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Stereotypes in The Princess and the Frog (2009) – A Literature & Language Movie Review

Stereotypes in The Princess and the Frog (2009) – A Literature & Language Movie Review

The Princess and the Frog (2009), directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, is a Disney animated film that reimagines the classic fairy tale of "The Frog Prince" through the lens of African-American culture, setting the story in 1920s New Orleans. The film's inclusion of diverse characters and its exploration of African-American culture are important steps in the evolution of Disney’s representation of race. However, like many mainstream films, The Princess and the Frog has also been critiqued for perpetuating certain stereotypes, particularly in its portrayal of race, class, and gender.

This review will explore the stereotypes present in The Princess and the Frog, analyzing how the film uses literature and language to shape its characters and themes. While the film is praised for providing Disney's first Black princess, Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose), it also reflects on how racial and cultural stereotypes are intertwined with the broader narrative.

1. The Representation of Tiana: Breaking the Princess Mold and Reinforcing Class Stereotypes

Tiana is an ambitious, hardworking young woman whose dream is to open her own restaurant. She is often celebrated as a strong and determined female character who defies the traditional "princess" archetype by being a self-made, independent woman. Unlike other Disney princesses who are often depicted in passive roles, Tiana’s pursuit of her dreams showcases a positive example of perseverance, ambition, and hard work.

However, despite her admirable qualities, Tiana’s character can also be seen as reinforcing certain class-based stereotypes. She is portrayed as someone who has to work tirelessly, even scrubbing floors, to achieve her goals. Her character is defined by her socioeconomic background and ambition to move beyond it, which taps into the "rags to riches" narrative. While this storyline provides a sense of empowerment, it also plays into the stereotype that Black characters, especially in American media, are tied to lower socioeconomic classes. Tiana's focus on hard work contrasts with her romantic interest in Prince Naveen, whose carefree lifestyle challenges the notion that hard work is the only means to achieve success.

For viewers interested in films that explore class dynamics through the lens of race or movies that use hard work and ambition to define characters, Tiana’s journey in The Princess and the Frog offers both a progressive and a problematic narrative, depending on how one interprets her class position in relation to her role as a Black princess.

2. Prince Naveen and the "White Savior" Complex

Prince Naveen (voiced by Bruno Campos), who is initially cursed into a frog form, is depicted as charming but lazy and irresponsible at the beginning of the story. His character serves as a foil to Tiana’s hardworking nature. While Tiana represents perseverance and personal responsibility, Naveen’s character represents privilege and a carefree lifestyle that he must learn to change throughout the course of the film. This juxtaposition raises questions about the film’s treatment of race and class, particularly in how Naveen, a prince from a fictional, unspecified "foreign" country, is portrayed as needing to learn the values that Tiana already possesses.

In terms of stereotypes, Prince Naveen's initial portrayal could be seen as reinforcing the “White Savior” complex, albeit in a subtler form. Though Naveen is not White, his character represents a form of privilege that contrasts sharply with Tiana’s experience as a Black woman in a segregated society. His transformation from a carefree prince to a responsible, committed individual is intertwined with Tiana’s journey, making it seem as though his change comes from adopting values that she, as a Black character, already embodies. This subtle dynamic, while positive in terms of character growth, could be seen as reinforcing the notion that Black characters need a form of "guidance" or "correction" from those perceived as privileged or "other."

For those interested in films that critique the "White Savior" complex or movies that explore race and privilege in cross-cultural dynamics, The Princess and the Frog provides a lens through which these themes can be examined, albeit with a sense of ambiguity.

3. Dr. Facilier and the "Voodoo" Stereotype

Dr. Facilier, the film’s villain, is a practitioner of "voodoo" magic, which has been criticized f
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