Why "Let It Go" is Far From Empowering

"Whoa dude, just let it go!" "I can't, this song is messed up and makes no sense!"

If you love Frozen, Elsa, and Let It Go, I advise you to turn back now. I'm gonna get ranty and I know how in love people are with this movie so if you don't want to hear any criticism of it, you probably oughtn't read this. I'm also pretty sick of this song (THEY'RE PLAYING IT AT MY JOB EVERY DAY NOW! I can't escape!), but I'll try not to let that make me too preachy.

I think this song is actually the opposite of admirable the more I listen to it. It seems fun and glamorous when you only listen to the words on a shallow level, but when you dig deeper and read into the meaning, it starts looking a little more ugly. Are you surprised? After all, she's finally letting go of all her pain and oppression! But my question is... WHAT oppression? Half the stuff Elsa sings about never happens. Let's take a basic look at the lyrics themselves and why they don't match what actually happens in the movie, then we'll delve into my problem with what this song promotes.



The lyrics:

I think the Frozen filmmakers were so desperate for people to connect to Elsa and their movie they decided to use lyrics they knew PEOPLE would like to hear, because the message is so generic and universal, rather than ones that actually have any connection with Elsa. Let's look at some:

Be the good girl you always have to be- Elsa IS a good girl and no matter what skintight dresses, slinky heels or sexy makeup she wears, she always will be, but this has absolutely nothing to do with hiding in your room or staying calm around people.
Can't hold it back anymore- Of course she can. She just doesn't have to anymore.
I don't care what they're going to say- She does care, we see clearly later, but even so, what people has Elsa ever been around to *not* care about?! Her parents are dead. I find it rather cold and un-Elsa like that she means her own sister, saying she doesn't care what she thinks about this shocker or Anna's feelings.
They'll never see me cry- Yes, we do. But as for this vague, imaginary group of people Elsa seems fixated on, I'm not sure why she says this. Nobody would care about seeing Elsa cry. And why would she? What does this have to do with her powers getting loose?
That perfect girl is gone- Related to the "good girl" line, but this one I hate more. Elsa, listen to me: NOBODY ever expected you to be "perfect". That was YOUR choice. Don't blame other people for how you choose to see yourself. Again, nothing to do with hiding her powers. You'd think she was one of those kids horribly pressured to become an Ivy League student and become President or something. And oddly enough, Elsa IS pretty perfect naturally- she was a perfect daughter and big sister, and might have been a good queen had this all not happened.

But OK, Elsa, whatever makes you feel special and oppressed, I guess. I'm mostly joking but Elsa seems to have this victim complex where she sees herself as being totally persecuted for "just being herself", when this never happens at all in the movie.

And yet again, that makes no sense. Now, if Elsa's paranoia had been true and the people had tried to hurt her, these lyrics would make more sense. But they didn't. They literally just stood there the whole time. Where is Elsa getting all this? I think all those years alone may have done her worse than I thought because she seems to be just projecting here.

I have noticed many people, if not all of us to a degree, like to feel different. Many like to feel like we don't fit in and other people are narrow-minded and won't accept us. Western society has definitely developed and encouraged a victim complex because it makes us feel like special snowflakes who are just so unique and different from everyone else and have it hard. I could be wrong but maybe Disney is aware of this. This song completely speaks to people who see themselves as outcasts- even though likely none of them are- or martyrs (if you're watching this movie in a first world society I really highly doubt you are). Which is manipulative, but I blame the people more than Disney for just using that to their advantage.

They're trying to make Elsa's "concealment" seem like an emotional thing or whatever, when it's only a physical thing. Physically holding back her powers. That's all. Elsa has nothing to hide about her personality or opinions (that we know of, anyway). This seems rather dishonest to me. I get Disney cares mostly about marketing and making people like them enough to make money, but really? At least Rapunzel's songs were actually relevant to her personality and story, whereas this is one big "See how easy to relate to this song is, even though it has NOTHING to do with hiding superpowers which no human being has! Please buy out our Frozen merchandise!"

The message:

But I think my biggest problem is the selfishness. Yes, for all I used to say how selfless Elsa is, now that I can look at this movie without so much hype in my eyes, I'm noticing all the I, I, I and me, me, me-ing going on during Let It Go. Elsa informs us she no longer cares. Not just "what they're going to say", she suddenly no longer gives a wig what happens to her own people, even her sister. That's pretty cold-hearted. I understand she's happy now, but is one's own happiness more important than the welfare of others?

It doesn't help that during the Reprise she keeps pinning the blame onto Anna- basically saying "You did this! You made me feel this way! That's why I can't be happy and free!" What happened to responsible Elsa?

Then there's the extremely defiant "AH DO WHAT AH WANT!" tone to the song I had a problem with even when I was still on the Frozen bandwagon. Again, I don't feel like this is characteristic of a prim and proper princess at all, but worse, this is the last thing we need to be teaching kids- telling them to give the finger to doing what is morally right because you don't feel like taking duty on anymore. It was unfair Elsa had to hide away (although for some time it was still her own choice so you can't entirely blame her parents), but she's not a helpless victim of oppression. She wasn't enslaved, beaten, or verbally abused like some of the other girls were. She had a happy life with her parents (and if A Sister More Like Me is canon, both girls managed to have fairly happy childhoods without each other).

