Disney's Moana

How does it feel to think about Disney through the critical lenses posed by Christensen and my slides? How did these frameworks help you think about Moana?

I have always enjoyed watching Disney movies, so I was excited to watch Moana. I think the reason I enjoy watching Disney movies so much is because I don't have to "think deeply" to enjoy them. They are purely for entertainment purposes. Now, when asked to watch this movie through these critical lenses posed by Christensen and Professor Bogad's slide deck, that changes everything. Moana does not fit into the traditional female main character.  She is not a princess, she is neither weak nor white, not a damsel in distress waiting to be saved by her knight in shining armor.  What she does portray is kindness, at home with animals, and beautiful. She knows there is something about the water "that calls to her" throughout the entire movie. Her parents are constantly stopping her from interacting with the water. We find out why this is so important to them. Not only is water viewed as a danger to children, but her dad had a horrible accident "beyond the reef" and refuses to allow Moana to go there. He is protecting her from the unknown. He is just performing his role as father figure, big and strong. Her grandmother is a believer in Moana. She has a connection to the water and saw when the water chose Moana as a toddler. She pushes Moana to follow her calling. Moana is drawn to the water but has no idea why. Moana is in search of her "why" just as you are pushing us to figure out our "why". She must save her people and her island. Moana has been trained to be a leader her whole young life. Now, following her calling to become a master wayfinder, she says goodbye to her beloved grandmother and goes on an adventure, beyond the reef, to find Maui and convince him to fix his wrong doing. Maui does not think Moana can do anything in the beginning but that all changes and together she finds herself, saves her village and her island. That is the "happily ever after", not your typical princess riding off into the sunset with her hero!