Blog #2 -- The Princess Diaries 2
Prompt 1: The cultural artifact that I will be identifying is the movie called The Princess Diaries 2. I chose this to be my cultural artifact because it clearly shows and challenged gender representation. The main character, Princess Mia Thermopolis, is supposed to succeed her grandmother as the Queen of Genovia. But is reminded that the law states that an unmarried woman can't be made a queen. Mia is given thirty days to find a husband which means that she was set up with a man who has no feelings for. In the end, right before she is about to marry him, she refuses to do it knowing it is not right. She makes a bold statement that she does not need to man to rule.
Prompt 2: While creating this movie, the intended audience was females because the main messages were women challenging gender norms. The social world would be the whole world since it involves men and women. The creators and producers are Disney who are well known to make family movies. So knowing that young girls are watching this and seeing that Mia Thermopolis does not need a man in order to succeed, what might this movie be teaching young viewers? The creative techniques used to get people’s attention for this movie is that many have the dream of becoming royalty one day with the tiaras, having a big closet and marrying a prince. It made it seem so realistic as if it can happen to anyone just as how it happened to Mia who was the most awkward student in her school not knowing she had a royal bloodline from her father’s side Another reason why it caught my attention is because it was something different from not every other fairytale stories, that the girl ended up falling and marrying the boy. For this case, she was actually set up to marry someone she had no feelings for. Some examples that were shown of Mia challenging gender norms is from the beginning she did not like the idea of becoming the future of Genovia knowing that she would have to follow many protocols. First of all, she was forced to go through a complete transformation makeover by her grandmother in order for her to look more, ‘ladylike.’ Then she was taught how to eat properly, wave, and use a fan flirtatiously. At some point, while greeting and accepting the gifts from the public she accidentally let a chicken on the loose which her immediate reaction was to chase the chicken. Her grandmother stopped her letting her know that “A princess never chases after a chicken.” And last of all, being forced to marry a boy she has never met before just so she can become a queen causes her to make a stand. She, of course, is tired of following gender representation of how women should always depend on a guy or at least have one in order to succeed and not be looked like a queen who is unmarried. The overall message is that throughout the two movies we see Mia going through the transformation from being a nobody to becoming a queen. She was forced to be taught how to become one which at the start bothered her knowing that it is not the real her but continued anyways for her grandmother. But it got to the point that once she was about to get married she could not take it anymore causing her to demand the parliament to change the law stating, "A few months ago I realized the only reason I was getting married was because of a law, and that didn't seem like a good enough reason." This is just mixing the gender representations of women and in a way challenging it as well through the character of Mia.
Prompt 2: While creating this movie, the intended audience was females because the main messages were women challenging gender norms. The social world would be the whole world since it involves men and women. The creators and producers are Disney who are well known to make family movies. So knowing that young girls are watching this and seeing that Mia Thermopolis does not need a man in order to succeed, what might this movie be teaching young viewers? The creative techniques used to get people’s attention for this movie is that many have the dream of becoming royalty one day with the tiaras, having a big closet and marrying a prince. It made it seem so realistic as if it can happen to anyone just as how it happened to Mia who was the most awkward student in her school not knowing she had a royal bloodline from her father’s side Another reason why it caught my attention is because it was something different from not every other fairytale stories, that the girl ended up falling and marrying the boy. For this case, she was actually set up to marry someone she had no feelings for. Some examples that were shown of Mia challenging gender norms is from the beginning she did not like the idea of becoming the future of Genovia knowing that she would have to follow many protocols. First of all, she was forced to go through a complete transformation makeover by her grandmother in order for her to look more, ‘ladylike.’ Then she was taught how to eat properly, wave, and use a fan flirtatiously. At some point, while greeting and accepting the gifts from the public she accidentally let a chicken on the loose which her immediate reaction was to chase the chicken. Her grandmother stopped her letting her know that “A princess never chases after a chicken.” And last of all, being forced to marry a boy she has never met before just so she can become a queen causes her to make a stand. She, of course, is tired of following gender representation of how women should always depend on a guy or at least have one in order to succeed and not be looked like a queen who is unmarried. The overall message is that throughout the two movies we see Mia going through the transformation from being a nobody to becoming a queen. She was forced to be taught how to become one which at the start bothered her knowing that it is not the real her but continued anyways for her grandmother. But it got to the point that once she was about to get married she could not take it anymore causing her to demand the parliament to change the law stating, "A few months ago I realized the only reason I was getting married was because of a law, and that didn't seem like a good enough reason." This is just mixing the gender representations of women and in a way challenging it as well through the character of Mia.
This movie is such a good example of female empowerment. Mia is a literal princess who had an obligation to marry yet she went against that. She went against no longer having power and the chance her grandmother would be angry because she knew getting married would make her unhappy. She put herself first. She also shows us that girls don't need a man, for anything. I believe she also ended up falling in love at the end yet she wasn't chasing a man, it just kind of happened and I think that's a more accurate representation of what usually happens to women.
ReplyDeleteHi Joselin,
ReplyDeleteThis movie use to be one of my favorite movies when I was younger and it portrays such a powerful message to all the girls and to the boys too that their isn't any limitation for anyone. We are always accustomed to seeing Princess movies in where they have to marry a Prince and then live happily ever after but in this movie it breaks that idea when Mia refuses to marry the Duke in order to rule Genovia. Mia makes a statement and encourages Parliament to change that rule as it is making her be in an uncomfortable position by having to Wed someone in such little time. This movie illustrates that women have the potential to rule without a man by her side and pushes the traditional norms we are so use to seeing.
This is one of the first movies in where it had the princess not actually acting like the social definition of princess. I remember not really understanding why she was not following the "rules" because my mind was powered by societies way of thinking about princesses and that they always had to be perfect. Although, she was always told to act like a princess she did not listen to the people around her even if it created a conflict with her throne, she did not let her ability to leave an influential impact on the girls/women in her kingdom. Till this day I believe that Disney has not made more movies about how women do not need men or need to fit the "princess" agenda because at the end of the day women are more powerful when society learns to appreciate them.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I cannot remember this movie to its entirety I do remember Mia being super awkward and relating to her. The transformation really took me by surprise because it made me think in a way where I needed to conform to society and become much more appealing and prettier but for what reason? but yes I love how Mia stood up for herself and she didn't just stand up for her but for a lot of girls who felt like a man was essential in order to be happy. In this way, Anne Hathaway went on to make great movies that were also empowering like ella enchanted, bride wars and I'm sure a lot more. The fact that this movie got a sequel proves its popularity to the general public and little girls it inspired. Thank you for your analysis on this movie you did a wonderful job.
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