The Critical review for Disney's Mulan

The article of Disney’s Dolls, adapted from Kathi Maio and published by The New
Internationalist Magazine in december 1998, presents a meticulous and thought-
provoking analysis of the underlying motivations and gender portraying of Disney's
Mulan, highlighting recurring themes and problematic representation of women in
Disney animated films.

Briefly summarizing the article, Disney tells the story through such works as Snow
White, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Mulan, which illustrates two
core points by creating female characters: continuity of male authority and romantic
relationships. Despite superficial differences in appearance and skin color, Disney's
heroines identify with male authority and regard romantic relationships as the
ultimate measure of women's happiness and success. This perpetuates a narrow and
limited view of women's empowerment.

This paper makes a critical study of the heroines in Disney animation, dissecting their
representativeness and social impact. It has three advantages. First, through vivid
examples such as Snow White and Mulan, it explores the relationship between
romanticism and male authority, a recurring theme of Disney, and makes a profound
analysis of female characters. Second, it effectively critiques Disney's adaptations of
classic stories, showing how the company often reinforces traditional gender
dynamics: women's subordination to male authority, even as it tries to modernize
the narrative. In addition, the paper cleverly discusses the cultural implications of
Disney adaptations, especially in the context of the global market, revealing the
potential for distorting cultural heritage for commercial gain.

Even if the article is a sharp critique of Disney's portrayal of female characters and
there are obvious merits, I still think the article's shortcomings outweigh its merits.

First, while this article is a perceptive dissection of Disney's portrayal of female

characters, it relies heavily on a single point of view, with limited exploration of
opposing viewpoints or alternative explanations. The analysis, while valid, lacks
depth in exploring the nuances or evolution of Disney stories in different eras or
cultural contexts. In addition, the article tends to represent all of Disney's works in
terms of the limitations of some of them, ignoring potential changes or shifts in
narrative themes in other Disney’s works of them.

Second, the article does not provide more specific examples or evidence from the
broader Disney films to strengthen its argument. It sometimes relies on sweeping
statements or generalizations without more concrete examples to back up its claims.

Third, the combination of Disney culture and reality is not high. Although the article
raises questions about male chauvinism and romantic relationships in Disney films, it
does not delve deeper into the sociocultural impact of these images on audiences,
especially children, but only briefly summarizes them. If the article incorporates real-
world examples or research that investigates how these descriptions affect
perception or behavior, it can increase the credibility and comprehensiveness of the
article.