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The One That Started It All

Snow White and the 7 Dwarves is deeply rooted in our subconcsious minds

By Shanon Angermeyer NormanPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 3 min read

We often think of Disney and Disney World when someone mentions the story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". However, this story was a book before Disney magic brought it to cinema and before it became "the one that started it all". When we look at the movie compared to modern theater these days, it seems so antiquated and outdated. Yet the music and artistry of the original Disney film is beyond classic and beautiful. Many minds were affected by this film and story. More so, the story as it resonates deeply in the subconscious mind.

Other modern films have had an underlying theme of Snow White's damsel-in-distress situation. Snow White is not the good girl looking for the bad boy like in "Beauty and the Beast". She is a Princess who was cast out by an overly ambitious royal. She is just trying to survive with the help of her friends (the dwarves) and is fair and humble which drives the ambitious, envious queen insane because it's why Snow is loved.

I have seen a similar theme (with or without symbolic dwarves) in some other films, four that I wish to mention. "Flashdance" (1983, directed by Adrian Lyne), "Last of the Mohicans" (1992, directed by Michael Mann), and "The Wedding Planner" (2001, directed by Adam Shankman) are three films that depict Snow White in realistic modern situations. Let me explain.

The damsel-in-distress Snow White (that we often think about and pray for like the love of the dwarves) is depicted quite graphically in the film "Last of the Mohicans" with Madeline Stowe playing the English woman lost in the wild frontier of fresh America, Cora. She is not rescued by her family (like the royals who cast Snow out) rather she meets and falls in love with Hawkeye (played by Daniel Day Lewis) a half-savage who also falls in love with her like the proper Prince Charming. Though he may not look like the classic Prince Charming, his adoration, loyalty, and ability to protect her make him the perfect Prince for the dazed and lost Snow/Cora.

If you ever wanted to think about how Snow would have been if she put on her sexy and tried to be independent, then all you need to do is grab a copy of the film "Flashdance" starring Jennifer Beals as Alex (the proverbial risque Snow White) and Michael Nouri as Nick (the proverbial Prince Charming) her boss. Here in this film we see what Snow White would have been in the real world growing up alone with little resources and raised with men. She would have known that sex was important to them and she would have learned a masculine trade (like welding) having grown up with them. Yes, Alex is indeed a very realistic risque Snow White. Though it's hard to imagine sweet innocent Snow stripping on the stage and making men drool, this is the sexy version of the story. Her Prince Charming is her boss, who can marry her and give her the happy wifey home life if she so desires that. In the movie, Alex doesn't seem concerned with a choice between alternate lifestyles, she simply falls in love with her boss.

Finally, the film "The Wedding Planner" starring Jennifer Lopez as Mary and Matthew McConaughey as Steve also depicts another version of Snow White. Here we see the Snow White who stayed feminine despite being raised around men. She has made her own career - (possibly based on her memories of being a "Princess") a wedding planner - and she accidentally falls in love with one of the clients, Steve, who is set to be married to someone else. Snow White left in the woods without accidentally meeting her Prince, would not have gotten married. Her Prince would have been married to someone else. The film, a romantic comedy, does wrap up to a happy ending for Snow and her Prince, but only because she was brave enough to confess her love in front of everybody during the wedding that would have taken him away from her forever.

So we have seen Snow White in distress in "Last of the Mohicans", we have seen Snow risque in "Flashdance" and we have seen self-made and assertive Snow in "The Wedding Planner". Which Snow do you like the best? The original from the Disney cartoon, or one of the three realistic depictions that I've mentioned?

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About the Creator

Shanon Angermeyer Norman

Gold, Published Poet at allpoetry.com since 2010. USF Grad, Class 2001.

Currently focusing here in VIVA and Challenges having been ECLECTIC in various communities. Upcoming explorations: ART, BOOK CLUB, FILTHY, PHOTOGRAPHY, and HORROR.

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