Encanto and Representation of Colombia

Research Questions

How does Encanto represent Colombia and its people, especially through the lenses of race and culture?

Audience

The target audience of this research kit is elementary educators. This research kit allows educators to deeper analyze the children’s film, Encanto, in terms of its representation of Colombian people.

Overview

This research kit offers value to elementary educators and their students. The Virginia History Standards of Learning state, “Students will…understand the contributions made by people of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.” Elementary teachers may seek a children’s movie that portrays individuals of diverse backgrounds as an introduction to a deeper unit. This kit offers sources for these educators to decide for themselves whether Encanto positively represents Colombia and could be used as a resource.

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Incorporating diverse perspectives in the classroom benefits students beyond Standards of Learning. Students want to see themselves in films. Teachers and their choices have the power to make a child feel represented or ignored. In Harrisonburg, Virginia, where James Madison University is located, 51% of the public school population is Hispanic, 31% is White, and 10% is Black. With over half of the students identifying as Hispanic, their social studies classes should not solely focus on the achievements of White historical figures. They should learn about Hispanic figures as well, so they can see themselves reflected through these figures. Additionally, non-Hispanic students benefit from learning about these figures because it enhances their ability to see through others’ perspectives. Including diverse perspectives in classrooms benefits all students.

Disney created the big budget animated musical Encanto, which features the perspectives of Mirabel Madrigal, a Colombian girl, and her family. The directors include Byron Howard and Jared Bush. Audiences know Byron Howard for directing Bolt, Tangled, and Zootopia, three other Disney movies. Director and writer Jared Bush also worked on Zootopia as a writer, as well as writing for Moana. Writers Charise Castro Smith and Lin-Manuel Miranda accompanied Bush. Miranda is best known for writing, directing, and starring in Broadway musical Hamilton and writing songs for Moana. None of these team members are Colombian. Aiko Hilkinger (2021) cites this as a reason that the film, while set in Colombia, does not have a true Colombian feel.

In contrast to the film’s directors, writers and producers, Encanto’s cast contains many actors and actresses who were born in Colombia or are from Colombian descent.. Stephanie Beatriz stars as main character, Mirabel. Beatriz’s father is Colombian, [her mother is Bolivian and she grew up partially in Argentina] which demonstrates her Colombian heritage. Maluma, a popular Colombian singer, plays a love interest of the film, Mariano Guzman. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, comedian and actor, John Leguizamo, portrays Bruno Madrigal, the mysterious uncle. Mauro Castillo, who plays Uncle Felix, was born in Cali, Colombia. 

When evaluating the content of the film Encanto, one must also consider the historical context of the film industry. How Colombia has been represented in the past will affect how viewers perceive current movies’ representations of the country. Movies and shows set in Colombia often have had limited views. For example, Narcos, a Netflix series, focuses on drug lord Pablo Escobar. Media set in Colombia focuses on similar topics of drugs and violence, rather than a holistic view of the country. Viewers expressed interest in Disney’s release of a film set in Colombia that would provide an alternate representation than what has previously been exemplified. While some viewers were skeptical on how the final product would unfold, a children’s film would ensure a shift from drugs and violence. With previous representation weighted towards singular, negative topics, Encanto entered the market with audiences anticipating a turn towards the positive.

Disney released Encanto November 24, 2021. The film was distributed both domestically and internationally. After some time in theaters only, Disney released the movie on their streaming platform, Disney+. Streaming the film broadened the audience more than before. During November 2021, COVID-19 still concerned many audience members who preferred to view the film at home. In early 2022, Encanto was nominated for three Oscars, such as best original song for “Dos Oruguitas.” Some who may not have planned to watch the film originally chose to watch it based on these nominations. Encanto successfully reached a wide audience, from Disney fans to Oscars followers.

