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Disney Princesses Face Real-Life Problems Like Drugs And Rape In Powerful Photo Series By Shannon Dermody
We've become used to seeing Disney princesses as symbols of purity, beauty, and feel-good emotions. But what if they ever got into the real world with all of its violence, drugs, sex trafficking, and all the other horrible real-life problems that we see on the daily news?
That's what a Philadelphia-based photographer Shannon Dermody set up to explore in her latest photo series featuring Disney characters dealing with drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, rape, sex trafficking and all the darkest aspects of our real life.
The photographer is seeking to raise awareness about the real-world problems by taking us out of our comfort zone with her powerful photos and talking about dramatic living conditions many people around the world face every day. Just be warned that some of the stunning pictures are quite graphic.
More info: Shannon Dermody | Facebook (h/t: demilked, ufunk)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Domestic Violence
Silent Skeleton 8 years ago
Honestly, "Beauty and the Beast" is pretty much a story of mental and physical abuse, and stockholm syndrome
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#3
Alcoholism
#4
Rape
Peta Hurley-Hill 8 years ago
This is ridiculous.It's nothing about "raising awareness".Not everything has to be clouded and debased.The whole idea of things like "Disney Princesses" (of which I am no great fan)is that there is some small escape from the horrors of life.Of late ,there has been a real push to put an adult slant on them.To sexualize and sensationalize them.Which is exactly what this photo shoot is doing.FFS leave something for children,not everything has to be appropriated into something dark and nasty.Let kids be kids and let their safe,friendly,innocent "princesses" stay just that.
#5
Suicide
Jhoa 8 years ago
No, she cuts her hair off in the original, to climb out of the tower. Didn´t you read fairy stories as a child? Or at least watch fairytail movies? The witch makes the Prince go blind, and he has to stumble through the forest to find Rapunzel. She cries, and her tears heal him. In some versions her hair grows back.
Load More Replies...
Dita Dévore 8 years ago
Shouldn't Ariel have been suicide? In the original story she killed herself cause Prince Eric ended up with another lady.
Zoe Alliaume 8 years ago
I thought of it but I think that Ariel suits the pollution one better. Because it shows what we are doing to actual aquatic animals. While rapunzel suicided because she is lonely in her tower and I guess mother gothel hid her too well and no one found the tower. So I think rapunzel suits the suicide more. In my opinion of course.
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DumplingQueen 3 years ago
is this rapunzel or elsa? Based on the comments, I think it's rapunzel but it looks like elsa
Kirigaya Kazuto 8 years ago
This is Rapunzel, if u look closer, she's hanging herself from her own hair.
BoredBunny 8 years ago
It's Rapunzel. Last time I checked, Rapunzel was a Disney princess.
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Ava Barrero 6 years ago
I feel like I can kinda see a black still under feet also her feet are a bit to straight to believe
#7
Tobacco
#8
Heroin
Luc Mailloux 8 years ago
Uhh, you're doing it wrong. Ignoring the actual injecting... how are drugs in any way related to this character?! Most of these photos touch on themes within the stories. This one does not.
#9
Police Brutality
Hamilton Bubbub 8 years ago
This is a little extreme. Most police are amazing people trying to make the work a better place.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Tjaša Jereb 8 years ago
I like the idea behind the photoshoot, but I think it could be done much better. I like the "Pollution", but for example "Heroin" doesn't really show the effects of the drug - why the angry expression? "Tobacco" looks too overdone in photoshop which takes away the beauty of photography. I like the "Police brutality", very good idea to implement gun pointing and searching for a pulse at the same time - model does a great job too, I'd say she nailed it with the facial expression. But it's easy to see the girls don't have much experience in modelling, which doesn't do any favors to the photographs.
Kari Cunningham 8 years ago
I agree. but i think its mainly the models the looks on their faces aren't convincing. they look like they are almost smiling (happy). . the only ones i buy are the first one (Belle) the frog prince princess and the Rapunsel photo.
Load More Replies...
