Between 1937 and 2016, Walt Disney Animation Studios released 56 animated theatrical films for children. Since 2000, the teenage and young adult female protagonists from 12 of these films have been retroactively grouped into a media franchise called the Disney Princesses. Although most research around the Disney Princesses relates to the franchise’s appropriateness for children, they are not the only demographic with an investment in this franchise. Adults online produce fan works, listicles, discussion, campaigns and humour featuring adoring, critical and satirical interpretations of the Disney Princesses. UNSW PhD candidate Emily Chandler argues that adult fandom around this franchise can be attributed to a combination of their appeal to nostalgia, their use within identity politics, and their transgressive potential through satire. Emily’s paper is followed by a Q&A session facilitated by Meg Russell and involving the audience present on the day.

Seminar: 0.00 - 41min
Q & A: 41min - 1hr 26min

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