Disney's Most Notorious Film: Race, Convergence, and the Hidden Histories of Song of the South

Jason Sperb

Dec 2012 · University of Texas Press

About this ebook

The Walt Disney Company offers a vast universe of movies, television shows, theme parks, and merchandise, all carefully crafted to present an image of wholesome family entertainment. Yet Disney also produced one of the most infamous Hollywood films, Song of the South. Using cartoon characters and live actors to retell the stories of Joel Chandler Harris, SotS portrays a kindly black Uncle Remus who tells tales of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and the “Tar Baby” to adoring white children. Audiences and critics alike found its depiction of African Americans condescending and outdated when the film opened in 1946, but it grew in popularity—and controversy—with subsequent releases. Although Disney has withheld the film from American audiences since the late 1980s, SotS has an enthusiastic fan following, and pieces of the film—such as the Oscar-winning “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”—remain throughout Disney’s media universe. Disney’s Most Notorious Film examines the racial and convergence histories of Song of the South to offer new insights into how audiences and Disney have negotiated the film’s controversies over the last seven decades. Jason Sperb skillfully traces the film’s reception history, showing how audience perceptions of SotS have reflected debates over race in the larger society. He also explores why and how Disney, while embargoing the film as a whole, has repurposed and repackaged elements of SotS so extensively that they linger throughout American culture, serving as everything from cultural metaphors to consumer products.

Ratings and reviews

Not read this book. BUT let me say that "Song of the South" is one of the greatest movies ever created. Censorship is not the product of a Free Society as we are supposed to live in here in the United States. To my knowledge we are the only country in the world who is not allowed to see this movie. Why because a few people who are out to destroy freedom and rewrite history claim that they are offended by this movie. Well let me enlighten you! Here in the United States we live in a Nation where we have free speech. Every person has the right to voice their opinion and views. Unlike countries like China North Korea Iraq Iran Cuba just to name a few. You also have the right to be offended by others opinions and if you believe otherwise then you are just plain stupid. That's right if you think that others rights end where your feelings begin then you are just STUPID. Living in a free country means that you should be offended on a daily basis because we are not a nation of one size fits all. We are a nation of free expression and individuals. You have the right to the pursuit of happiness and that is it. If you want to live where you are supplied all of your needs let me make the suggestion that I recently read that Mike Adams of University of North Carolina at Wilmington told his Criminal Justice class get in a leaky boat and try Cuba and see how that works for you while you receive Socialized Medical Care and while you are there try speaking out and letting the Castro's know that you are offended by them.

About the author

Jason Sperb is a lecturer in the Department of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.