The heroes need to learn different lessons in each movie as they mature. The How to Train Your Dragon trilogy uses the coming-of-age story framework to tell three different arcs to follow the evolution of Hiccup’s and Toothless’ intertwined stories.
The importance of maturity in a coming-of-age film Read More »
Compare Hiccup’s story to Disney’s Hercules, and you’ll see two types of masculinity. Hercules goes from Zero to Hero in a training montage. Hiccup doesn’t gain notoriety from killing dragons like everyone else. Instead, he changes their minds and is valued for that strength.
How to role model masculinity Read More »
In reality, intersectionality can make unity complicated. Being from more than one minority group, you may face more prejudice.The X-Men comics strived to show that persecution of any minority stems from feelings of hatred and bigotry.
How discrimination leads to unity Read More »
In the X-Men Universe “X gene” gives mutants a diverse set of abilities. Shapeshifting is a power that mimics invisibility because you can look and sound like anyone. Mystique is prominently shown in her iconic scaly blue skin and wide yellow eyes. She is confident in who she is and doesn’t use her power to be invisible.
How to make confidence your superpower Read More »
Professor X is Jewish and intentionally embodies the trope that Jews are clever but physically weak. Nonetheless, he is a leader, his powers aren’t connected to his wheelchair, and he has hope that humans will change despite history.
X-Men: Using disabilities as a source of pride and power Read More »
The X-Men first appeared in 1963, during the time of the American Civil Rights movement. Real-life events heavily influenced the fictional storylines. The X-Men can be interpreted to represent almost any minority, the fear and discrimination against people who are seen as different and othered in society are universal.
X-Men Allegory: Disabilities and Dehumanization Read More »
Science Fiction storylines often parallel current political or social issues through superheroes. Having disabled superheroes helps to provide role models for the disability community, and also exposes “normal” people to disabled protagonists like Matt Murdock/Daredevil, who’s blind, or Professor Charles Xavier, who’s a wheelchair user.
History of Disabled Superheroes Origins Read More »
In the surface-level plot, the main characters compete in a triathlon for prize money that Luca and Alberto want to use to buy a Vespa and see the world. It seems simple, and once on land, Luca and Alberto stay on land.
This is like saying that being sea monsters isn’t part of the plot. And that’s part of the problem. Many people who are part of the LGBT+ community feel pressure to “pass” as cisgender straight people because of bigotry.
Pixar catches & releases Luca fans Read More »
For almost the entire film, Luca and Alberto hide the fact they are sea monsters. Whether being a sea monster represents something else is not made clear by the director Enrico Casarosa.
Sea Monster! Pixar’s LGBTQ Characters! Read More »
