Appeal of Disney's Cinderella

So far, we have talked in class a lot about Cinderella stories. While reading the assigned Fairy Tales and watching the Disney version of Cinderella, I noticed similarities and differences. But I never really put much thought into the appeal behind the elements that are presented in the movie. The class discussion and analyzation of parts and elements of the film versus what was going on in the time period that it was made really made me think about the film.

Walt used the good versus evil formula to allow the good to win the delight of the audience. There was not much sophistication behind this film except the meaning behind little scenes that you would not think twice about. Cinderella, who is supposed to be covered in cinders, is clean and put together the entire movie. She is the visualization of what women should be in the 50s, clean housewives. There are also very evident gender differences and gender roles that are presented. Even the mice have to differentiate appropriately according to their genders.

I think it is very interesting to examine this film along side other versions of Cinderella. But perhaps the most interesting thing to examine, is the elements that relate to the time period. This is important because Fairy Tales changed with cultures and time, and that is exactly what this film did. Walt Disney used elements of American 50s culture to portray his own version of the classic Cinderella.