Disney Romance Movies as an Escape for Audiences

Abstract

     The objectives in conducting this research were (1) to study the history of the Walt Disney Company and the quality romance films that the company has been producing since 1923, (2) to demonstrate important and necessary elements which the audience thinks should be included in a romance movie, and features which the audience finds unacceptable and should never appear in a romance movie, (3) to illustrate several kinds of imagery, characters, and plots in popular Disney romance movies, and (4) to prove that Disney romance movies successfully provide an escape for the audience. The findings showed that Disney romance movies usually manifest fantasized, optimistic and satisfying imagery, characters, and plots. The pictures that are traditionally perceived as harmful, inhumane, or boring are transformed and portrayed to the audience as beautiful and embracing. The characters representing the hero and heroine meet with success, achievement, freedom, and/or happiness in the end. The character representing the villain is punished in some way, for instance, by being shunned or killed. The three romance plot types of Love, Change, and Escape, allow the audience to take pleasure in the situation, the conflict, and the happy ending of the movie. Members of the audience can project themselves into the movie, enjoy the beautiful scenery and the satisfying characters, obtain optimistic and dreamlike feelings and sensations, have their expectations fully met, and thus flee from reality and troubles.