Talk:Ariel/@comment-27474555-20151226090305

Just throwing my two cents here:

Reading about what people's polarising opinions of Ariel 26 years after her inception has been a very fascinating experience to me, and that includes the comment thread here. Her biggest critics are, at least the way I see it, well-meaning folks who are only worried about Ariel being a negative role model to kids - though I'll be more worried for the kids if their parents start blaming a fictional character for their children's bad behavior.

Personally, I like Ariel. I watched The Little Mermaid when I was really young. Call me nostalgic or biased, but I just do. I mean, it's not like Ariel literally just dusted off her fishy behind and waited for somebody else to clean up all of her mess, right?

After reading both sides' arguments though, I think maybe the reason why Ariel keep getting such a bum rap now, is because the world has changed substantially since 1989. Our idea of what should consitute a 'good' female character in fiction has changed a lot,j and now with eleven(!) Disney (officially recognised) princesses competing for attention, it pains me to say that Ariel's days in the sun (ha) are already in the past. Now the standard has been raised so high that it seems impossible to figure out exactly what people really want anymore. I still remember back when Black Widow was branded a 'boring and generic eye-candy' when she first appeared in Iron Man 2, which must be unthinkable to any of her fans today!

That said, I think many web feminists are missing the point when they keep raising Ariel as their best example of a bad female character. The idea is not to create the 'perfect' heroine who kicks butt, is completely pure at heart, don't need a man to love, and incapable of making big mistakes; in fact if anything that sounds like a regression. I think there is still room for a somewhat spolit and hot headed princess who made some foolish decisions, but nonetheless is still gentle and heroic in her heart.

Wait. Come to think of it, that could have described Merida instead. But never mind, you get the idea.

I just don't want Ariel's to be erased for the sake of being politically correct. I know I'm being paranoid and the chance of that happening is pretty low, but I also suspect some will try anyway.