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DISNEY
BUILDING BLOCKS OF CHILDHOOD
DOES CULTURAL APPROPRIATION EXIST IN DISNEY CHILDHOODS?
BY: DIVYA NATARAJAN Disney has contrived many significant,
memories of magic will always live on. To
memorable, and timeless classic films, and
begin with, many films have sparked
most of these movies are still cherished to
controversy due to their shocking clichéd
this day. Throughout many children’s lives,
portrayals of notorious and popular characters.
these films are revered as magical, and marvelous, but as time goes by, it has
Throughout Disney’s career, they have
become apparent that some of these films
produced many successful films that have
have some misinterpretations of certain
become staples in many childhoods. In reality,
cultures and pose stereotypical
many of Disney’s most popular projects have
representations of people.
set stereotypical and clichéd roles for characters. Such films that have quintessential
These films have been noted for their clichéd
characters include The Jungle Book (1967),
examples and representations of people from
Lady and the Tramp (1955), and The Little
personified animals to princesses. Disney has
Mermaid (1989), just to name a few. To start off
given an opportunity to showcase and
with, in the adventurous film, The Jungle Book
celebrate different cultures and embody the
of 1967, this film is about a young boy and his
heritage and history by educating the public.
adventures in the jungle with all of his animal
All in all, these films will always be an
friends.
enormous part of many people's lives and the
