"The power of bravery starts within each of us..."

http://www.gender-focus.com/2012/07/02/feminist-review-of-brave/

This article by Jessica Mason McFadden of gender-focus.com not only touches upon a couple of topics that we discussed yesterday in class, but also addresses a number of matters that we have yet to consider/reserved for tomorrow's meeting. Here, a summary of the main points made by McFadden in her assessment of Brave:

1. Bravery belongs to all of humanity (as opposed to some singular group such as feminists, warriors, etc.), and it "propels us towards action and progress"

2. Brave is not about the journey of ONE character, but rather of two: Merida and her mother, Queen Elinor

3. Marriage and tradition are the surface issue in the film; relationships and acceptance are the core of the film

4. Listening is the key to learning; this is one of the film's strongest themes

5. "Individual growth cannot happen without simultaneous community growth"

6. The witch--and the role of magic, in general--represents escapism. Escapism "is not without suffering"

7. "Lastly, and of particular interest to self-identified feminists, Brave fearlessly but indirectly asserts that gender convention is a source of family discord."

The last 5 paragraphs of the article (continuing on from the quote I included as #7!) are particularly insightful. A teaser:
        "Bravery is facing the reality that change is not instantaneous, that it does not occur in a vacuum."
        "There are ways of reconciling traditional gender roles with progressive ones."
        "The power of bravery starts within each of us but is only realized when it is actualized in our  relationships with each other."

I think that McFadden's discussion of what "bravery" entails is a particularly important one, and one that very few reviews (that I've seen, in any case) have attempted to have. To be further discussed tomorrow, I hope...check it out!