The Bittersweet Truth:
An Analysis of Wreck-It Ralph and Societal Trends
Since the dawn of advertising, modern media has been used to reinforce stereotypes as well as cultural changes. This is arguably the most influential tool we have as a society, explaining human experiences in the simplest of terms and voicing the opinions and thoughts of many. While some forms of media reiterate the same harmful tropes, others break the mould and represent the very real lives of our population.
This shift in perspectives can be seen in the popular children’s film Wreck-It Ralph. Underneath its bright and polished facade, it pinpoints the struggles of certain marginalized groups, working to help watchers understand the world from their point of view. An …show more content…
As we see during the first race, she is isolated and bullied by her peers due to a fault in her programming. This is shown specifically when Taffyta “...rips the tarp off of Vanellope’s kart, revealing a sad kart made from recycled junk” (Wreck-It Ralph, 44). Taffyta’s violence towards Vanellope in this scene is only counteracted by Vanellope’s confidence in herself. Aside from physical violence, Vanellope is also often subjected to social isolation, being called a “glitch” by King Candy (the ruler of the game) and the other racers, as well as Taffyta Muttonfudge. Many in her position would give up, accepting that they could not achieve their goal, but Vanellope continues to be determined against all odds. As a lone character, she has learned to validate her own choices without approval from others, whereas a typical bullied victim may have trouble with self confidence and motivation. Although watchers see her at her lowest, she always returns to her optimistic …show more content…
Due to the way that bullies condition victims, they often find it difficult to trust themselves, let alone other people. Constant harsh comments and violence force a victim to turn to themselves for answers, often blaming their own “blind trust” for the abusive acts of others. Though Vanellope is curious, she never doubts the good in other characters, even if she has been hurt by them. This can be seen when she decides to overlook her pain and accept Ralph’s apology for destroying her kart. After they lovingly exchange nicknames, she prepares to fulfil her destiny and focus on her goal. In the next scene the audience observes as “Ralph and Felix ride on the back of Vanellope’s kart, holding on for dear life” (Wreck-It Ralph, 97), showing that she was determined to complete her task. Though she felt betrayed by Ralph, she looked at the situation from his perspective and opened up to him.
In addition to these traits, Vanellope shows true kindness and mercy. At the end of the film when she is crowned as the rightful princess of Sugar Rush, she decides to reject the title and create a democratic nation in its place. She immediately “...concentrates and glitches right out of the dress and crown and back into her regular clothes.” (Wreck-It Ralph, 109).This shows her determination to make the world a more beautiful place as well as the fact that her healing process
An Analysis of Wreck-It Ralph and Societal Trends
Since the dawn of advertising, modern media has been used to reinforce stereotypes as well as cultural changes. This is arguably the most influential tool we have as a society, explaining human experiences in the simplest of terms and voicing the opinions and thoughts of many. While some forms of media reiterate the same harmful tropes, others break the mould and represent the very real lives of our population.
This shift in perspectives can be seen in the popular children’s film Wreck-It Ralph. Underneath its bright and polished facade, it pinpoints the struggles of certain marginalized groups, working to help watchers understand the world from their point of view. An …show more content…
As we see during the first race, she is isolated and bullied by her peers due to a fault in her programming. This is shown specifically when Taffyta “...rips the tarp off of Vanellope’s kart, revealing a sad kart made from recycled junk” (Wreck-It Ralph, 44). Taffyta’s violence towards Vanellope in this scene is only counteracted by Vanellope’s confidence in herself. Aside from physical violence, Vanellope is also often subjected to social isolation, being called a “glitch” by King Candy (the ruler of the game) and the other racers, as well as Taffyta Muttonfudge. Many in her position would give up, accepting that they could not achieve their goal, but Vanellope continues to be determined against all odds. As a lone character, she has learned to validate her own choices without approval from others, whereas a typical bullied victim may have trouble with self confidence and motivation. Although watchers see her at her lowest, she always returns to her optimistic …show more content…
Due to the way that bullies condition victims, they often find it difficult to trust themselves, let alone other people. Constant harsh comments and violence force a victim to turn to themselves for answers, often blaming their own “blind trust” for the abusive acts of others. Though Vanellope is curious, she never doubts the good in other characters, even if she has been hurt by them. This can be seen when she decides to overlook her pain and accept Ralph’s apology for destroying her kart. After they lovingly exchange nicknames, she prepares to fulfil her destiny and focus on her goal. In the next scene the audience observes as “Ralph and Felix ride on the back of Vanellope’s kart, holding on for dear life” (Wreck-It Ralph, 97), showing that she was determined to complete her task. Though she felt betrayed by Ralph, she looked at the situation from his perspective and opened up to him.
In addition to these traits, Vanellope shows true kindness and mercy. At the end of the film when she is crowned as the rightful princess of Sugar Rush, she decides to reject the title and create a democratic nation in its place. She immediately “...concentrates and glitches right out of the dress and crown and back into her regular clothes.” (Wreck-It Ralph, 109).This shows her determination to make the world a more beautiful place as well as the fact that her healing process