MovieChat Forums > Moana (2016) Discussion > How we judge and evaluate characters

How we judge and evaluate characters

posted 8 years ago by SuperBobster
8 replies | jump to latest

A lot of people seem to judge a film's protagonist character simply on what they are like at the beginning of the film, that seems rather unfair I think.

In the Moana v Merida thread, a few people are being harsh on Merida because they think she is silly and selfish for only thinking of herself, not wanting to do what is expected of her and endangering the life of her mother in the process. And yes that is true to a point, but is she still that exact same character by the end of the film? I don't think so.

It's important to realise that a character arc is dynamic and changing, that means we should judge a character not simply on a first impression but also consider how they react to the events in the story, how they develop and what they learn by the end.

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

Nicely said. Personally, I enjoy stories where the characters show growth and change in response to their experiences.

[–] The_Ginger_Man 8 years ago

Nowadays everything is political. Pop culture is becoming tiresome to follow.

Reading between the lines of much of the commentary people make on fictional characters and the various motives and -isms that relate to their creation, you can quickly see that in many of these comparisons people of certain conviction are very much talking around the real issues, that are bubbling under.

A cursory glance at the Moana tumblr tag will very quickly display what are the real reason Moana is so breathlessly being compared to the white Disney princesses. The TV character Elena of Avalor to a lesser extent as well.

The actual character growth, story, dynamics etc. will get "merrily" twisted to score identity politics points.

It is enervating to read, frankly, and makes it less fun to root for movies like Moana.

The next SJW driven anti-Disney blowout will be against Tangled the series, should it prove more popular than Elena.

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

You've just presented an argument for ignoring tumblr.

[–] The_Ginger_Man 8 years ago

The same "arguments" are being used by SJWs in other places, including here.

To a lesser extent sure, but the rot of progressive identity politics has spread far and wide.

[–] OhNooos 8 years ago

Those places are not places I visit and I seem to miss the offensive comments that people say "SJWs" are making, of which I am sure they are - just saying. My only exposure to "SJWs" is the people on this board who become wholly offensive when they try to set themselves up as opposite to them.

"Progressive identity politics" in itself should be a good thing. It's sad that there is so much anger out there that people who should be talking to one another about their concerns and issues are alienating each other.

[–] The_Ginger_Man 8 years ago

Progressive identity politics are maybe good for progressives, given their goal of dividing society instead of uniting it, and their contempt of western civilization in favor of celebrating the "oppressed" "other". The replacement of conventional leftism by modern progressivism has poisoned community relations, the fruits of which we can see in many aspects of modern society. Yes, even in pop culture oriented spaces such as message boards.

If one enjoys "calling out" offenses and generally slinging pejoratives at white people, men, and christians, then I suppose progressive identity politics are something to be celebrated.

It does look like more and more people are growing sick of the SJWs and their allies / fellow travelers. I just hope the counter reaction will not end up changing one evil for another... the rise of far right populists is helped by the vacuum in opposing the progressive orthodoxy. We are getting the likes of Trump and Le Pen getting into power because there are no better champions available to oppose the PC mongers.

[–] Herengone 8 years ago

Any argument that suggests Tumblr as a way to understand anything is automatically voided.

[–] UnvoicedApollo1 8 years ago

Merida was very much in a similar situation to another Disney Princess, Jasmine. Yet only one resorted to poisoning her parent.

That is a sticking point for me. There's easily a story told for Merida where she learns the same lesson but didn't resort to what could have been for all she knew murder.