i was thinking of doing a thesis on how Disney uses music to subvert order, time etc, while meanwhile empowering those who sing, giving them control over other characters etc.
I should be using Deleuze, Derrida, Bakhtin to talk about this.
And using the Lion King, Alice in Wonderland Aladin and the Jungle Book to talk about it.
Has anyone come across and literature similar to this idea?
Any help would be greatly appreciated

apologies if this is in the wrong thread, but i figured that the film buff would come here rather than the colleges one

its not just disney thats film that uses music in that respect.

can you talk more baout empowering those who sing? because lion king is done differently from jungle book. jungle book is much like singing in the rain ... it's expressionism. we know the people wouldnt really do that in real life dance and sing in rain and we know the snake wouldnt sing trust in me whereas lion king is more wind beneath my wings = beaches = bette midler vehicle

an interesting newer film (dont think its disney though) is happy feet which is epic nad pastiche like that baz lurman film... um.... nicole kidman.. who is in happy feet btw... moulin rouge! that one.

but im curious about what you want to say. im not a fan of derrida. im much more gaga for baudrillard so i probably wont get what youre saying anyways.

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

I did a huge paper on a similar topic in college in a class called "anthropology of film." Music/score is arguably the most important element of a film. While the idea of the Disney films is good, don't limit yourself to that one genre (unless the instructor calls for it). It's been a few years, but I specifically remember using Goodfellas, Halloween, ad believe it or not, Xanadu (lolz) as comparables. I'm looking to move this week & if I come across the paper or some of the articles I used, I'll post in here- what kind of time frame are we talking about?

boots

thanks for yer help,
yes it must be limited, its a masters thesis so limitation means it won't run away from me.
Its changed a little, to more about the music, the question of performativity and carnival with the music choice etc being discussed too

well, this is one of the most curious threads i've seen in a while.
i'd really like to read your thesis when it's done...

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thanks, i really hope it still goes ahead, i happend upon a book that may ruin it all

me too! i think this sort of stuff is really interesting

i'm on a massive deleuzian kick at the moment! i'm broadly interested in performativity as well as i just had to read some stuff by judith butler, not sure if that would be of any use to you or not, as it gets more towards identity/subjectivity.

it sounds like its interesting and like it definitely has legs tho, good luck with it.

I included a bit of Butler in a few essays this year. She's pretty interesting.

The only thing I have to add is that fantasy escapism through music is often key to films that deal with sexuality, as a device to break out of the mundanity of oppressive heteronormativity. I have a short quote on it somewhere if you need it.

Add to that music often provides a bit of glamour, and we know how queens love that. In fact there is a whole book on the strange obsession between gay men and evil Disney queens

i can't think of anything specific right now, but maybe you should check out zizek. i'm sure he has mentioned something related to your ideas since he theorizes/rants about everything, and film is one of his primary archives. your ideas sound right up his alley. there is also a lot of genre theory related to musicals that deal with many of the ideas you mentioned. for an example, you should check out the chapter "entertainment and utopia" by richard dyer; it's in the book, genre: musical, editor, rick altman, published by routledge.

Oooh good suggestions. I bet Zizek has ranted about this.

I might go and get myself that Dyer chapter as well

If the song was empowering them then they would be helped, not controlled.

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"the height of arrogance is the height of control of those who create God in their own image"

Would you mind posting it Boots - or sending it via pm to me? I am really interested.

ya zizek is a good one i love him, i'll have to check judith out. sounds perfect to my argument thanks,