First, remind yourself about the concept of representation. This is a topic which has been much discussed with regard to animation. Disney, for example, have often been accused of constructing racist representations in movies like 'The Lion King' (for example, the hyenas - the 'bad guys' - are recogniseably Hispanic.) Read THIS ARTICLE and make notes. Representation of race is something Disney are now exceptionally sensitive to, but obviously there are representational issues to be examined other than those concerned with race.


Watch the extract from Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' (1937). Answer the following questions:

• What representation is being offered here?
• What signifiers are used to construct the representation?
• Does the style of animation do anything to support this representation?
• Some people have condemned the representations offered in Disney animations. (Read at least the first paragraph! More is good!) Why is this? Do you agree?

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Now, watch the extract from Dreamworks' Shrek (2001). Extra credit for finding intertextual references, by the way!

• How does this representation differ from 'Snow White'?
• How is the representation constructed?
• Is the audience for this text the same as for 'Snow White'?
• Why do you suppose the representation is so different?

Finally, why does all of this MATTER? Is it because of the possible effect on the audience? Are the ideologies transmitted by these representations encouraging a youthful, passive, audience to accept that as the 'proper' way for women (or whoever) to behave?

HOMEWORK: Compare and contrast the extracts from 'Snow White' and 'Shrek' at a representational level.