Don't Judge....

Pornography vs. Princesses

Is it possible that two topics that are so irrevocably bipolar as pornography and princesses, rather the content of the films that portray these things, might have a sliver of common ground? As it turns out, there is more than a sliver.

Pornography and Disney movies are strangely similar in that Disney films feature scantily clad damsels in distress and large, strappy heroes coming to save them; often this is the first experience young boys have with sexualized characters. For example, in an article on Fanpop.com, a journalist writes, “Ariel, perhaps not entirely meaning to but with an obvious tone of sexual manipulation, uses her physical charms to win her prince. During the 'Kiss the Girl’ sequence Ariel employs what I can only describe as bedroom eyes and even in their first encounter her fall into his arms seemed somewhat calculated, particularly in the knowing smile she shot to her friends.” Pornography is simply the evolution of those “romantic” stories, with a focus on the between the sheets scenes that hold an adult males interest. This is evident by the increasing degree of sexuality in boys’ entertainment, with Disney as point A and born as point B, with everything from Romeo and Juliet to Bodice Ripper novels in between.

Another obvious similarity is the shallow plot of these different types of films; in the former, they are something along the lines of starting with a problem, finding a “prince charming” to fix this problem, and ending with a happily ever after. Pornography fast-tracks the plot, connecting a series of shallow scenes with the end result being the man and woman in bed together. The plot in pornography is along the lines of, “Pizza delivery guy shows up, lonely wife answers the door, they wind up in bed.” Although shallow, they are also undoubtedly satisfying, whether the audience be young children or adult men.

Disney movies are always aimed at finding true love and eventually having a blushing bride, singing birds fluttering around in the cathedral, walking towards her soul mate. Some examples of this are movies like the little mermaid, Cinderella, and a more recant Disney princess film, The Princess and the Frog. All these films end with basically the same result of overcoming all obstacles, falling in love and tying the knot. Pornography is much different in this sense because its purpose is for lust and short-lived desire. There is no sense of love in it and teaches nothing about spending a life together. Disney focuses more on setting the foundation for a lifetime of love for their characters, whereas pornography is simply a moment of passion.

Yes, they cater to different audiences and present very different morals, however Disney movies and pornography both have a blinking, blaringly obvious factor that bring them to a synthesis; they are both fantasy. Disney movies cater to children’s fantasies, being princesses or princes, speaking with animals, finding true love and living happily ever. Pornography caters to the intense, hormonal-driven desires of men – seventy percent of whom watch pornography, a rather large number in comparison to the small thirty percent of women who indulge in pornographic material – satiating their needs through visual fantasy. They are drastically different types of films, and yet they both end happily and provide an entertaining, satisfying realization of what would otherwise be a simple desire.

Works Cited

Lee, Patty. "Thirty Percent of Women, 70 Percent of Men Confess to Looking at Online Porn: Study." New York Daily News. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-02-11/entertainment/27056038_1_study-big-issue-problem>

"Sexuality and Disney Princess Movies: An Opinion and Analysis." - Disney Princess. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fanpop.com/spots/disney-princess/articles/116912/title/sexuality-disney-princess-movies-opinion-analysis>.