Writing the key chapters of my critical report involved a delicate balancing act. The chapters required in-depth discussions of historical prejudices, tokenism, and the changing landscape of racial and ethnic representation in animation, each with its own focus while adding to the larger narrative. One major challenge I faced was making each chapter feel unbiased while still maintaining a strong, critical voice. This required me to present multiple perspectives on controversial topics.
while investigating tokenism in animation, I found myself delving into subtopics such as its historical roots and how overcompensation has occasionally resulted in shallow representation. It was difficult to pick which features to highlight without losing sight of the larger point. Striking the correct balance between discussing historical mistakes, such as Disney’s early preconceptions, and praising progress, such as the cultural depth of films like Coco, necessitated ongoing modification and critical evaluation.
Another difficulty was the large amount of academic and non-academic sources. While scholarly articles provided theoretical depth, industry interviews and critiques from animators offered practical insights. Synthesizing these diverse perspectives was no easy task, but it pushed me to refine my arguments and focus on what truly supported my paper