The Evolution of Masculinity at Disney through Beauty and the Beast: From the animated version of Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale (1991) to the live action version of Bill Condon (2017)

Abstract

The Evolution of Masculinity at Disney through Beauty and the Beast: From the animated version of Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale (1991) to the live action version of Bill Condon (2017)

Disney’s classic Beauty and the Beast (Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, 1991) is considered an icon of popular culture, which was not only a box office success at the time of its release, but also became the first animated feature film to be nominated to an Academy Award for Best Picture. Almost thirty years later, in 2017, the same studio made a live-action remake directed by Bill Condon, reaching a large audience and obtaining several nominations due to its aesthetic and production quality. From a gender studies approach and applying a methodology focused on the psychological profile of the fictional character, this article analyzes the representation of masculinity in both films. The aim is to examine its evolution, and especially the discourses conveyed by audiovisual texts that are able to reach all kinds of audiences.