統測
115年
[外語群英語類] 專業科目(2)
第 21 題
📖 題組：
At the heart of the controversy surrounding the live-action casting of The Little Mermaid lies a collision between cultural loyalty and contemporary values. Opponents argue that forcibly changing the character’s skin color is seen as an interference caused by political correctness. Such an argument is based on the fact that Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale originated in Denmark, and that the 1989 animated version featuring red hair and fair skin has become part of a global collective memory. However, supporters emphasize that as a mythical creature, the mermaid’s core spirit — her longing for the outside world and her courage to pursue freedom — is not restricted to any specific race. For a long time, the Disney Princess franchise has established a standard of beauty that centers primarily on Caucasian women featuring white skin. For children from minority groups, such as those of African, Latin American or Asian descent, it has been rare to see characters on the mainstream big screen who look like them and possess positive, heroic qualities. When the Black actress Halle Bailey played the main character Ariel in the movie The Little Mermaid, social media was flooded with reaction videos of young Black girls exclaiming, “She looks just like me!” This is more than just a visual impact; it is a form of psychological empowerment. It tells children from minority backgrounds that they, too, can be the leading roles of fairy tales, and that their beauty is equally worthy of being seen and celebrated. From Tiana (in The Princess and the Frog) and Moana (in Moana), to the current Black Ariel, these choices reflect a structural shift in Disney’s branding strategy. Disney is attempting to break free from its past Eurocentric narrative framework and move toward a more global and inclusive perspective. This is not merely a commercial consideration; it is a demonstration of corporate social responsibility, reshaping social consensus on diversity through film and challenging long-standing implicit biases. Ultimately, we should shift our focus from skin color to performance. While the casting controversy has been intense, it has opened a necessary dialogue about who has the right to define beauty. When we can accept an Ariel of a different skin color, it signifies that society is gradually learning to appreciate universal emotions that transcend ethnic boundaries. This controversy is about more than just a movie.
At the heart of the controversy surrounding the live-action casting of The Little Mermaid lies a collision between cultural loyalty and contemporary values. Opponents argue that forcibly changing the character’s skin color is seen as an interference caused by political correctness. Such an argument is based on the fact that Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale originated in Denmark, and that the 1989 animated version featuring red hair and fair skin has become part of a global collective memory. However, supporters emphasize that as a mythical creature, the mermaid’s core spirit — her longing for the outside world and her courage to pursue freedom — is not restricted to any specific race. For a long time, the Disney Princess franchise has established a standard of beauty that centers primarily on Caucasian women featuring white skin. For children from minority groups, such as those of African, Latin American or Asian descent, it has been rare to see characters on the mainstream big screen who look like them and possess positive, heroic qualities. When the Black actress Halle Bailey played the main character Ariel in the movie The Little Mermaid, social media was flooded with reaction videos of young Black girls exclaiming, “She looks just like me!” This is more than just a visual impact; it is a form of psychological empowerment. It tells children from minority backgrounds that they, too, can be the leading roles of fairy tales, and that their beauty is equally worthy of being seen and celebrated. From Tiana (in The Princess and the Frog) and Moana (in Moana), to the current Black Ariel, these choices reflect a structural shift in Disney’s branding strategy. Disney is attempting to break free from its past Eurocentric narrative framework and move toward a more global and inclusive perspective. This is not merely a commercial consideration; it is a demonstration of corporate social responsibility, reshaping social consensus on diversity through film and challenging long-standing implicit biases. Ultimately, we should shift our focus from skin color to performance. While the casting controversy has been intense, it has opened a necessary dialogue about who has the right to define beauty. When we can accept an Ariel of a different skin color, it signifies that society is gradually learning to appreciate universal emotions that transcend ethnic boundaries. This controversy is about more than just a movie.
According to the passage, why do some opponents criticize the casting of Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid?
- A They argue that hiring a colored actress to play Ariel can be an act of plagiarism.
- B They argue that changing Ariel’s skin color goes against the original story and tradition.
- C They believe that the role of Ariel should be reserved for actresses from different cultural backgrounds.
- D They believe that the movie would have been more successful if Ariel were played by an Asian actress.