Lessons from Frozen

Frozen obsession was so thick we are still slowly oozing out of it. Children and adults were taken with this aclassical princess tail, and with good reason. It is easy to imagine that you know some people like Elsa or Prince Hans, and you probably do. The relationships are dynamic, realistic, unique. Most people have lived (or will live) through some of these honest interpersonal situations. And on top of that: Fantasy! Fun, fantastic, audacious adventure! Inflicted on these poor, unsuspecting characters. It makes you want to be there.

It is all very romantic. But Frozen is more than just a thrill ride with well developed characters, as if that weren't enough for a successful movie. Beneath the veneer, there are complex themes and humble morals presented clear enough to be understood and without being preachy. Some of this is accessible for children. The most obvious lesson, that love is not just some romantic adventure between some guy and some gal, is overt enough to be subliminally implanted in the cortices of young girls (and boys: everyone likes Tangled) and shape them into wiser people. That lesson was so refreshing and universal the movie stapled itself into the Disney cannon like no movie since The Lion King. What parent can't appreciate that moral? And will allow their children to watch it over and over and over in a hope to build sibling camaraderie?

Hopefully, it plays enough for parents to catch other lessons that are more vague. Such as: don't be so over-protective that your children end up destroying the town and wandering into the mountains to be alone. Don't force your kids to be something their not, lest they never learn how to control their powers and use them constructively. These are lessons Professor Xavier would agree much with, even if his own superhero flicks tend to lack this level of depth.

In reality, no one has such fantastic powers. Instead, we have humble skills and abilities. They can't freeze a hole city, but they have an effect on the world around us just the same. Rather than grow up not understanding how to utilize your strengths, they must be explored and well understood.

This is most important for people who don't fit into the normal groove of live. Those with Autism, Asperger's, Down's, Tourette's, even Dyslexia and ADD. There is not always so much disability with such a diagnosis; and there is often some level of extra ability. Autism, most famously, has a number of savants. With incredible powers and incredible difficulties. Among the thousands or millions of people with autism, few will reach such a level of power; but often there is some sort of skill above what is generally expected of people. Tourette's can be linked with reflexes and good drumming. People with dyslexia often make the best writers, which is awesome. It shows how complicated the real world is.

This is what endears Frozen to me. A subtle celebration of diversity.