Peeling the Onion: Feminism, the Media, and Unchanged Fairy Tale Discourses Beneath the Surface of S
Humanities
LTMO 190N
Shrek, the feature length animated film released by Dreamworks in 2001 and based on the children’s storybook by William Steig, is hailed as the anti-fairy tale by producers, critics, and audiences alike. Most of the commentary centers on the unique storyline featuring an ogre hero, an ugly princess, a feminized dragon, and a sensitive donkey. The warm and fuzzy messages offered by the film are that beauty comes from within and that love and acceptance are not contingent upon physical appearance. Fiona’s character is tough, feisty, and seems to defy the myth that only thin, beautiful women succeed in fairy tales. This paper will analyze the extent to which Shrek succeeds in subverting traditional fairy tale beauty myths and gender roles, and whether or not Shrek presents acceptable alternatives to gender roles commonly perpetuated by fairy tales.