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The Disney company has enormous power in the film industry, not only in their ability to reach wide audiences. In the development process, they chose the main team, hired cultural consultants, and cast the actors. In terms of circulation, theaters across the world widely accept Disney films. The corporation did not face obstacles to have their filmed screened, like smaller companies or independent filmmakers might. After Encanto was shown in theaters, it was put on Disney’s streaming service. Their power extends into the streaming world with the ability to stream their own movie rather than sell the rights to another company. Finally, Disney’s reputation affects the reception of the film. Many Disney fans are uncritical of their films. Some viewers accept their films at face value. Others, especially those in the community that is being represented, will have a more critical eye and make judgements based on what they see. Disney’s reputation shifts the reception and will cause some to accept the film’s quality without second thought. Disney’s power exists within the development, circulation and reception of Encanto, and the film industry at large.

Historically, film has been used as an expression of power, especially in terms of representation. When few films portray a place or group of people, those films are powerful in shaping the perceptions of that place and group. For example, Burgos discusses how Narcos was the only source of information about Colombia for his students. Forming an understanding based on the show, one might think drugs and violence represent the country as a whole. The creators of the show demonstrate their power to shape perceptions.

Additionally, film is power not only in terms of representation of a country, but also in terms of race.

Racial representations depict power relations. Racism has had a long history in cinema. Spence and Stam describe the high quantity of books written on the topic. For example, films Pépé le Moko and Lawrence of Arabia depict people of North Africa and surrounding regions as caricatures, which was the topic of the book Le Cinéma Colonial written by Pierre Boulanger. White film creators have historically portrayed Black people in offensive and stereotypical ways. Creators have power over those depicted in films. With a foundation of racism, filmmakers today must be conscious of the history behind their art form.

Along with much of the industry, Disney, the company that created Encanto, has had a history of racist depictions in their films as well. Today, viewers think positively of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, which was released in 2009, but Disney’s earlier films offer a different representation. For example, in the 1940s, Fantasia used a slave caricature and Song of the South showed plantations in a positive light. Even more recent films, like The Princess and the Frog and Soul, were criticized for their Black characters not existing as humans for much of the film. Some argue Disney has improved their representation over the years, but the racist depictions remain in their catalogue and should be considered in comparison to their recent films.

With this history in mind, the research question asks you to consider the representation in Encanto especially in terms of race. As 11% of Colombia’s population is Black, Encanto must include Black characters to accurately represent the country’s population. Not only must these characters be included, but the filmmakers should be conscious in the casting of these characters. McCleary discusses past controversies regarding castings of Latin American characters and the importance of casting decisions to the community the character represents. Bryan Steven Monge Serrano highlights that, in Encanto, Disney cast Afro-Latino actors to play the Afro-Latino characters. Additionally, the Black characters must be more than stereotypes or sidekicks. Serrano expresses gratitude that the Afro-Latino characters are their own characters with their own goals. Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio, three of the Afro-Latino grandchildren in the film, each have their own unique, magical powers and contribute to the storyline.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/malique/51303325681/in/photostream/

Encanto is worthy of evaluation due to its potential to represent students, especially the 51% Hispanic population present in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Educators should evaluate the representation present in the film considering the history of race and film. Additionally, the power dynamics present of a multi-billion dollar company creating the movie with a team of non-Colombians, but a cast mostly of Colombians must be analyzed. Based on the previous information and the following sources, elementary educators can decide for themselves how Encanto represents Colombia and its people. 

Annotated Bibliography

Primary Source

Encanto. Directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush. Written by Jared Bush, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Charise Castro Smith. Walt Disney Pictures, November 24, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp5nPGWWMh4

Can watch on Disney+

Encanto is a Disney movie set in Colombia that revolves around the magical Madrigal family. Each family member has a magical power, such as healing, super strength, or controlling the weather, except Mirabel. In this clip, Mirabel introduces all the family members and their powers. The family is multiracial. Uncle Félix is of African descent. He married Aunt Pepa and they had Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio, who are biracial. The family exemplifies a variety of skin tones and hair textures. The movie also features elements of Colombian culture, such as arepas, a common food item, as well as the mountainous landscape. How does Mirabel’s song foreshadow the events to follow? How are different family members represented, especially when you consider the lens of race?

