Academic claims Beauty and the Beast is 'most dangerous Disney film' to watch because Belle has 'Stockholm syndrome'
- Dr Victoria Cann, at the University of East Anglia, said storyline was problematic
- Read more: Emma Watson says she doesn't think Belle has Stockholm Syndrome
An academic has slammed Beauty and the Beast as 'one of the most dangerous films to watch' as it shows 'threatening male behaviour'.
Dr Victoria Cann, a lecturer in Humanities at the University of East Anglia, claimed the 1991 animation is problematic because the Beast was always on the verge of violence and displayed threatening behaviour.
She likened the relationship between Belle and the Beast to 'a classic case of Stockholm Syndrome', which is a psychological condition that occurs when a victim bonds with their abuser or captor to ensure their survival.
In the flick, which was the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, Belle is essentially held captive by the Beast in his castle.
The Beast is portrayed as a romantic figure, but he is actually quite abusive towards Belle, he locks her in her room, yells at her, and even threatens to kill her.
Later in the film, Belle falls in love with her capture, despite the power imbalance and his threatening behavior, he then turns into a good looking prince.
Speaking to The Sun, Dr Cann said: 'It also gives the unnerving idea that if a woman perseveres long enough, she can change an angry partner.
'At the end, the beast then turns into this blonde-haired white man for another happy ever after, giving the idea that now he's good looking, he can't possibly be angry or threatening.'
Dr Victoria Cann, a lecturer in Humanities at the University of East Anglia, claimed Disney's Beauty And The Beast is the 'most dangerous film' to watch
The movie won a Golden Globe for Best Picture In A Musical Or Comedy, also making it the first animation to ever win the award.
In 2017 Emma Watson, who played Belle in Disney's live-action take on the story, doesn't see the storyline as problematic, and told Entertainment Weekly it was a great love story between equals.
When asked about her feelings on the subject, and whether she though the description could be used for Belle and the Beast's relationship, Emma said: 'It's something I really grappled with at the beginning; the kind of Stockholm Syndrome question about this story.
She added: 'Belle actively argues and disagrees with [the Beast] constantly. She has none of the characteristics of someone with Stockholm Syndrome because she keeps her independence, she keeps that freedom of thought.'
She pointed to scenes in which Belle refuses to fall in line with the Beast's demands, like when she won't come down for dinner.
'I think there is a very intentional switch where in my mind Belle decides to stay. She's giving him hell,' she said.
What's more, Emma called the characters' love story 'more meaningful' than many others in movies, since it certainly wasn't love at first sight.
Linda Woolverton, who wrote the original animated film's screenplay, agrees with her. In a 2016 interview with IGN.
Dr Cann said the storyline was problematic because the Beast was always on the verge of violence and displayed threatening behaviour
In the flick, which was the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, Belle is essentially held captive by the Beast in his castle
Linda said, 'There's been a lot of talk about Stockholm syndrome, that [Belle] fell in love with her captor But I disagree! She was captured, but she transformed him.
'She didn't become, you know, an object. She didn't turn into a beast! She transformed him. So it was certainly the transformative power of love and what it can do,' she explained.
However it wasn't the only Disney film the university lecturer raised concerns about.
Speaking of 1992's Aladdin, Dr Cann said: 'Princess Jasmine is feistier as a princess. But she is still portrayed as a possession of wealthy, powerful men.'
She added: 'Dress-wise, she is basically in a bikini top to show off her very slight stomach which seem to be an attempt by white film-makers to make the dress of Middle Eastern women look more exotic and sexual.'