On a lesser note, while I admit Elsa's dress and hair are beautifully done, does she really need to be so... sexy? This to me uncomfortably echoes Grease where adorable, modest Sandy is only accepted by the cool kids once she wears a gallon of makeup, dons skintight sharkskin pants, smokes and sings seductively, kind of saying there's something wrong with being modest and ladylike, as if it's being "repressed". I cannot believe people think Merida's completely harmless redesign is "sexed up"- at best a tomboy in a pretty dress- but a princess wearing a sexy, tight, leg-showing dress with vampy makeup swayin' dem hips is fine, even empowering. Either both should be considered wrong or neither.

Conclusion:

Anyway, the whole scene is portrayed as powerful independence and self-acceptance (which I don't really agree with personally anyway- I think we should strive to NOT accept our shortcomings but rather overcome them and become kinder/stronger people. Now I step off my soapbox...) but it's just glamorized self-centered rebellion, which is exactly the opposite of what kids need MORE glamorization of. Celebrities do this EVERY SINGLE DAY and people ALWAYS criticize them, yet apparently nobody saw the same thing in this melody that romanticizes over caring only about yourself and throwing away responsibility and doing what's right. I also don't see how this is empowering when no one is around to see it. It's not brave to say "screw you!" when you're only saying it to an empty room.

I don't hate Elsa or this movie, but I strongly dislike the message of this song. I think it's odd- it directly contradicts Anna's message of true, self-sacrificing love, which makes the movie look rather muddled in a very Brave-esque way in terms of the center theme. Why do we agree selfishness is bad but turn right around and revel in it when it comes in the form of a catchy pop song? Anna did that and she gets ignored for it most of the time, except- of course- when she sacrifices herself to rescue everyone's Favorite. That's kind of sad.



And no, I won't "let it go".

TL;DR you could just read this to avoid my ranting: http://cultrbox.com/2014/02/01/frozens-let-it-go-and-the-popularity-of-selfish-rebellion/ It pretty well states my exact problem with Tangled/Rapunzel also, though that's OT.

What Is a Rose Without Thorns?

Aurora is my other favorite Disney princess (I must post a list soon!). It would seem I am one of the only few- over age eight, perhaps, that is. So many people don't seem to remember her- I'd be rich if I had a nickel for every person who misnamed her "Sleeping Beauty", though nobody calls Belle "Beauty" or Ariel "Little Mermaid" so what gives?- and some even dislike her. "She's got no screen time! All she does is sleep and sing! SHE HAS NO PERSONALITY!!" She has roughly the same amount of time Frozen favorite Queen Elsa does, who is beloved despite, to me, her personality shown very little. And no- she does much more than "sleep and sing". She dances, she cries, she dreams she hopes, she stutters, she sasses. You could very well say the same for the other girls: that all Mulan does is "be a man". All Belle does is read. All Ariel does is want mooooore. But that's silly. You and I both know every one of them does much more than what they may be famous for doing or being. She also has a lot of personality... much more so than many of the newer, so-called more "realistic" heroines, I think. In fact, it's probably being "unrealistic" as they call it that makes her personality that more standout to me. I adore Aurora and wish she got more love! Or at least, respect.

credit: waltdisneyconfessions.tumblr.com 

 Now, what do I love about her?

1. Her sense of duty.

By far Aurora's best strength. Few heroines put their people or duty before themselves, because it takes a huge amount of emotional strength to, as humans are basically selfish beings. Some of you say Aurora lacks a backbone, and that is the only reason why she does this. Could be, but I don't think so. We see from what time we have of her onscreen that she is pretty obedient and doesn't like to rebel. This is bad? No, she's being mature. She doesn't like conflict or hurting

people's feelings, like her "aunts", who of course would feel bad if she ran away. She also probably knows how foolish it would be to run away as a young girl with no money or protection. She doesn't know the kingdom or her parents but gives up being with Phillip or any goals she had in mind to accept her position as ruler. I think she really cares about people more than herself for the most part and I love this about her because I wish I was more like that. I  love how while she obviously grieves Philip and her old life, and is probably nervous about being a ruler, she goes to the castle anyway and doesn’t even throw a fit. She stays positive during her isolation like Anna and never runs away to have an adventure with Philip as many of the new ones probably would have done (not to bash them, but you know, they definitely are known to do that more). I think she’s a strong person, just not in the typical loud, sword-wielding way we're supposed to see as strong today. Though it may sound cliche, true strength lies without, not in your weapons, hobbies, or sassmouth.

