate.
Black Beauty raced away from imminent danger and imagined she’d picked up ticks. In fact, the two fastest Seven Dwarfs escaped the oppressive Magical Kingdom.
The Golden Age of Hollywood spanned the late 1920s through the mid 1960s. Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, Citizen Kane, and The Wizard of Oz are just a few of the notable films from this period.
Getting ahead in the entertainment industry under Walt Disney’s painstaking leadership was difficult for anyone who wasn’t a socially acceptable white, heterosexual male.
It’s not surprising that marginalized groups, minorities, and those who wanted more often had to cling to others’ backs.
You were expecting a big Daryl Hannah?
Disney has been criticized for promoting sexist stereotypes and materialism. The damsel in distress trope is a tried and true money maker the company has been slow to move beyond.
Pocahontas and John Smith loved their ice skating so much they didn’t notice flames would soon turn Disney on Ice to Walt’s Water Wonderland.
Finally! Snow White stands a chance with literacy!
Homosexuality, cross-dressing, and passing as a member of the opposite sex are age-old standards that weren’t discussed in front of children.
So how did a single woman get away with sleeping with seven little people?
“Living in sin” was still a common reference into the 1970s!
Without wet wipes or fur sanitizer, we’re renaming the bear Stinky-poo. The capitalist consumer bear’s bowel movements are often equal to half their weight. Obviously, he needs to change his brand of honey!
Some folks have criticized Disney’s portrayal of the characters as affirming gender stereotypes, handling diversity poorly, and minimizing or lampooning ADHD.
Hang on.
Lizzie the Lizard Brain is screaming, “DON’T F*CK WITH TIGGER!!!”
A.A. Milne created the Pooh characters in 1929 without specific genders long before labels existed for some of the conditions we now recognize.
Drawing parallels between Tigger and ADHD kids is like being offended by the behavior of a bursting balloon.
Final thoughts
Born in 1901, Walt Disney was a product of his time. He founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio with his brother Roy in 1923. Walt Disney was said to be a racist and misogynist as a young man, but he evolved over time.
The indisputable fact is Walt Disney celebrated imagination and encouraged innovation during a time when manufacturing, sales, and productivity were the primary focus of most respected adults.
Tigger is Lizzie’s spirit guide. Don’t cancel her.
With sincere gratitude for the wise and witty Raine Lore and Jaylee Reign.
Lizzie Lizard Brain has been evicted from Patricia Jeanne’s profile. Her influence cannot be extinguished (heaven forbid!), but she needs her own space to be as weird and unchained as her icy cold, rock-hard, degenerate heart desires. She announced her independence in pictures and insanity.
I hope you’ll follow and enjoy her there.
Image attribution: Whenever possible, I’ve credited the original photographer whose work appears on Wikimedia. In some cases, the original source cannot be identified. It’s possible the images were taken through video screen print or the Library of Congress and Wikimedia were unable to identify the photographer. Wikimedia photos fall under the Public Domain and Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic, which allows use, dissemination, and modifications if noted.
Thanks for reading.
Copyright © 2023 Patricia Jeanne
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