le plus loin le plus serré

le plus loin le plus serré
mourning art

in memoriam

"yet I tell you, from the sad knowledge of my older experience, that to every one of you a day will most likely come when sunshine, hope, presents and pleasure will be worth nothing to you in comparison with the unattainable gift of your mother's kiss." (Christina Rossetti, "Speaking Likenesses," 1873)

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Tangled up & new

I saw Tangled this weekend, courtesy of the strong-arming of two friends of mine. Though I like Disney, and I'm crazy about Pixar, somehow I don't always do a good job of getting to the Disney animated films when they open (case in point: still have not seen Princess & the frog).

But I am glad I saw Tangled, especially since I very recently taught two pieces of Disney criticism to a class, and so had my Disney-critic brain finely tuned. A lot of people in the children's lit academic community are passionately opposed to Disney, for a variety of reasons (many of them pretty good reasons, too). I do not share this wholehearted opposition to Disney, though I am pretty much on board with the skepticism and disapproval of the "princess" films and attendant marketing, etc.

Tangled does the Rapunzel story with some nice twists. The original story, collected by the Grimms, is not particularly charming nor enlightened. It seems that Disney's collaboration with Pixar, and perhaps, response to criticism, has created a more serious effort at remedying the outdated princess formula.

We get the backstory in an opening sequence: the magic golden flower of the sun takes the place of the rapunzel-lettuce; the generic man & woman are replaced with the king and queen - but essentially, we get the gist. Gothel steals the baby to use the magical powers of her golden hair, which is how Gothel stays young (youthfulness and healing are its powers, incidentally). Rapunzel is raised in a tower in valley enclosed by cliffs and a waterfall.

But what Disney does is give this princess an actual personality, with some real psychology. We see Rapunzel going about her daily activities (accompanied by a forgettable song) - she bakes, cooks, reads books, sews, brushes her hair, looks out her window, dances - and paints. Rapunzel's paintings are one of the most charming effects in the film - soft washes done on the walls of her tower. They tend to imagine scenes featuring Rapunzel and her immense quantity of hair, but they have a very charming style, especially the van gogh-esqu central piece picturing the floating night lanterns released by the kingdom annually, in honor of the lost princess.

Gothel, the villain of the piece, is a masterful and terrifying piece of psychological abuse. She is sickeningly sweetly passive-aggressive, wearing down Rapunzel's natural curiosity, playing on her emotions, telling her she is getting "chubby," telling her she is too weak to handle the world outside. Gothel & Rapunzel have a truly disturbing dysfunctional psychology between them, and it's the most realistic thing in the film. It's scary. Gothel's big number is titled "Mother knows best," and its manipulative force makes it perhaps the most frightening villain song of them all (though Scar's nazi-esque "Be Prepared" in The Lion King is pretty creepy). This psychology is continued consistently throughout the film - we get a number of scenes of Rapunzel alternating between joy at freedom and weeping and wringing her hands in anxious self-loathing and self-reproach at leaving her poor mother.

Having just taught June Cummins' essay on Beauty and the Beast ("Romancing the Beast"), I was especially aware of Rapunzel's dream or motivation. Cummins points out, accurately, that Belle initially wants to travel, explore, see new places - but jettisons all of that for life in the castle which (oddly) creeps ever-closer to the village as the film progresses.
Rapunzel's dream, her one goal and desire for a large part of the film, is to go in person to see the night lanterns.
That's it.
That's her goal, and she sticks to it.

Enter Flinn Rider, our erstwhile Hero, who is a bad guy (more like an arrogant guy) at first but eventually, of course, softens into a sweet romantic hero.
I don't expect, in a huge and hugely mainstream movie, to see the heterosexual romance plot disappear. I'd LIKE to see that, but I don't expect it. I don't expect it in Tangled, in Love and other drugs, in any of those comic-book-movies. Feeling angry, disappointed or frustrated in the presence of this plot, in this kind of film, is truly counterproductive. The Disney princess films - and this one especially - operate as fairy-tale romantic comedies, and those follow a very set formula. Even the really great ones (Bringing Up Baby) follow the formula. We can criticize the heteronormativity of this love plot - and we should - but to react as if Disney is doing something unusual and/or unusually bad in continuing to follow this pattern is simply unfair and unrealistic.

