In the original film released in 1941, Dumbo, we see an animated film generated for children with a cute elephant with floppy, large ears which actually help him and become his wings giving him the ability to fly. However, the hidden messages of racism and stereotypes are knitted within. To start, his nickname becomes “Dumbo” as a direct insult in calling him dumb. Towbin et al. states, “Unfortunately, research shows that many stereotypes based on gender, race, age, and sexual orientation are portrayed in the media” (2004, p.21). Watching Disney films as a child and as an adult give you two completely different perspectives and it makes me think what the editors were thinking when they gave the films a green light on production.
Remember the crows in the film that would line up on the …show more content…
Well, the lead one’s name was Jim. Otherwise known as Jim Crow. Did your jaw drop? Ours certainly did when we found out. Jim Crow laws are linked to the segregation between White people and people of Color. It boggles my mind how this was allowed in the movie; Tischauser states, “Jim Crow laws were aimed at denying freedom and equality to the same group that had been enslaved, African Americans” (2012, p.xi). So this crow has a thick accent and is voiced by Cliff Edwards, a White man. However, the rest of the crows in the film are voiced by an African American composer, Hall Johnson, and his all-black choir. The crows portrayed mannerisms and speech that were linked to African American stereotypes (Screen Rant, 2017). Although this film didn’t upright show people of color being treated poorly, it had many subliminal factors pertaining to race. The problem with this is that people, mainly children watch films,
Remember the crows in the film that would line up on the …show more content…
Well, the lead one’s name was Jim. Otherwise known as Jim Crow. Did your jaw drop? Ours certainly did when we found out. Jim Crow laws are linked to the segregation between White people and people of Color. It boggles my mind how this was allowed in the movie; Tischauser states, “Jim Crow laws were aimed at denying freedom and equality to the same group that had been enslaved, African Americans” (2012, p.xi). So this crow has a thick accent and is voiced by Cliff Edwards, a White man. However, the rest of the crows in the film are voiced by an African American composer, Hall Johnson, and his all-black choir. The crows portrayed mannerisms and speech that were linked to African American stereotypes (Screen Rant, 2017). Although this film didn’t upright show people of color being treated poorly, it had many subliminal factors pertaining to race. The problem with this is that people, mainly children watch films,