A Controversial and Frozen Culture

Frozen. 

Love it or hate it?

I'm in the "hate it" camp and always have been. (Seriously, can someone tell me why there are TROLLS in a Snow Queen retelling?)

Unfortunately, my 2yo has discovered it and I'm just so... ugh. Frozen II is especially ridiculous with its weird, overly dramatic theater-esque songs. I mean, really Kristoff, have some self-respect. He was charming (kinda) in the first movie, but in the second he's just annoying. (A certain song in the woods particularly drives me insane.)

Seriously though. I mean… Kristoff, you’re killing me.

Maybe I've been paying extra attention to silly movies and things like this because I've been on a social media break since the beginning of June. And it's been good for me to step back from the onslaught of other people's opinions. (Ironic since I'm here, putting out my own personal opinion about Frozen/Frozen II, which I'll get back to in a minute.)

Here it is though: I'm one of those people who has to recharge all day in order to be around people for 20 minutes at night. It just takes me a lot of energy to be social, whether on social media or in person. And lately it had been getting harder than normal.

Can I get an “amen”?

In fact, resuming my daily presence on social media has been absolutely exhausting (again).

As an indie author, where I am writer, publisher, marketer, etc., social media is a...necessary evil. And yet, a part of me wonders if it truly is. All I know is that I struggle with the emotional drain of social media. I blame it on being such an intensely introverted Introvert. Introvert with capital I. 

Where is this when I need it? ;-)

I mean, quarantine was simply bliss (except for the whole kids and husband home all the time in my space bit). I could easily be quarantined for the next six months by myself in a house and not be at all upset about the fact. I mean, we have Zoom and Skype and FaceTime after all. (Please just give me a live-in babysitter so I can get some writing done. And if you could make the kids stop fighting over the same toy, so much the better. Or watching Frozen versus Frozen II versus something else... Don't tell me why, but the 6yo boy also likes Frozen, so he'll watch it with his sister, but she's started screaming at him if he starts to sing along...which severely reduces his enjoyment of said movies...)

Oh Anna… Truer lies have never been stated…

What it boils down to is this: Frozen I has the stupid trolls and semi-okay songs, but Frozen II has ridiculous songs and a boring plot where Elsa still resorts to using her powers against the people she loves. And then they completely lost the fairy tale feel in both these movies, and I think that's what bugs me most of all. 

There's a lot to be said for the symbolism of fairy tales in general, and I think Disney kind of butchered it with Frozen. I’ve heard it applauded it as a noteworthy film of making Hans the unexpected antagonists and not having a wedding/betrothal at the end, but ya know, there's a reason that those were common things in fairy tales—and it wasn't just because women were expected to marry and have a family. Most fairy tales that end in weddings are about the ultimate growth and acceptance of the princess, culminating in meeting her "perfect prince" who accepts her as she is and helps her become what she is meant to be.

Now maybe that doesn't seem right. I mean, there's lots of love at first sight in fairy tales, right? But think about it. Fairy tale romances are because the two see each other as they are at first sight. They see one another and they immediately think to themselves, "that's a woman/man I could spend the rest of my life with." And then they fight for her/him. And call me crazy, but that's kind of romantic. I mean, in real life, it could be creepy, right? But in a story? Specifically, a fairy tale? That's kinda all sorts of what every person is looking for on a base level. And that's what fairy tales are about—seeing each other for the truth inside.

Few things are more “Elsa,” really. I don’t want my daughter being like that, personally.

Warnings against evil, guidance for living a good life, recognizing and chasing your dreams, and fighting for your lover. I mean, none of that is bad. And of course, we must remember that fairy tales—even the original Grimm stuff which is pretty grim (pun intended), was meant for children. And even children picked up on this symbolism. So why don't adults?

I know there are others out there like me who see things this way, even if it doesn’t feel like it to me. Even other authors like me, who feel so drained and exhausted by the lack of progress on social media, the frustration at growing your lists, the annoyance that advertising doesn't get you where you want, etc., and then to top it off, how one influential person can attack you and ruin things for you simply because you don't agree with them.

There have been many stories of authors having a controversial opinion lately that ends up with them being attacked or trolled online simply for expressing an opinion that isn't the popular culture's or whatnot. Even J.K. Rowling hasn't been immune lately (and that's saying something). And whether I agree with the sentiments of the author(s) isn't even the point. Just like with Frozen, some people will love it and some people will hate it. Some people will agree with you and some people won't. The more I poke around social media, the more disheartened I've become lately.

Maybe the solution is less social media for me. But then...where would I put my opinions about Frozen?

I'm reasonably certain I'll get flayed alive for this post. I mean, Frozen has inspired countless young girls to follow their dreams and be more assertive or more accepting of themselves and others. That's good. I'm glad. And you're free to like it. But...please don't tell me I should! (And please, tell me how to get my 2yo daughter out of the Frozen phase. I'm kinda over it!)