Stille20 8 years ago
My only compliant is that girls (sometimes boys and adults) turn to princesses for the fantasy, not the reality. We see reality all over our lives. I have no interest in fantasy characters in real life tragedies. I also think there has been a real move toward making these characters their own hero; here they are represented being victimized. (okay, two complaints)
Randy Allos 8 years ago
Boredpanda these days almost solely consists of creating controversial items to lure people to click. Internet 101: Create a post with a sensitive/controversial topic and enjoy high click numbers even for sub-standard art. I have found myself visiting the site less and less.
Load More Replies... Randy Allos 8 years ago
Yeah take everything that is beautiful in life, even if it is a made up fantasy, and stick rape and murder on it to "raise awareness". Great stuff!
Chloe King 8 years ago
In the original sleeping beauty she was raped. She woke up cause her baby was sucking on her finger and accidentally removed the spike, not because of some kiss.
Load More Replies...
Tish Christian 8 years ago
What the actual ****?! When did turning children's princesses into raped and beaten women become normal?!? Leave Disney characters for kids
TMSullivan 8 years ago
"seeking to raise awareness about the real-world problems " among whom? Pre-teen girls? Because... Disney princesses. :(
Joseph Addison 8 years ago
Is it your contention that only pre-teen girls know who Disney princesses are?
Load More Replies...
Victor Vakaras 8 years ago
Hardly recognizable as Disney princesses - looks like a bunch of girls in prom dresses.
Peta Hurley-Hill 8 years ago
This is ridiculous.It's nothing about "raising awareness".Not everything has to be clouded and debased.The whole idea of things like "Disney Princesses" (of which I am no great fan)is that there is some small escape from the horrors of life.Of late ,there has been a real push to put an adult slant on them.To sexualize and sensationalize them.Which is exactly what this photo shoot is doing.FFS leave something for children,not everything has to be appropriated into something dark and nasty.Let kids be kids and let their safe,friendly,innocent "princesses" stay just that.
Joseph Addison 8 years ago
The Disney princesses do remain that for young children, unless a parent is so monumentally stupid as to show these images to small children. Did you think they were meant for the consumption of 10-year-olds?
Load More Replies...
Pete Barnes 8 years ago
WTF is wrong with people? How in god's name is it ok to perpetuate the Disney princess myth, and teach girls that a prince will swoop them off their feet and take care of them forever? That kind of thinking is the basis for secrecy and denial later in life. No prince beats the s**t out of a princess in the fantasy, so many young women are convinced that they have done something wrong and deserve the abuse. Real life is not a cute little forever after story. Stop lying to your daughters and teach them their own worth and that it is never ok for anyone to hurt them!
Marysia Jawłowska 8 years ago
I've already seen the same idea executed so much batter. Ariel with pollution, which is the best here, was there and with much better photo; Jasmine was a guerilla fighter in the war-torn Middle East and not ruddy tobacco smoker (seriously? tobacco? that totally deserves to be mentioned in one breath with rape, right?), Snow White was a single mother with seven kids. In this series, I first had to stare for a while to even realise which princess is this supposed to be and then even longer to figure out what's the connection. I still don't get the sex trafficking and police brutality. Important issues are important, but you can rely on that alone. Not when you make it conceptual.
Evita Blatna 8 years ago
ST aka Cinderella-was forced to hard labor and wasn't allowed to go outside by her step-mother. PB aka Tatiana-because she is black. That's it I think :-( But I agree that these are somewhat poorly executed...
Load More Replies...
Joyce Blodgett 2 years ago
Ok, I'm not into anything "Disney" anymore, hating how the entire image of the company has deteriorated into grossness and greed. But WHY does anyone feel the need to destroy the images of the "princesses" with all this garbage??? Why ruin images that, for little girls, at least, offer some kind of hope in an otherwise ugly world that mankind is doing its level best to destroy? There was absolutely no need for this hideous conglomeration of ugliness, none whatsoever!
Person SM 8 years ago
I love it, no matter how dark it is, it is beautiful. In this plastic world we try to live in, all these artificial women are perfect, unattainable. But to step back, look at reality, to see the truth, the imperfect truth. What better way to show that than with these perfect girls, the imperfections in the world?
