(One of the many arguments found here) (Granted, this one is much more detailed than many I have read before. I still disagree. Also note the edit that was made in the post- Just supporting my point of forming your own rationale opinions)
How had I missed it?
I read the arguments, I watched the clips on YouTube, I even re-watched the movie on my flight last week really looking for the hidden messages. To be honest, I just don't see it. I was going to just ignore the fact, but it keeps popping up on my newsfeed and it is starting to get to me.
The biggest issue I have with the movie Frozen, is that so many people have been duped into believing it is somehow teaching our children that there is no right or wrong. I am more worried our children are being taught by the multitude of bored mommy-bloggers that the world is a scary place and they should shut themselves away from it.
And the evidence for this hidden agenda? EIGHT WORDS. "No right, no wrong, no rules for me." 8 words from an entire feature length film. Let's do a little perspective.
8 words from 1 song
This song is Elsa's anthem. She has spent her entire life hiding away who she is. She was told "conceal, don't feel" (why isn't that an issue?) and she finally gets found out because she can't hold it in any longer. So she runs away. Hoping if she lives in isolation she can finally be herself. She barely knows her sister. Even when the girls become orphaned, Anna is left by herself because Elsa can't let anyone see who she really is. So she goes up the mountain, and in the context of the song, No right No wrong means something more along the lines of "It's ok to let my feelings out and be proud of who I am."
8 words from a soundtrack
There are many great songs in the movie, all performed by top notch talents. With Idina Menzel performing as Elsa, it's no wonder "Let It Go" has become the standout. She has an incredibly strong voice that conveys a lot of emotion. The message of the song seems to be foggy to a lot of people, so it has sparked debate. I stand by my belief the song is Elsa discovering herself as she was meant to be. She is no longer accepting the role of strong young woman hiding in the shell of a meek girl too scared to leave her room. But that is no reason to completely ignore the other wonderful and sing-along-able songs on the soundtrack. Let's take a look at "Fixer-Upper" or whatever the song is actually called.
The trolls are trying to convince Anna that Kristoff is a catch. Even though he's grumpy, dirty, and has a weird relationship with his reindeer Sven. They specifically tell Anna she can't change him, because people don't really change at the core. However, with some love, those things no longer matter. I think it's not so much about how to fix him, but that if she gives in to love she will be able to see past his flaws (and he see past hers).
8 words from 102 minutes of dialogue and song
Sure there are parts that have no dialogue, but this is no 2001: A Space Odyssey. The movie has plenty of other words besides those eight. In the end, Elsa does have to face her decisions and deal with the consequences. She leaves Arendelle thinking she can escape all consequences of who she is. She goes from hiding away to running away. Eventually, she is brought back to Arendelle and has to deal with the consequences. No one cleans up her messes for her. She is the one who ends up reversing the spell that has cast her kingdom into infinite winter. Of course, she first has to learn from Anna exactly how to do that, but she figures it out in the end. So couldn't we say those eight words were foreshadowing that, in fact, there is a right and wrong, and there are rules? She just didn't realize it yet. Can we dare to think that, maybe, Disney has intelligent people working for them that are able to see the big picture? And they put trust in their audience that we too can see the big picture and tie the beginning to the end? Or is that putting too much faith in the world?
Looking at the movie as a whole, the message is one children should hear and discuss with their parents. You cannot hide from who you are, and you cannot run from your responsibilities. You have to admit to your weaknesses and make them work for you. Any person that only sees the "rebellious themes" of this movies and refuses to see anything but that has missed the forest for the trees.
We are taught to live in the world, not of the world. This requires a balance. We cannot expect to find danger lurking in every corner, and impose it on the world. This will lead to us hiding away in our rooms, hiding from anything bad that could possibly happen. We have to face the world and make the right choices. Of course, we cannot be naive and ignore the dangers that are trying to creep in. We just need to be aware.
There were two plans proposed in Heaven. One gave us the opportunity to come to Earth, make choices, and try to live a righteous life that will lead us back to Celestial Glory. The other would purportedly make sure everyone returned to Celestial Glory by removing all agency. There would be no opportunity to make a mistake. While Elsa was locked in her room, unable to choose right or wrong, which plan was she being forced to follow? And the consequence of that, was her running away and sending all of Arendelle into an eternal blizzard. However, by the end of the movie she is able to repent, make right her wrongs, and continue to live and make choices that will help her to become a better person.
When we over-shield our youth, from the world, we are taking away precious opportunities for them to exercise their agency. When instead, if your 3-year-old trots to the dinner table singing those dreaded eight words, make it an opportunity for discussion instead of removing her favorite movie from the shelf.
"What do you think it means when Elsa sings that part? Do you think she really doesn't have to follow the rules? What happens at the end of the movie? You're right! She says she is sorry and she fixes it and everybody is happy again!"
Now that child has learned many lessons:
1) Sometimes good people make bad choices, but they can fix it.
2) Sometimes we don't want to follow the rules, but there are still consequences.
3) To really understand a story, we have to look at the story as a whole. When parts are taken out of context, we end up with a different, and skewed, interpretation than what was intended.
I think of my future children, and how much they are going to have to love singing along to Disney movies simply because of how much their parents do. I think of how they will be challenged to form their own opinions by using what they have been taught. I think of how they will make wise choices because they will have had plenty of exercise using their agency when they are young. If I have to remove all media myself that has even the smallest taste of possibly being seen by some as "bad" so my children won't get the wrong idea, then I have failed as their parent. If my future daughter watches Frozen and decides there really is no right or wrong, and it's ok to just walk away from wrongdoings, then I have failed to teach her how to be a wise young lady. THAT is a truer tragedy than all of these theories of Disney "going off the deep end to please society."
I suppose I should end with this: Just because I said it doesn't make it true. This whole post started with my being irritated that so many people were reading blog posts and believed them. So if you read mine and just believe me, then I think I'm still upset with you. Please world, especially women of the world, make up your own minds. By all means, read other people's thoughts, consider it, mull it around, but then come up with your own ideas before you start toting around other people's influences. That is far more dangerous than anything Disney is going to try and sneak into our homes.
PS- I love Disney, and without more evidence that is clearly not conspiratorial, I will not and cannot believe they have a hidden agenda. Other than money making, but that isn't hidden.
