Introduction


The primary goal of our research (and this blog) is to explore the subject of masculinity as it is expressed in film. When our team first approached this topic, we realized the vastness of our potential research, and quickly came to the conclusion that a specific focus was necessary. Therefore, in order to narrow our topic and really dig into some content, we decided to analyze a few of our favorite Disney movies! Disney films are culturally pervasive and as a company, Disney is renowned worldwide. These movies are considered family appropriate and are oriented towards children, though often they contain universal themes and are loved by people of all ages. For many, Disney movies are seen as a cornerstone of childhood. Because of this, they have had a notable influence on pop culture and perceptions of life, roles, and various experiences. Due to their accessibility and specific relevance to American culture, 12 Disney movies have been selected by members of the group to be analyzed accordingly. Each member of our team was responsible for analyzing two of these movies for examples of hegemonic masculinity, hybrid masculinity, compensatory masculinity, and rites of passage. To add another layer of interest to our work, we explore masculinity’s depiction through the lens of various types of relationships (e.g. familial, platonic friendships, romantic, etc.) in the chosen films and discuss the effects of masculinity on their dynamics. In the process of our individual and collective study, we have been able to extend the lessons of individual movies to larger themes of changing masculinity and how they are perceived by an audience.