Entry #2. Representation in Media

     Hello reader!

    In the second entry of this blog, I will be discussing... The Little Mermaid. That's right. The iconic Disney fairytale about a mermaid who learns to value the things she has, or something like that. There is a lot of lessons to be taken out of The Little Mermaid, but I think we can all agree that this is a story that has made a cultural impact, and will continue to be shown to youth for ongoing generations.

    I am not bringing this story up to show the significance it has had on many young kids and girls growing up, but to emphasize the importance it will have. Now, you may ask, why does The Little Mermaid matter so much? Well, if you keep up with Disney news, or general cinema, you probably know that there is going to be live-action adaptation of this story. Regardless of your feelings on live-action adaptations of originally animated movies, it is always a little cool to see how they transform this movie from animation to "real life." It is amusing to look at how badly they manage to screw something up, or how they can make a movie with decent quality. This brings me to the upcoming point, a twist if you will. An added trait to the movie that has caused an uproar to this silly, little fairytale. What could further the hatred from people towards Disney's live-action movies?

    People of color. It sounds ridiculous, but The Little Mermaid's "Ariel" is casted as a black woman. Who can sing her heart out, mind you. Those familiar with Halle Bailey know that she is a very talented singer, and Ariel does not even talk much throughout the movie! She mostly sings! So there is definitely no concern about the person casted, but more so who they are. Of course, there are clusters of people who have shown their support for this upcoming movie. Not everyone is raging in a subtly racist way. You might be taken aback by the usage of the word "racist", but that is exactly what it is.

    Let's get one thing straight. Fairytale adaptations are meant to be different. There is no way they will stay consistent throughout each piece of content put out there. Even Disney's animated movie of The Little Mermaid was almost completely changed for child audiences to view. Disney's "original" works aren't so original either, The Lion King was based off of Shakespeare's Hamlet. You look me in the eye and tell me whether or not each retelling of Hamlet has been the same! I mean, The Lion King itself is an adaptation of Hamlet... but for a younger audience! So now, why does the issue arise with The Little Mermaid? On top of that, people beg for Disney to make alterations to their live-action movies, rather than repeat scene by scene of the animated movie. The argument is to be made that these adaptations do nothing if they only retell exactly what we have already seen, there is no excitement to gain from the movie. This changes when you actually alter the story, and that is including the main character.

    There are two sides to this that you can look at. The first argument is that changing Ariel's ethnicity, race, or skin-color has no bearing on the story.  Sure, if you are viewing this story through the lenses of a Disney fairytale, it does not. If you are viewing this story through applying real-world race dynamics, it absolutely has an impact on the story. It does not completely change everything, the story remains intact and Ariel is more or less the same character... until she isn't. You will be viewing an Ariel that black women and people, young or old, have similar experiences with. Yes, she is a mermaid in a fairytale story, but that isn't what I'm getting at. This changed story of a black female lead is not for all audiences. You may not entirely get it, which is understandable. The thing is, you do not have to. What you must understand is the impact The Little Mermaid will have on black youth. People of color did not get to see themselves on television and general media for a long, long time. This applies to other marginalized groups as well. Recently, there has been an increase in representation of minority groups. That's great! Compared to 10 years ago, it looks like huge strides. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Everyone can recognize that representation is much better than it used to be, but it still. is not. enough.

    Black youth get the chance that a lot of people of color didn't growing up. They get to see themselves on screen, they get to see representation of their culture and heritage. Previously, there was none of that. So seeing The Little Mermaid, an iconic fairytale Disney movie, include a woman of color, is enormous. I cannot fathom how big of a deal this is to not only black little kids out there, but the grown folk as well. Representation is an incredibly important thing, and if you do not care for the need of it for yourself, that is fine. You likely are already represented enough, but at least recognize the need of it for others.

    It is essential to take into account to be mindful of others. Your experiences won't always reflect the same on others, and vise versa. Our society is run by media, it is crucial to our world. Seeing more marginalized groups won't hurt those that are bothered by representation, it will only further benefit those that are in need to see themselves reflected in all that surrounds them. This decision of a black female lead in an iconic story will only bring more change for people of color and other minority groups! I have no idea how this movie will turn out, but I do know one thing. Halle Bailey's Ariel will be the only Ariel many kids and adults alike will look to. And I think that is fantastic.