Over the years, Disney has shaped and reshaped the image of masculinity through its films. Disney’s portrayal of what masculinity should be has shifted from “knights in shining armor” to “scoundrels turned hero”. The manly, tough “alpha male” has been replaced by the sensitive and considerate “beta male.” “The phrase ‘alpha male’ may stand for all things stereotypically patriarchal: unquestioned authority, physical power and social dominance, competitiveness for positions of status and leadership, lack of visible or shared emotion, social isolation” (Gillam and Wooden 472). Values, morals, and integrity have become the new focus of masculinity, which are all the basis of the “beta male.” In today’s society, “The testosterone-pumped, muscle-bound,
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Although the film is mainly about Tiana, a hard-working young woman who does not like to be spoon fed, a development in the character of Prince Naveen is apparent. At the beginning of the film, Naveen is a stereotypical “alpha male.” He believes that money creates happiness through social dominance, but like all worldly pleasures, his supply of money has “run out”. After Dr. Facilier turns Naveen into a frog, Naveen has lost the social dominance his money gave him. In order to transform back into a human, Naveen must kiss a princess. After he kisses Tiana, mistaking her for a princess, she is also transformed into a frog. Naveen feels hopeless at first, but decides not to give up. He and Tiana both sing about how everything will go back to normal when they are human again. They do not realize, however, that the material possessions they value do not lead to true happiness. Mama Odie, the blind magic woman in the bayou, has different plans for the frogs. She tells them that she will not give them what they want, but what they need. Mama Odie tells Naveen that “Money ain't got no soul. Money ain't got no heart” (The Princess and the Frog). He realizes that money is not as important as he thought and he begins to seek the importance of love and morals. Naveen later marries Tiana and they are transformed into humans again. After his reformation in the end, there are no remaining “alpha males”. The old ideals of masculinity are not apparent in the end of the film. Disney has begun to phase out the “alpha male” and replace him with the new “beta
Although the film is mainly about Tiana, a hard-working young woman who does not like to be spoon fed, a development in the character of Prince Naveen is apparent. At the beginning of the film, Naveen is a stereotypical “alpha male.” He believes that money creates happiness through social dominance, but like all worldly pleasures, his supply of money has “run out”. After Dr. Facilier turns Naveen into a frog, Naveen has lost the social dominance his money gave him. In order to transform back into a human, Naveen must kiss a princess. After he kisses Tiana, mistaking her for a princess, she is also transformed into a frog. Naveen feels hopeless at first, but decides not to give up. He and Tiana both sing about how everything will go back to normal when they are human again. They do not realize, however, that the material possessions they value do not lead to true happiness. Mama Odie, the blind magic woman in the bayou, has different plans for the frogs. She tells them that she will not give them what they want, but what they need. Mama Odie tells Naveen that “Money ain't got no soul. Money ain't got no heart” (The Princess and the Frog). He realizes that money is not as important as he thought and he begins to seek the importance of love and morals. Naveen later marries Tiana and they are transformed into humans again. After his reformation in the end, there are no remaining “alpha males”. The old ideals of masculinity are not apparent in the end of the film. Disney has begun to phase out the “alpha male” and replace him with the new “beta