[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by juliaw04

Nancy, I'm very happy that you went to the trouble of proving this point. I completely agree with you. I think that all of us see what we want to see. If you would of just shown us that first picture of the enlarged nose, I bet each of us would of found a different word.

My report is due next week (I've got to get a paper wrote over As Nature Made Him finished first) but I am having a hard time writing about the gender cues and I think the point you proved is why. Yes, I do agree with the obvious in the movie, such as the males having higher leadership roles, the females taking care of the babies, etc but I am not seeing the more subtle cues. My teacher pointed out a scene where young Simba and Nala are playing/fighting with each other and Nala ends up on top on him. To my teacher, this signifies something sexual and that it's okay for women to take charge. In my mind however, I see two children playing and that's it-no hidden meaning. I guess maybe I am too naive and tend to take things at face value without questioning motive.

Oh oh, I hope we have pointed you in the wrong direction, gender cues and subliminal messages written in the sand, (or noses ) are two different things. For example, you know how the evil uncle waves his wrist rather limply, some might say this suggests homosexuality, and given the fact that the uncle is evil, the movie might be giving a message that homosexuals are evil. The gender cues are what messages the movie is giving us, about how an appropriate male or female should act. A good boy acts this way, and a good girl acts that way. I'm surprised your teacher interpreted the fight scene that way, some may interpret it that Simba felt bad because the girl beat him, sending the message, that if a girl can beat you, you're less of a man.

I think your teacher is really looking more for the obvious than you realize, these are not obvious to children watching the movie, and that's why she may call them subliminal. When you are watching the movie you don't realize that it's saying something about gender roles, and reinforcing certain ideas about males and females.

I've got to say, I believe Disney movies have come a long way in making the female role of stories stronger. Girls can fight back now, and have a say in what happens to them, unlike old fairy tales where we were in a coma, just waiting for our prince to come.