credit: disneyscreencaps

2. Her personality.

I don't care how many people say she hasn't got one, or if she does, it's weak. You can think that, but I feel compelled to point out that unlike a lot of characters who have little screen time, we learn a lot from her in hers. We learn she's elegant, shy but confidant around her friends, mature but very playful, a bit of a "cheerful pessimist" (she's cheerful for the most part but lets things get her down easily), she's a hopeless romantic, she wants to do the right thing, and she loves daydreaming. Sounds like a personality to me. I also love that, for once, we have a shy, timid character who DOESN’T have to change that part about her! And she isn't an idiot. Why do people think this? She's strong enough to shake herself of the spell for a brief moment.Though she's very dreamy, she lives in the moment and doesn't take those dreams very seriously. She's also smart enough to tell Phillip to go to the house to meet her again, NOT alone. She's philosophical about life, probably from long years of having no new company to talk to. She feels intensely- she adores the idea of love, and reacts very emotionally when discovering her dreams must die so she can accept the throne she never asked for. After studying her personality a bit I can relate to her a lot, but I'll tell you that unlike her, I don't make being socially awkward and stuttering look half as charming. I'm often conflicted about what is the right thing to do but I'm very loyal and want to choose the right path. I love her personality and wish I was that graceful and confident as she is by the end of the movie. I wish people would stop negatively judging her so quickly from a surface level and give her a chance. I find her inspiring!

3. Her beauty.

Maybe it's shallow to list, but I think she's just gorgeous. A blonde Audrey Hepburn with a dash of Vivien Leigh. She makes me feel good about having a long face and high forehead. There's nothing unattractive about her. Her looks are striking and unique with a slightly cartoony but lovely figure. (Maybe it's the corset making her waist impossibly tiny.) I don't dislike a thing about her appearance. I also find her voice gorgeous- like her appearance, it's just angelic and flawless! I love operatic voices. They give me the shivers and are just full of beauty, which adds to her looks. 

4. Her flaws.

This kind of goes with personality but I wanted to show she does have flaws and is no more perfect than any other DP. Sure, she has elegance and seems impossibly good, but she was supposed to appear that way. Cuz it's a fairy tale and that's how girls appear in them. Anyway, she wants more freedom but doesn't ask for it. I think it's partly because she's loyal but also partly because she might be too afraid of conflict. She strikes me as the type who might not stand up for herself much; kind of unassertive. I definitely relate to that. I can be rude if I'm angry enough at someone. I don't want that so I usually say nothing to people. She gets flustered when faced with a strange person, and doesn't know what to say. Her attitude towards Phillip changes quickly, as she can't make her mind up! (Hey, she thought the forest was empty as it has been her whole life.) She's also a bit of a pessimist. She has a merry personality and doesn't give up, till she feels her life is over (and in a way it was). I don't fault her for that, but it is rather pessimistic. 

5. Her place in the Disney Princesses.

Each DP brings something unique to the franchise the others don't. Rapunzel brings the everygirl free-spirited sweetness. Cinderella brings the hope and dignity of a humble girl who has earned her happy ending. Jasmine brings the idea that social class and money don't matter with love. What does Aurora bring? She brings the idea that true love conquers all, that through sheer willpower you can make the best of your situation no matter how unsatisfying you find it, and that putting others first, even if you don't know them, is the noblest thing to do. They all bring great things in lessons in one form or another, and just because you may not prefer the dreamy wallflower types who do as their parents tell them to doesn't mean they don't have their own strength and lesson to teach. At some point I'll probably make a list of what each of them bring.

So yes, there's much beauty to see in our fair Rose. She's not without thorns- flaws- as she is a flawed, well-rounded individual most could relate to if they saw past face value of her beauty and "falling asleep".

Introduction

Obviously big Disney freak here. I post on some other sites about Disney (if you'd like links to my tumblr or fanpop account, just ask), but I wanted my own place to post reviews and such. I'll probably write about the Disney Princesses the most, but non-Princess movies may be reviewed as well; it just depends on what I'm able to get my hands on!

Some things to know:

1. I prefer Classic Disney heroines to modern. I'm aware that the newer ones, particularly the Renaissance girls, are more popular, but I find that the ones Walt himself created are more admirable AND interesting. While I also love many modern Disney movies, I think most of the older ones that had Walt's direct influence on were objectively the best.

2. I'll try not to let politics get into the blog too much, but I'll probably refer to feminism a few times. I don't support it, but like it or not, feminism has effected Disney and feminists themselves have a lot to say about the films. I'm also a Christian, so many of my beliefs will effect how I see a character or movie.

3.  Not entirely a hipster. I like the clothes, music, and hipster memes, but I thought it was just a catchy name for someone who's a bit of a Disney snob. ;)

4. The title- "But we've met before"? I got the idea looking up names for a Disney blog and came across this on tumblr (though it was "I've met you before", I think). Sleeping Beauty is IMO the most objectively well-done Disney movie besides Fantasia and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the lovely lyrics have a timeless, fairy tale feel to them, so I felt they were the best to reference in the title. Besides... meeting in a dream... doesn't get much more Disney or fairy tale-esque than that! The header photo? SWAT7D is my favorite Disney film ever other than The Lion King, and the ending is the most beautiful by far, so I had to use that shot.

5. I've been told I'm pretty honest, and I don't say that to brag. I can be a little too harsh sometimes with how I feel, so if I offend you, don't take it personally. And hey, discussions in the comments section are always welcome!

Have faith in dreams,

TDPH ♔