But Rapunzel is - despite her creepy appearance, which is a cross of Precious Moments figurine and Bratz Baby doll - a truly spunky heroine. The movie isn't paying lip service to the spunky heroine, as I think it does in Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Rapunzel is in charge of her quest from minute one, when she clocks Flinn Rider with her cast-iron frying pan and locks him in her wardrobe. She keeps her hold on that frying pan for much of the movie, in fact. She bullies Flinn into guiding her to the city for the night lanterns, and emotional outbursts about her mother aside, keeps a pretty solid grip on things.
Look at this still: this is essentially a bondage scene, with a dominatrix. Rapunzel has the upper hand here, and not because she's captivatingly beautiful - it's because she's got some weapons (frying pan, and her hair, which she wields like a lasso, a rope, a whip), and she's got a whole lot of determination.
Even the moments of romance or sentimentality are cut with Rapunzel's almost-edgy sense of humor. In the Snuggly Duckling, the tavern to which Flinn guides her in an effort to get her to renounce her quest, the viking-esque thugs who threaten them all are disarmed when Rapunzel yells "Where is your HUMANITY? Don't you have a dream?"

The opportunity for treacly sentiment is huge, but the movie doesn't take it: Mandy Moore puts an edge in Rapunzel's voice, and she sounds more exasperated and impatient than saccharine. There's no soft focus here. The song that follows, sung by the thugs, reveals that all of them do in fact have dreams - and those dreams have a decidedly queer tone (one wants to do interior design, one wants to bake, one wants to be a concert pianist, another is a mime, and finally one is passionate about collecting tiny ceramic unicorns). But the number is staged as a kind of comic tavern-song, reminiscent of Gaston's big song in Beauty & the Beast (but much, much more positive and much, much more playful about gender norms). These same thugs reappear to aid Rapunzel and Flinn, and their arrival is signalled by the presence of a tiny ceramic unicorn placed strategically for Flinn to see.


Throughout the film, we see Rapunzel insist on her own dreams; we see Flinn agreeing to help, and then helping (but not taking over) along the way. Rapunzel rescues him more than once from various sticky situations - the Snuggly Duckling is just one of these - and it is only at the very end of the film that Flinn sacrifices his own life to rescue Rapunzel from Gothel.
The scene when Rapunzel realizes that she is the lost princess is done with psychological smartness; you do not feel like you're watching a Disney Princess soft-focus number. There are "camera tricks," which of course are animation tricks, there is horror registering in Rapunzel's (still disturbing) babyface. It's a moment with as much emotion as the scene of the Queen's transformation to the Witch in Snow White, a scene that was (and is) much heralded for its effectively. Rapunzel decides to confront Gothel with her new realization, and fight for her own life, her own self - unlike princesses of old, who usually attempt to flee when something goes kaput.


Visually, this movie is lovely - Rapunzel's hair is an absolute masterpiece of digital animation. The scenes with the night lanterns are beyond stunning - I want to live in that kingdom. I'm partial to floating lanterns anyway; ever since the millennial new year's celebrations and the glorious, gorgeous lanterns released from - Thailand? I think. But this is rendered beautifully, affectingly - it's the moment of Rapunzel getting her wish.


The movie also takes up what happens after your dream comes true, in a way that works really well. Flinn and Rapunzel discuss this more than once, coming to the conclusion that when you achieve your dream, you move on to a new dream. There are always more dreams to be had. It's uplifting in a matter-of-fact way.

This movie does not fix all of the problems with the romantic comedy and/or fairy-tale genre. It doesn't shatter fairy tales the way Angela Carter does in The Bloody Chamber. Like all romantic comedies, you know the outcome from the first moment you see the two main characters - you know before you get to the theater that Flinn and Rapunzel will live happily ever after. But Tangled does something different, for a Disney film: it gives us psychologically developed characters, with complications and personalities of their own. More than that, it places Rapunzel in the true center of the film - she is the sun around which the whole story orbits. It is her gravitational force directing this show, and none of the characters are allowed to forget it. Compared to Disney princess films of the past, this one has made some very big leaps forward. It isn't perfect, for sure; it's not a masterpiece of feminist rhetoric. But it creates a space in which that kind of progressive ideology can be glimpsed, and even achieved, in moments.

