Representation, Visual Response!

For this brief, we have been set the task of creating some sort visual response based around one of the chosen titles. Since these titles are all interlinked with the essay questions we have previously been set, it seemed only logical pick the same topic, using some of the research I have already carried out along with more, also I have a particular interest in the representation of gender in animation! I want to focus on the influence the use of appearances can have on an audience, before the character has even been begun to speak.

Research So Far..
Whilst gathering information for my essay, I came across a number of books, films and online papers which addressed the topic of gender representation through out different types of animation. Although its an obvious one, Disney has shown some alterations and similarities in the way they represent men and women. For this animation I want to focus more on the way women can be represented in animation, because I think this has changed more dramatically over the years.

One of the issues which I found quite interesting was the way in which women were portrayed in the older, classic Disney adaptations such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella. These female characters seemed to fit the image of the 
"working woman" a lot more than the modern day Disney heroins, who seem to be much more rebellious and independent. 

However something which has always been given a lot of attention is the visual appearance of these characters, no matter what year the film was produced.There has been a change in the way in which Disney have gone about this.


 For example, Snow White is quite a rounded figure and face and which gives her a youthful and at the same time feminine look. Cinderella however is shown as a slightly more slender character. Both of these women have a huge amount of character appeal about them due to their attractiveness. Even today the classic Disney princesses are still just as popular!


Personally I think that as time has gone on, Disney's female characterisation has changed a lot, not just in image but also in personality too. As well as becoming stronger characters, their bodily proportions have become less and less realistic. For example,  in Hercules, Meg's waist is not far off the width of her tiny arm. I think its safe to say that in reality, that wouldn't be the healthiest of images. Again in Frozen, we constantly see these big puppy dog eyes which nearly fill Elsa's and Anna's face, along with more petite  body frames. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with petite   figures, but Disney have really gone past what is realistic. I know character appeal is important, but come on, really? Those eyes are pretty much the same size as her boobs.






Another common aspect of female representation which has been noticed especially in video games, is the fact that women are often pinned up as nothing more than sex icons. Although it can be seen as harmless because its not "real life" I think it is interesting to think about how this can, and has effected the minds of the game players, particularly the younger ones. Again, this sexualization is done through the physical appearance of the women due to the fact that most of the time, they don't have much more of a role to play in some cases.