Kara Fraine 8 years ago
I mean I like it don't get me wrong I just think it could of been done better. I grew up in many of these situations around me and in my home yet I had to look after my siblings all their life. They only time we could forget was when we watching these movies and pixar movies, I understand why make them yet a lot of these movies are an escape for abused kids who look at them as a sign of hope that everything will be okay.
Wayne Bart 8 years ago
This was strong, definitely some points to improve and refine, but it's got real potential. Good shoot!
Irene Angelucci 8 years ago
I think the pollution one is incredibly interesting to look at. However, all the other ones are just too tragic and I don't understand why people just cannot leave fairy tales alone. Awareness and wiping away all lightness from a story is not the same thing. Please leave my princesses alone, FFS!!!!
Bunnies are better!! 8 years ago
If you don't like it, don't look at it. just say's
Load More Replies...
Antonio Rodriguez 8 years ago
This is probably the dumbest thing I have seen online. If you want to dramatize these things. What are you dong about these issues besides making pointless art? Exactly.
Antonio Rodriguez 8 years ago
Maybe you should go into the school system and show them these pictures.
Load More Replies... 
John Ashley 8 years ago
Just shows the lack of originality on the part of the photographer.Don't have much regard for those who feel they must debase the work of others to gain attention.
Tamara Keegan 8 years ago
Why did I look at this? None of it was/is beneficial to the message the artist is trying to portray. Now we have to demonize even Disney characters? Why? I particularly was sickened by the heroin and sexual abuse ones. WTF? YUCK!
Tjaša Jereb 8 years ago
I like the idea behind the photoshoot, but I think it could be done much better. I like the "Pollution", but for example "Heroin" doesn't really show the effects of the drug - why the angry expression? "Tobacco" looks too overdone in photoshop which takes away the beauty of photography. I like the "Police brutality", very good idea to implement gun pointing and searching for a pulse at the same time - model does a great job too, I'd say she nailed it with the facial expression. But it's easy to see the girls don't have much experience in modelling, which doesn't do any favors to the photographs.
Kari Cunningham 8 years ago
I agree. but i think its mainly the models the looks on their faces aren't convincing. they look like they are almost smiling (happy). . the only ones i buy are the first one (Belle) the frog prince princess and the Rapunsel photo.
Load More Replies... Stille20 8 years ago
My only compliant is that girls (sometimes boys and adults) turn to princesses for the fantasy, not the reality. We see reality all over our lives. I have no interest in fantasy characters in real life tragedies. I also think there has been a real move toward making these characters their own hero; here they are represented being victimized. (okay, two complaints)
Randy Allos 8 years ago
Boredpanda these days almost solely consists of creating controversial items to lure people to click. Internet 101: Create a post with a sensitive/controversial topic and enjoy high click numbers even for sub-standard art. I have found myself visiting the site less and less.
Load More Replies... Randy Allos 8 years ago
Yeah take everything that is beautiful in life, even if it is a made up fantasy, and stick rape and murder on it to "raise awareness". Great stuff!
Chloe King 8 years ago
In the original sleeping beauty she was raped. She woke up cause her baby was sucking on her finger and accidentally removed the spike, not because of some kiss.
Load More Replies... Tish Christian 8 years ago
What the actual ****?! When did turning children's princesses into raped and beaten women become normal?!? Leave Disney characters for kids
TMSullivan 8 years ago
"seeking to raise awareness about the real-world problems " among whom? Pre-teen girls? Because... Disney princesses. :(
Joseph Addison 8 years ago
Is it your contention that only pre-teen girls know who Disney princesses are?
Load More Replies... Victor Vakaras 8 years ago
Hardly recognizable as Disney princesses - looks like a bunch of girls in prom dresses.
