Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Disney's Rapunzel Teaches Girls about Sex


CROWN=VIRGINITY

So I watched the movie Tangled a few days ago and couldn't help but noticing that the crown is an obvious metaphor for virginity. Flynn wants the crown, but when Rapunzel knocks him unconscious and ties him up (kinky huh), she hides it from him. She then uses the crown as a bargaining chip to get her dream which is seeing the festival of lights, she refused to give him the crown until he brought her to the festival... just like how a woman could use sex as a bargaining chip for various things.



Rapunzel falls in love with Flynn and doesn't want to leave him after the festival is over. The evil witch confronts her and says something to the extent of,

"You know that once you give him the crown he'll just take what he wants and leave!"

TOTALLY a metaphor for sex. Rapunzel denies this and argues that Flynn would never do such a thing! The witch and the twin bandits tie Flynn up to a boat and make it look like he was sailing away... taking what he wanted and leaving. And Rapunzel, upon seeing this, believes it because she knows it was a definite possibility, and is crushed. Just as a girl who is crushed because a guy told her he loved her, had sex with her, and left her for something or someone more shiny in the distance.

If I wanted to over-analyze the movie even further. Even though the crown was Rapunzel's, she didn't realize it was hers because she didn't know she was a princess. She really cared little for the thing- sure, she thought it was pretty, she even wore it on her head for a moment, but other than that, she didn't think much of it. She didn't hold it in complete reverence... it wasn't wrapped up or in a chest, and when she hid it she just dropped it into a pot on the floor and hid it under a dusty loose stair. However, she knew it meant something to everyone else, so she kept it hidden.


If you look at the crown as a metaphor for virginity, the character is enhanced. Rapunzel/the average girl might not care a whole lot about her virginity at first.... not really realizing what it is, not really careing either way. But many girls will feel as Rapunzel does, that virginity is something that she should hold on to until the right moment. Some, do, some don't, and I couldn't really tell you who is better off as a result. But the fact remains that society puts a weird objectivity to a simple primitive act. Honestly- it's an action, like swimming or dancing. Why does society make it seem like it's something tangible that you can tuck away in a drawer next to your vibrator? Actually- I shouldn't ask that question because then it would force me, although willingly to delve into history and origins and such and that's not what we are discussing right now.

Just think of it. It's "losing your virginity". I really hate this phrase because it suggests that you had something and now have one less thing in your life... one less tool in your belt. Or like... you used to have the full 64 pack of crayola crayons with the crayon sharpener in the back, and you lost the flesh colored crayon, which isn't necessarily the prettiest of colors, but when you want to color in Ariel's face in your Little Mermaid coloring book, it's so important; because without the flesh colored crayon, you have to substitute it with a color that makes Ariel look sunburnt, indian, or if you just leave her face white, she looks like a ghost or a geisha!

Ok... going back to Tangled. Honestly, some people would be appalled that I and some other people might have a dirty mind, and scold me for, "dirtying up such an innocent story" But do you remember the original story!?!? Rapunzel's mother and father were not a king and queen but poor peasants who loved each other but could not conceive. They were growing old and the witch told her to plant rapunzel in the garden and eat it and it would help her conceive. She did and had a beautiful baby girl! (SEX) and then fast forward a bit and the prince comes and visits her, why do you think he's visiting her every day? To have SEX! You don't believe me, well when the Witch discovers the boy has been visiting Rapunzel (because Rapunzel is pregnant more or less) she cuts her hair, throws her in the woods, and turns the prince into a bird, Rapunzel then gives birth to twins in the forest. She raises them there for 2 years until she's joined with her love and he turns back into a human etc etc.

So I have no problem with Disney throwing in this sexual inuendo, however I don't feel it stays true to the original message of the Grimms classic... But neither do any of their book-based stories. On that note, what is Disney trying to say with Rapunzel? Is it saying that girls should hold onto their V-card for a while until they know that the con artist isn't conning them for her crown, then give it away? It almost seems like Disney is saying, be cautious, but not TOO cautious.

It seems this topic must be delved into later. But yes, see Tangled. It's enjoyable. Tell me if you agree about the crown/sex metaphor!