73 comments:

Jonathan Auxier said...

It's interesting hearing your response to the movie through a cultural criticism lens. As a writer, I spent most of the time looking at it like a mechanic might a new car -- trying to figure out how the different components fit together to tell a story.

I was struck by how much WORK the writer(s) had to do just to justify the initial premise of Rapunzel. They bent over backwards (giving her hair outer-space powers) to explain why some old lady would want to lock her up in the first place. And then more rules to explain why the witch can't just cut off her hair and let the baby go. And then more rules about how to trigger the hair's powers ...
This is pretty much all set up to answer one simple question: why would this old lady need to lock the girl up?

In the fairytale, none of this explanation was necessary. Who CARES why the witch wants the girl? It's interesting how the movie needs to add so much rationalization -- is that a reflection of modern sensibilities, or the unique realism-requirements of the medium?

Anonymous said...

buy hydrocodone without prescription what does generic hydrocodone look like - can order hydrocodone online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol for purchase - buy tramadol cod personal check

Anonymous said...

buy ativan ativan water soluble - where to buy lorazepam

Anonymous said...

can you buy tramadol online legally tramadol zoloft together - tramadol hcl 50mg tab

Anonymous said...

tramadol online how can i buy tramadol online - order tramadol pay cod

Anonymous said...

ativan for anxiety how long until lorazepam 1mg starts to work - ativan withdrawal klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap no prescription tramadol buy online - overdose with tramadol

Anonymous said...

purchase ambien kind pill ambien - generic name for ambien cr

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin dosage amounts - buy generic klonopin online

Anonymous said...

best buy tramadol can you get tramadol online legally - tramadol online scams

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol paypal - tramadol 50 mg snorting

Anonymous said...

order klonopin klonopin migraine - klonopin overdose alcohol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mexico buy tramadol online with a cod - tramadol 50mg for animals

Anonymous said...

zolpidem no prescription ambien side effects heart palpitations - buy cheap ambien no prescription

Anonymous said...

ambien sleep medication ambien for sleep aid - ambien side effects liver damage

Anonymous said...

klonopin mg klonopin 2mg wiki - klonopin alcohol and weed

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online buy ambien cr 12.5 - ambien and dilaudid drug interactions

Anonymous said...

online soma online soma watson - buy soma hair care products

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 tramadol hcl xr 100mg - tramadol 50 mg hcl

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin valium equivalent dosage - klonopin withdrawal easy

Anonymous said...

buy generic ambien there generic ambien cr 12.5 mg - how to buy ambien cr

Anonymous said...

tramadol online pharmacy can you buy tramadol online no prescription - where to buy tramadol online

Anonymous said...

cheap ativan ativan addiction symptoms withdrawal - ativan dosage .25

Anonymous said...

soma medication street cost for soma - soma muscle relaxer strengths

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription overnight buy tramadol store - order tramadol 100mg

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin klonopin lunch download - 2mg klonopin street price

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol hcl 50mg - buy tramadol online usa

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online overnight tramadol hcl how much to get high - order tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien generic walmart - ambien side effects gi

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap buy tramadol overnight - buy tramadol line

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription cod tramadol 50mg buy online - what is the good dose of tramadol

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol online cheap no prescription - where to buy tramadol online uk

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol for dogs tramadol 50 mg dose - tramadol zydus 50 mg

Anonymous said...

buy viagra professional generic viagra release - generic viagra no prescription needed

Anonymous said...

tramadol online can you buy tramadol over counter usa - buy tramadol online yahoo

Anonymous said...

Hither iѕ a baѕіc tantrіс solԁering
meditation: Perform this meԁіtatiοn foг the Ѕoliԁ ground Chаngeѕ?

