Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Philosophy v. Aesthetics

I have always said Cinderella is my favorite princess.  And I think she forever will be because I'll never in my life get over that ball gown of hers.

But I think I like Belle better. 

She is smart, she isn't distracted by the wooing antics of Gaston, and she loves books.  She has her head on straight. 

Perhaps Cinderella is aesthetically my favorite, but Belle is philosophically my favorite.

I think I'll start asking little girls to clarify. 

"Ah, yes, princess-shmincess.  Tell me your comparisons, aesthetically and philosophically." 

If we're going to do the whole princess route, I think I have a valid argument.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

I wish I could talk with you over coffee. I love the way you think!

April Gann said...

I love this, Tricia. I just had breakfast with a recent college grad that I was trying to convince to be a Belle instead of a Cinderella. You said it so much more eloquently. Oh, how I want these young women to understand the value of finding their strengths. And how much they can do that through the written word...
Keep spreading the message and living it out!

Jaimie Teekell said...

I love this conversation beyond all other conversations! Seriously. Okay, not to be argumentative, but I'm going to have to disagree.

Ahem.

Belle has her head on straight at first, but she's kind of shallow later in the movie. Heck, she's kind of shallow the whole way through. She thinks her town full of "little people" is quaint but cute, but she wants better things. And you think her condescension toward her town is just from her wanting to move on (healthy) until she gets to the Beast, and she's so condescending of him too! No one is good enough for her. It's not until he becomes hot that she wants him. Not until he can offer her riches.

I don't know, in some ways I don't blame her. But my favorite princess is Jasmine. I've always been partial to angsty rich characters, so maybe I'm blind when it comes to her, but I like how she's not driven by finding a good man at all. She just wants to travel. To be fair, both Jasmine and Belle get smacked upside the head by love -- they don't seek it initially. So I can't say one is better than the other on those terms. But I guess Jasmine wins for me because she has everything and she's leaving it, as opposed to Belle doing the opposite. Jasmine is the anti-shallow.

Jaimie Teekell said...

Oh, and I also like Jasmine aesthetically too. I mean come on. The red outfit man.

Lauren said...

I have always loved Belle. She is definitely my favorite. I've always been a book lover, and I love how Belle gets to the heart of love - not based on physical appearance but what's in the heart and the actual qualities of the person rather than simply the fact that 'he is cute!'

my3boys said...

I love Jaimie's essay--that cracked me up.

I did have a conversation about Velma vs. Daphne with the neighborhood girls once. I told them that cute was fine, but smart was better. I'm pretty sure each and every one of those girls went the Daphne route though.

Good thing I have boys.

Majorsfam said...

That is too funny! I never really thought about favorite princesses too much. As a girl, Ariel was my favorite, but now I think she could use some more clothing. I like her in her dress. My 5 year old has picked up on it. She, too, wishes Ariel would wear more clothing. Sigh.... modesty and self respect CAN be taught in this time of media overload. My daughter's middle name is "Belle". She was not named after the princess, though. The name means beautiful, and to be COMPLETELY raw and honest, I had huge self esteem issues when she came about. I didn't know how an ugly woman could have a beautiful little girl, so I helped her out a little with a name that meant beautiful. Turns out, she's gorgeous (and her heart outshines her looks by far), and so is her Mama...... just took a lot of sitting at God's feet to figure out the second part. At any rate, this is certainly something to think about. In a way, it almost makes me annoyed with the whole Disney princess thing. I don't think any of them would be my friend in real life.

Birdie said...

I've always loved Belle. Always. =)

Macksgirl said...

The new Rapunzel has booted Belle out of my favorite spot. She's brave and spunky and determined. She has a way of winning people over that is kind-hearted rather than manipulative. And there's just something about her that seriously reminds me of my youngest daughter (minus the magic hair).

Kay Day said...

My favorite is Cinderella. She's in a hopeless situation. Unable to save herself. Then a prince rescues her.
That's my story, too.
That's the story of the gospel.
I love Sleeping Beauty and Snow White even more for that reason.

Sheryl said...

I suppose that would make you Cinderbelle. :)

Hmmmm---I've never thought to compare myself for more than a fleeting moment to any Disney Princess. Not exactly sure what that says about me . . .

Terry said...

oh i am so far behind you girls.
i had to google to see who princess belle is!...and my!..what a beautiful pale yellow gown she has on!
ha! the only three princess that i really remember are cinderella and snow white and the princess who slept on a bed that had a pea beneath all of the fluffy blankets and she was all bruised up, which proved she was a real princess, eh?
i don't know if rapunzel was a princess or not but if she was then i think that she would have been my favourite...with all of those gorgeous waves of long golden hair!

you are a princess, yourself, tricia..just ask your two boys and they will tell you.."daddy married a princess!"...love terry

April said...

I have always loved Belle, for many of the same reasons you listed!

Erica said...

I'm biased because Beauty & the Beast has ALWAYS been my favorite movie and I agree with you on Belle 100%.