Peta Hurley-Hill 8 years ago
This is ridiculous.It's nothing about "raising awareness".Not everything has to be clouded and debased.The whole idea of things like "Disney Princesses" (of which I am no great fan)is that there is some small escape from the horrors of life.Of late ,there has been a real push to put an adult slant on them.To sexualize and sensationalize them.Which is exactly what this photo shoot is doing.FFS leave something for children,not everything has to be appropriated into something dark and nasty.Let kids be kids and let their safe,friendly,innocent "princesses" stay just that.
Joseph Addison 8 years ago
The Disney princesses do remain that for young children, unless a parent is so monumentally stupid as to show these images to small children. Did you think they were meant for the consumption of 10-year-olds?
Load More Replies... Pete Barnes 8 years ago
WTF is wrong with people? How in god's name is it ok to perpetuate the Disney princess myth, and teach girls that a prince will swoop them off their feet and take care of them forever? That kind of thinking is the basis for secrecy and denial later in life. No prince beats the s**t out of a princess in the fantasy, so many young women are convinced that they have done something wrong and deserve the abuse. Real life is not a cute little forever after story. Stop lying to your daughters and teach them their own worth and that it is never ok for anyone to hurt them!
Marysia Jawłowska 8 years ago
I've already seen the same idea executed so much batter. Ariel with pollution, which is the best here, was there and with much better photo; Jasmine was a guerilla fighter in the war-torn Middle East and not ruddy tobacco smoker (seriously? tobacco? that totally deserves to be mentioned in one breath with rape, right?), Snow White was a single mother with seven kids. In this series, I first had to stare for a while to even realise which princess is this supposed to be and then even longer to figure out what's the connection. I still don't get the sex trafficking and police brutality. Important issues are important, but you can rely on that alone. Not when you make it conceptual.
Evita Blatna 8 years ago
ST aka Cinderella-was forced to hard labor and wasn't allowed to go outside by her step-mother. PB aka Tatiana-because she is black. That's it I think :-( But I agree that these are somewhat poorly executed...
Load More Replies... Joyce Blodgett 2 years ago
Ok, I'm not into anything "Disney" anymore, hating how the entire image of the company has deteriorated into grossness and greed. But WHY does anyone feel the need to destroy the images of the "princesses" with all this garbage??? Why ruin images that, for little girls, at least, offer some kind of hope in an otherwise ugly world that mankind is doing its level best to destroy? There was absolutely no need for this hideous conglomeration of ugliness, none whatsoever!
Person SM 8 years ago
I love it, no matter how dark it is, it is beautiful. In this plastic world we try to live in, all these artificial women are perfect, unattainable. But to step back, look at reality, to see the truth, the imperfect truth. What better way to show that than with these perfect girls, the imperfections in the world?
Kara Fraine 8 years ago
I mean I like it don't get me wrong I just think it could of been done better. I grew up in many of these situations around me and in my home yet I had to look after my siblings all their life. They only time we could forget was when we watching these movies and pixar movies, I understand why make them yet a lot of these movies are an escape for abused kids who look at them as a sign of hope that everything will be okay.
Wayne Bart 8 years ago
This was strong, definitely some points to improve and refine, but it's got real potential. Good shoot!
Irene Angelucci 8 years ago
I think the pollution one is incredibly interesting to look at. However, all the other ones are just too tragic and I don't understand why people just cannot leave fairy tales alone. Awareness and wiping away all lightness from a story is not the same thing. Please leave my princesses alone, FFS!!!!
Bunnies are better!! 8 years ago
If you don't like it, don't look at it. just say's
Load More Replies... Antonio Rodriguez 8 years ago
This is probably the dumbest thing I have seen online. If you want to dramatize these things. What are you dong about these issues besides making pointless art? Exactly.
Antonio Rodriguez 8 years ago
Maybe you should go into the school system and show them these pictures.
Load More Replies... John Ashley 8 years ago
Just shows the lack of originality on the part of the photographer.Don't have much regard for those who feel they must debase the work of others to gain attention.
Tamara Keegan 8 years ago
Why did I look at this? None of it was/is beneficial to the message the artist is trying to portray. Now we have to demonize even Disney characters? Why? I particularly was sickened by the heroin and sexual abuse ones. WTF? YUCK!
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