Introduction
After writing introduction and conclusion this week I worked on my chapter of discussions in the thesis proposal.
Thesis Proposal
Chapter of Discussions
4.1 Analysis of Gender Representation
Pixar commitment to gender representation has been a journey of growth and progress. The studio has often been criticized for not showing powerful female characters that are self-sufficient. Apart from that, there are only three Pixar films to date that feature female protagonists. This also happened because all the Pixar films were made by male directors. But recently, Pixar deviated from its conventional tropes and has pushed all the barriers with its first female directorial film Turning Red.
Pixar has generally been more progressive in its portrayal of gender equality compared to Disney. But before Turning Red, it never featured a normal, relatable female protagonist who is not a princess or a superhero, but rather a regular human being who is confident and brave and celebrates her individuality. Though this is a remarkable step from Pixar, the absence of such characters in the earlier films of Pixar highlights the need for more diverse representations that relate to the audience and help bridge the gender gap both on-screen and within the studio. This realization underscores the importance of continuing efforts to fill this void and promote gender equality in all aspects of Pixar’s storytelling.
4.2 Analysis of Race and Ethnicity
Similar to gender representation, Pixar has made strides to increase racial and ethnic inclusivity in its storytelling. In the past, the studio had often been criticized for using white protagonists in its films. Notably, it wasn’t until 2020 that the studio released its first film, Soul, with an African American protagonist. While the studio has received criticism in the past for being less diverse in its stories, it has made significant improvements to rectify this gap. In recent years, we have seen a tremendous improvement in Pixar films and we can see more diverse characters from African-American, Asian, Italian, and Latin origin.