I enjoyed this analysis! I tend to think Disney animated movies started going downhill after Aladdin. Faith Moore has written about how misunderstood fairytales are by feminism/popular culture, and she argues (convincingly to me) that the older Disney movies have better female characters and storylines. Moore agrees with you that more recent films have chosen a “hero’s journey” rather than fairytale structure: https://faithkmoore.com/2019/02/01/moana-the-heros-journey-and-the-future-of-the-disney-princess-narrative/
Happy New Year Rob! Aladdin is a magical tale, he makes a great hero. Such a fun way to explain evolutionary psychology. I’ll not criticize any of the more recent movies, but I encourage you to watch a few when you find the time, maybe dissect one or two for us. I’m curious what you think about the newer stories.
I love Joseph Campbell. I still have a cassette tape series of interviews he did with Bill Moyers (without a cassette player that works). It is ironic today that productive myth is being destroyed by destructive myth. I think if alive today, Mr. Campbell would have some fantastic observations with respect to what is missing in western culture today and why we need to get it back. Maybe re-watching old Disney productions will help.
As a kid of the 90’s, I think I have Aladdin almost memorized word for word. Because of this, the live-action remake of Aladdin was highly anticipated. Besides the bizarre way they made Will Smith look as the genie, I watched Disney cut off the story at the knees when they made Jasmine the sultan instead. I remember being so miffed about the throttling of the Hero’s Journey that I wrote a review on rotten tomatoes. If they wanted Jasmin to be the Sultan in the end, they should’ve made her the street rat at the beginning.
I think archetypes are powerful things and they are necessary for our own mental health as we create our personal narratives. When storytelling strays too far from an archetype it becomes mere propaganda meant to elevate an individual at selfish costs. Look at Frozen- Elsa is one of the worst characters who freezes her homeland, goes into hiding, and fatally freezes her sister just because she wants to “Let it Go” instead of cautiously explore her powers.
And before people assume that archetypes are a mere western ideal, eastern archetypes also deal with themes such as filial piety. I’m currently watching Alchemy of Souls which is essentially a Hero’s Journey and it has been excellent.
How you've outlined the Hero's Journey is great. I speak about the HJ in my leadership class and I'm going to share and reference some of the concepts you have here. Thanks!
Always a joy reading your content Rob. Aladdin's humanity is within all/ most of us. Yet we live in dire times: forever wars, gread, lust for power. Is Alladin a farce.
Happy New Year to Rob and to all.
Happy new year :)
I enjoyed this analysis! I tend to think Disney animated movies started going downhill after Aladdin. Faith Moore has written about how misunderstood fairytales are by feminism/popular culture, and she argues (convincingly to me) that the older Disney movies have better female characters and storylines. Moore agrees with you that more recent films have chosen a “hero’s journey” rather than fairytale structure: https://faithkmoore.com/2019/02/01/moana-the-heros-journey-and-the-future-of-the-disney-princess-narrative/
Happy New Year Rob! Aladdin is a magical tale, he makes a great hero. Such a fun way to explain evolutionary psychology. I’ll not criticize any of the more recent movies, but I encourage you to watch a few when you find the time, maybe dissect one or two for us. I’m curious what you think about the newer stories.
Happy New Year to Rob and subscribers!
I love Joseph Campbell. I still have a cassette tape series of interviews he did with Bill Moyers (without a cassette player that works). It is ironic today that productive myth is being destroyed by destructive myth. I think if alive today, Mr. Campbell would have some fantastic observations with respect to what is missing in western culture today and why we need to get it back. Maybe re-watching old Disney productions will help.
As a kid of the 90’s, I think I have Aladdin almost memorized word for word. Because of this, the live-action remake of Aladdin was highly anticipated. Besides the bizarre way they made Will Smith look as the genie, I watched Disney cut off the story at the knees when they made Jasmine the sultan instead. I remember being so miffed about the throttling of the Hero’s Journey that I wrote a review on rotten tomatoes. If they wanted Jasmin to be the Sultan in the end, they should’ve made her the street rat at the beginning.
I think archetypes are powerful things and they are necessary for our own mental health as we create our personal narratives. When storytelling strays too far from an archetype it becomes mere propaganda meant to elevate an individual at selfish costs. Look at Frozen- Elsa is one of the worst characters who freezes her homeland, goes into hiding, and fatally freezes her sister just because she wants to “Let it Go” instead of cautiously explore her powers.
And before people assume that archetypes are a mere western ideal, eastern archetypes also deal with themes such as filial piety. I’m currently watching Alchemy of Souls which is essentially a Hero’s Journey and it has been excellent.
How you've outlined the Hero's Journey is great. I speak about the HJ in my leadership class and I'm going to share and reference some of the concepts you have here. Thanks!
Always a joy reading your content Rob. Aladdin's humanity is within all/ most of us. Yet we live in dire times: forever wars, gread, lust for power. Is Alladin a farce.
Where are our Alladins?
Try a shorty, "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling
Will do.