Death in Disney Films: Implications for Children's Understanding of Death

Erin Garrett · James A. Graham

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Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning Film in Education and Therapy Media Influence and Health

Abstract

This study examined the potential influence of Disney films on children's concepts of death. A content analysis was performed on 23 death scenes from 10 selected full-length Disney Classic animated films. The portrayal of death focused on five categories: character status; depiction of death; death status; emotional reaction; and causality. The findings indicate that some animated Disney films present scenes that eclipse the permanence and irreversibility of death and often leave deaths (especially those of villains) emotionally unacknowledged. Previous work has shown that many children tend not to discuss death with their friends or parents for many reasons. More importantly, the films may serve as catalysts to introduce the concept of death into discussions between children, peers, and adults.

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References

1984Children's Understanding of Death: A Review of Three Components of a Death Concept 1996Parental Death and the Adjustment of School-Age Children 2001Sensational! Violent! Popular! Death in American Movies

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