I set a simple task: pick one Film Guardian article, then 1 post from this blog; blog the key points. I'll demo below how I would do this for the links shared.
DISNEY: BIG 5 FINALLY CHALLENGING BODY NORMATIVITY? SHORT FILM: "REFLECT"
Lets not get carried away - it is a significant moment for the home of the skinny princess, shaper of many young people's expectations of body shape and perception of beauty, to have a plus-sized hero, a heroine even!
BUT: "Reflect" isn't a Disney tentpole ($100m+ but these days commonly $200m+) production - what Anita Elberse refers to as 'blockbusters' (she advised the major entertainment conglomerates to produce fewer releases and focus on maximising the global marketing and distribution of these in her 2014 book, Blockbusters). It is merely a short film. AND its animated - they're still not prepared to push $200m+ on the marketing/distribution spend (which is typically around the same as the production budget) for a live action movie with a plus-size female lead.
The animation, Reflect, tells the story of Bianca, a young ballet dancer who “battles her own reflection, overcoming doubt and fear by channelling her inner strength, grace and power”.
It forms part of Disney’s Short Circuit series of experimental films, released over the Disney+ streaming service last month. (Guardian, Oct 2022)
Since it bought up 20th Century Fox (see Wiki), Disney has accounted for a worryingly large % of the global box office (see Disney bigger than Netflix post), a market share increasingly underpinned by the success of its Disney+ subscription service where this short film series can exclusively be found. In 2019 it hit 51% of the global market! (see Deadline)
Disney has faced extensive past criticism for the narrowness of its representations and negative stereotyping, but has more recently shifted its stance, even to the point of facing down powerful conservative critics of its stance on including LGBT+ characters.
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| Another 2022 Guardian article highlighted the anger of conservatives at Disney's increasing LGBT+ inclusiveness, and its response to this backlash. |
