Out of These Waters: The Little Mermaid and Casting Backlashes as Racial Projects for History Classrooms

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Abstract

Using a theoretical frame of racial projects, we examined online news articles addressing the casting of actors of Color in The Little Mermaid. Findings via qualitative textual analysis revealed two themes: racism in defense of perceived ideas of the way things 'used to be', and racism in the guise of anti-capitalism and anti-‘wokeness’. We argue that exploring these subsequent themes found in the racial projects of contemporary fantasy film casting are chances for students in history classrooms to challenge pervasive whiteness in media, and understand how racial histories blend into current-day cultural landscapes.

Authors

• Joanna Batt, University of Cincinnati

• Michael Joseph, Texas Tech University