Τhat misѕes the level all anԁ
гоbs what controlar eѕtas energ?

as y a trabajar con ellаs, hаstа comprendеr que toda la vіda es еnerg?
a en diferentеs tasas de ѵіbгaсi?
n. Ѕaat itu Anda bisa sekaligus mеndiѕkusikan
masа deρan hubungan Аnԁa to reinfοrсеmеnt the efficaciouѕnesѕ of tantric
masѕаge treatments on post-partum eсonomiс
crіsis, anecdοtal evidence showѕ that some women do bеnefit from its uѕe.


Also visit my web site - web page
Also see my page ::

Anonymous said...

Way other studies to keep this. according to University of Maryland Aesculapian centerfield,
you should utter to your doctor ahead of alcohol and having
carbohydrates at 60 pct of sum Casual caloric intake, increase triglyceride levels.


my webpage dr ldl mercola cholesterol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap no prescription tramadol 100mg beipackzettel - tramadol 50mg tablets controlled substance

Anonymous said...

It is not my first time to pay a quick visit this web site, i am visiting this web site dailly and obtain nice
facts from here daily.

Feel free to surf to my webpage ... counting-carbs.blogspot.com
My webpage: http://doozyanner-sjhteach.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

The hooеy еsѕentially categorіc tаbles гοse wine hіgher up the flοoгіng.
I sexual love One C tantrіc mаssаge's newly renovated a standing break, but eventually got swept. tantric massage are basically compressed know the basic principle and the proper way to do it. Undergoing hot massage therapy too helps your afterwards 20 minutes.

My site tantric massage in London

Anonymous said...

Thank you for every other magnificent article.
Where else may anybody get that kind of information
in such an ideal method of writing? I have a presentation next week,
and I am at the search for such info.

Here is my webpage; bozooble.com
Also see my page > Abraham

Anonymous said...

It's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd certainly donate to this brilliant blog! I guess for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding
your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!

Also visit my blog post: http://www.socialswager.com/index.Php?do=/Profile-24138/info/
My website - Bernardo

Anonymous said...

Great work! That is the type of information that are supposed to be shared around the net.
Disgrace on the search engines for now not positioning this post upper!
Come on over and discuss with my website . Thank you
=)

My web page - Lucille

Anonymous said...

My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different
website and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you.

Look forward to looking at your web page again.

My webpage: mixthepeople.com
my website: Ginger

Anonymous said...

Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a
few of the images aren't loading properly. I'm not sure why but I think its a linking issue.

I've tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.

Also visit my site ... http://Hoidtreatment.Webs.com/apps/blog/show/3537850-procerin-review
My web page > Kingbio hemorrhoid relief

Anonymous said...

Hiya very nice website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I'll bookmark your site and take the feeds also? I am happy to seek out a lot of useful information here in the publish, we want develop extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

Feel free to visit my blog; http://community.froghosting-group.co.uk/blogs/viewstory/390410

Anonymous said...

I almost never leave remarks, however i did some
searching and wound up here "Tangled up & new". And I do have some questions for you if it's allright. Is it simply me or does it seem like a few of these responses come across as if they are left by brain dead people? :-P And, if you are posting on other places, I would like to keep up with anything fresh you have to post. Could you list of the complete urls of your public sites like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?

Have a look at my blog - http://globalbesthosting.com/index.php?do=/profile-2160/info

Anonymous said...

I really like it when individuals get together and
share opinions. Great site, keep it up!

My webpage http://fb.fullorissa.com/?L=blogs.blog&article=28736

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact used to be a amusement
account it. Look complicated to far delivered agreeable from you!

However, how can we keep in touch?

Also visit my blog ... http://provillusofficial.blog.com/2012/09/14/procerin-something-that-really-works/
My site :: Tanya

Anonymous said...

This is very interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I've
joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your
magnificent post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!



my web page - http://New.5point.info/index.php?do=/profile-12975/info/

Anonymous said...

Ahaa, its nice dialogue about this post here at this blog, I have read
all that, so at this time me also commenting here.

Here is my site; http://anawinta.net/?L=blogs.blog&article=69477
Also see my site - http://www.Formulacompany.com/Exactly-How-And-Where-To-Get-Provillus-Online.htm

Anonymous said...

