Abstract: The Princess and the Frog, released in 2009, featuring the first African-American heroine Tiana in the history of Disney, is indeed an epoch-making event. Focusing on the characteristics of the black princess’ dilemmatic image and the significance of the emergence of this African-American princess, this paper explores the three dimensions of the black/white relationship in the USA as refracted in the film: characteristics of the image of black princess, cultural causes of the new racial image and new racial dilemma facing America. This thesis claims that the first black princess in Disney’s history has far-reaching political and cultural implications and it marks the great changes in the racial concept of the US mainstream society and social reality. However, the appearance of the black princess does not necessarily mean that racial discrimination in the United States has been eliminated. On the contrary, this thesis reveals that driven by political and commercial interests, Disney has strategically manipulated this black princess image to whitewash the existing deeply-rooted racial conflicts and re-solidify the unequal racial relationship.

Key words: Disney Princess franchise; black princess; paradox; white supremacy

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要：

1. Introduction.1

1.1 Introduction to The Princess and the Frog

1.2 Literature Review

2. Paradoxical Image of Black Princess in The Princess and the Frog3

2.1 Characteristics of the Image of Black Princess

2.2 Political and Cultural Causes of the New Racial Image

2.3 New Racial Dilemma Facing Blacks as Refracted in the Movie

3. Conclusion .8

Bibliography.11  

Acknowledgements13