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Ethical, Legal and Regulatory Issues

Due to being a Disney film, Frozens audience is very young children aged below 13. Due to
their age range, children wont usually won't want to watch a film with too much heavy context,
therefore the film is generally a very fabricated, easy-to-watch film.

This links to the theory of uses and gratifications, such as diversion, due to children wanting to
relax and be entertained, and so therefore this film will appeal to them. It also shows a strong
bond between two sisters, which could link to the idea of personal identity, as the behaviour
between these two main characters could be reflected in the audiences personal behaviour.
Moreover, the behaviour portrayed by the main characters could be aspirational to the
audience, and may see them as role models.

The hypodermic needle model links to the idea of the audiences views and opinions changing
over time due to the message being transferred through media changing over time. This is
known as a passive audience. When Disney released its first film in 1937, Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs, the storyline for that film, and most films after that, had the main idea of
romanticising a woman being reliant and rescued by a man. Over time, this idea has
subconsciously changed in the media, and Frozen highlights this through its plot based around
two women being independent and not having to rely on a man. This affects the audience, who
are predominantly younger girls, because the idea of being subservient causes their mindset to
change subconsciously. From watching Disney films that used to have the ideology of men
saving women, to then women being more independent, this causes the audience to possibly
become more independent themselves due to being influenced by the main characters.

The film itself is rated a PG by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification). The BBFC is an
independent, non-governmental body that classified films since its set up in 1912. They follow a
set of guidelines to determine what age rating films are. Frozen being rated a PG suggests that
the film should possibly be watched with parental guidance due to some violent scenes or mild
rude humour that to young children, may be inappropriate.

Disney films are usually stereotyped for young girls, due to being heavily based on princesses
and romanticising the story. However, Frozen is more catered for any gender to enjoy, rather
than it just being stereotyped for girls, as it doesnt focus purely on topics relating to princesses
like most other Disney films, but also concentrates on other topics, with one of the main
characters being a male. This therefore appeals to any gender as it doesnt focus on a certain
group, but caters for all.

It could be argued that there are some ethical issues that may have been breached though,
such as some taking offense to the subtle sexism in the film. The film is based on female
empowerment, yet the main female characters are still subtly degraded in the film. For example,
the main male character asks the female lead character if she was raised in a barn after putting
her feet up on his sled, proceeded by him spitting on it seconds later. This suggests male
superiority in the film, and that it acceptable for men to do things, but not women.

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