You are so awesome! I do not suppose I've read through something like that before. So nice to find another person with a few unique thoughts on this topic. Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is something that's
needed on the web, someone with a little originality!


my page; Vicki
My page - Bozooble.com

Anonymous said...

We are thinking of becoming a 'ProBlogger". I understand Blogging is an extremely slow business, but nevertheless i wish to understand how much time will it take me to begin earning at least $100.. I will work everyday for approximately 11 hrs. Am i able to expect start earning $100 within 8 weeks.. Please folks help, give me some idea on how much hard work it's going to be.
.

Also visit my homepage - vaginal mesh lawsuits

Anonymous said...

Your means of explaining everything in this article is
in fact fastidious, all be able to easily be aware of it, Thanks a lot.


Also visit my website: http://provillusofficial.blog.com/2012/09/14/profollica-an-objective-observation/

Anonymous said...

What's up to every one, it's genuinely a fastidious for me to pay a visit this web page, it includes precious Information.


My site - H Miracle
My webpage: jacquesschneide.blog.com

Anonymous said...

There is certainly a lot to learn about this
topic. I like all of the points you made.

my blog post ... http://hoidtreatment.webs.com/apps/blog/show/3537977-scalp-med
Also see my website - scalpmed

Anonymous said...

Good answer back in return of this matter with solid arguments and telling all about that.


Here is my web blog ... Allhitdeals.net

Anonymous said...

Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I
stumbleupon every day. It's always helpful to read through content from other writers and use something from their web sites.

my web blog - http://jacquesschneider.webs.com/apps/blog/show/20962983-defining-your-style-with-chi-flat-irons

Anonymous said...

It's an awesome piece of writing for all the internet people; they will take advantage from it I am sure.

Here is my weblog; http://www.anawinta.net/?L=blogs.blog&article=73742

Anonymous said...

I enjoy, result in I discovered just what I was looking for.
You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man.
Have a nice day. Bye

Stop by my web blog - http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/natural-hair-loss-treatments-and-product-reviews-explained-in-great-detail-at-hairlosshavencom-147600.htm

Anonymous said...

Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site,
how could i subscribe for a blog web site?
The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been
a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea

Also visit my web-site - lucila13.wetpaint.com

Anonymous said...

Highly descriptive post, I liked that bit.

Will there be a part 2?

Here is my web blog; blog.com

Anonymous said...

I pay a visit every day some websites and sites to read articles,
except this blog offers feature based writing.

Check out my site - Iesha
Also see my web site: Florencia

Anonymous said...

Hello, I enjoy reading all of your article post.
I like to write a little comment to support you.


My web page; Kingbio hemorrhoid relief

Anonymous said...

hey there and thank you for your info – I have definitely picked up something new
from right here. I did however expertise some technical
points using this web site, as I experienced to reload the site lots
of times previous to I could get it to load correctly.

I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will
sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score
if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I'm adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this again soon.

Here is my homepage: Kingbio hemorrhoid relief

Anonymous said...

I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really
nice, keep it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. All the best

Also visit my blog: Provillus Review

Anonymous said...

Excellent article! We are linking to this particularly great
post on our site. Keep up the good writing.

Also visit my blog post - http://www.anawinta.net/?L=blogs.blog&article=73742

Anonymous said...

Inspiring story there. What happened after? Good luck!


My site: Kingbio hemorrhoid relief

Anonymous said...

Your way of telling everything in this piece of writing is actually pleasant, all be able to easily
understand it, Thanks a lot.

Also visit my web site: http://www.formulacompany.com/Exactly-How-And-Where-To-Get-Provillus-Online.htm

Anonymous said...

Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the pictures
on this blog loading? I'm trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it's the
blog. Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.


my blog post; http://jacquesschneider.webs.com/apps/blog/show/20963752-digital-hair-styles-with-chi-nano-flat-irons

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure where you're getting your information, but good
topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or
understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I
was looking for this information for my mission.

My website: http://social.stjago.com/

Anonymous said...

Today, I went to the beach front with my children.
I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter
and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to
her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to
tell someone!

Here is my blog http://ibwww.org/instituto/user/profile.php?id=6422
my site: Layne