Critical Lens Theory and The Princess and the Frog

Last week I shared how I use Cinderella and several critical lenses. This week, I am focusing on how I use the cultural lens with Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. I love to use fairytales and Disney movies with critical lens theory for building analysis skills in my high school students. They are approachable for lower level students, but challenging enough for more gifted students as well. Plus, I just love (most) Disney movies! This is just ONE part of my total fairytales and critical lenses unit.

What is the Cultural Critical Lens?

The cultural lens looks more closely at some of the elements that make up one’s culture. Such as:

gender roles

religion

race

politics

You can have students examine several aspects or narrow the focus if you wish. I personally like to have them start out more broadly and then narrow down their focus for seminar discussion.

Would you love to get your hands on a FREE handout to get started with analyzing this movie in class with your students? Click here!

Where to begin.

The Princess and the Frog works beautifully for this. Students tend to zero in on the racial, class, and religious aspects of the movie; especially when compared with the original French tale. It is also an interesting look on the rosy way Disney portrays American history in the 1920’s.

One way to frame this is with Disney’s purpose in mind. This movie was supposed to be a monumental step up for Disney in the fact that they finally had representation of the an African American princess. By taking a closer look at the fantastical culture Tiana is set in and our knowledge of the actual culture, students can discuss whether or not Disney truly accomplished their goal. Or did they missed the mark?

One of the first things that we discuss when watching the movie version is the scene when Tiana and her mother head home from Lottie’s house.

As they are on the train, the scene slowly shift from elaborate and beautiful mansions where the rich (and white) members of the society live to the rundown small “shacks” of where the poor, working class, POC members of society live. Visually, you can analyze this in two ways- is it the separation of social classes or is it the separation of racial classes?

Tiana’s father has a love for food that he passes on to her. This is a belief that shapes and drives her on a daily basis. One of the things she says about why she loves food is that it brings people of all walks of life together. While this is true in the broader sense; if you look at the gumbo scene at the beginning of the movie do you see anyone from a different walk of life?

In any other scene in which food is in involved does this happen?

Is it racial bias? Is it gender bias? Is it social class bias?

Another key scene that students love to discuss is when the real estate brothers deny Tiana’s purchase of the building she wants to buy. They state that another buyer had a better offer and unless she could at least match it, they would go with them.

Disappointed, Tiana doesn’t think it will happen.

The brothers in that typical condescending Southern way say, “Which is why a little woman of your background…..woulda had your hands full trying to run a business like that”. The questions students ponder and discuss is whether or not they are implying she couldn’t handle it because she is poor or because she is African American?

Given what we know about the historical context, it’s quite likely that it is more so the second one. However, also (given the historical context) if it was the second option, it’s highly unlikely that these men would have even began negotiations with an African American.

You can also look at it from the aspect of gender bias in the way they say “little woman” as if her business smarts are lesser due to her being a woman.

Would you love to get your hands on a FREE handout to get started with analyzing this movie in class with your students? Click here!

What about the American Dream?

Tiana and Lottie are often contrasted through the movie. Lottie gets whatever her heart desires from a doting father. Tiana also has a loving and devoted father who tells her she has to work hard for anything she wants in life. Lottie doesn’t understand why Tiana won’t just ask Big Daddy for the money to open her restaurant, but Tiana sticks to her guns about not accepting handouts (but will accept even more work).

Lottie is a rich airhead that has zero depth, but runs around town living life to the fullest. While Tiana works so much that she can barely sleep, let alone have a social life. Students can look at this with the cultural myth of the American Dream. Lottie seems to have been handed her American Dream and Tiana keeps being told that if she just works a little harder, she’ll earn it one day.

Character development…or not.

You then have the comparison of Lottie and Naveen. Our two rich, overindulged, and lazy characters.

One thing to consider here is why is it that only Naveen has any character growth? Is it because he is a man? Is it because he is in a sense an immigrant who has obtained that long sought for American Dream? Is it because he is African American and learned his place in society is finally found once he learned to work hard? Does Lottie not deserve character growth because we as a culture view the ultra rich as she is shown- lazy and living off the hard work of the lesser?

There is so much more that you could continue to analyze and look at. This post is merely scratching the surface as we haven’t really even gotten to the other characters seen in the movie! However, I hope that this has gotten your creative juices flowing on how to approach this.

If you are ready to dive in, but don’t have the time to put together materials for students to start analyzing, please feel free to check out my store! In this resource, I provide a PP to help introduce your student to the concept of a cultural lens, differentiated handouts to use while viewing the movie, song analysis activity, and Socratic seminar questions to help students prepare for a discussion.

Would you love to have a sneak peek and get your hands on a FREE handout to get started with analyzing this movie in class with your students? Click here!

PS- Want more tips, ideas, and professional development brought right to your email? Click here to join my newsletter!