Secondary Sources

BURGOS, F. M. (2021). Netflix Narcos and Narco-Tours: Film tourism meets dark tourism in Medellín, Colombia. In A. G. WOOD (Ed.), The business of leisure: Tourism history in Latin America and the Caribbean (pp. 299–316). University of Nebraska Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv18b5cmm.17

Burgos, in this academic secondary source, argues that Narcos has affected international views on Colombia (p. 312). Media is a powerful source of information. For example, Burgos asked students about famous Colombian figures and many answered Pablo Escobar (p. 299). Their information came from the show Narcos. This source displays how with few other media representations of Colombia the students relied on information from the show. Representation in Narcos would skew one’s ideas of the country toward drugs and violence with little else to contradict that. What responsibility do viewers have to seek other media sources? What responsibility do producers have for their representation of a country?

Garcia, M., Garcia, S. E., Herrera, I., de León, C., Phillips, M., & Scott, A. O. (2021, June 21). ‘In the Heights’ and colorism: What is lost when Afro-Latinos are erased. The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/21/movies/in-the-heights-colorism.html

While this secondary source focuses on another Latinx focused musical, In the Heights, the message can be interpreted in terms of Encanto as well. Like Encanto, In the Heights sought to provide more representation for Latinos. However, In the Heights received criticism for their lack of Afro-Latino characters. According to the New York Times article published June 21, 2021, the film only included one Afro-Latina. Encanto includes four Black main characters: Félix, Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio. The article continues with the perspectives of five individuals from the New York Times. How does the inclusion or exclusion of Afro-Latino characters relate to the accurate representation of Colombian and Latin American people?

Gutierrez, B. (2022, February 15). ‘Encanto’ praised for authentic representation of Colombian culture. University of Miami News. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://news.miami.edu/stories/2022/02/encanto-praised-for-authentic-representation-of-colombian-culture.html

Similar to Garcia’s article, this secondary source written by Barbara Gutierrez shares multiple perspectives on Encanto’s representation of Colombian culture. One quote discusses Colombia’s typical representation of drugs and Pablo Escobar. Encanto departed from this stereotype and offered a more positive look on Colombia, including traditional foods such as buñuelos and arepas. Gutierrez discusses the representation in the movie, including characters who are mixed race or wear glasses in her article for University of Miami News. What importance does food play in the representation of a culture? How does Encanto incorporate magic realism?

Hilkinger, A. (2021, November 18). Op-Ed: We can enjoy ‘Encanto’ while calling out the ways it faltered – Let’s discuss. Remezcla. Retrieved May 10, 2022, from https://remezcla.com/film/encanto-review-lets-discuss-why-it-faltered/.

This popular secondary source offers praise and criticism for Encanto. Hilkinger highlights Encanto’s diversity of skin colors, body types, and personalities. The story has characters with real flaws and an excellent soundtrack. However, while the cast members are mostly from Colombia, Hilkinger draws attention to the fact that the team behind the film were not. This lack of representation behind the scenes causes the movie to lack a true Colombian feel from the Colombian author’s perspective. The film brought positive representation to Hollywood, but Disney still has room to grow. What value does it add for the team to be from the country they are trying to represent? Where did Disney fall short with Encanto?

McCleary, K. (2016). Brokered identities: The construction of Latin(o/a) and Latin American bio-pic, from “E”—vita to “Z”—apata.

This academic secondary source discusses historical Latin American figures and their depictions. For example, the films stereotype Latin American men as dangerous (p. 17). Encanto works to combat stereotypes. As discussed in Gutierrez’s article, Colombia is often represented with drugs and violence. Encanto displays its male characters differently. For example, Félix is shown as a very loving husband to his wife, Pepa, and Agustin cares deeply about his daughter, Mirabel. McCleary also highlights past controversies surrounding appropriate casting (p. 4). The majority of Encanto’s cast is Colombian, therefore it avoided controversy related to its cast. What impact does breaking stereotypes have on audiences? What impact does accurate casting have?

Monge Serrano, B. S. (2022, February 28). ‘Encanto’ reframes Blackness and Latin America in Disney’s Animation Catalog. The Stanford Daily. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://stanforddaily.com/2022/02/28/encanto-reframes-blackness-and-latin-america-in-disneys-animation-catalog/

This secondary source discusses the Afro-Latino representation in Encanto. A section of the Madrigal family is Black, including Félix, Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio. Each character is played by an Afro-Latino actor. Monge Serrano argues that these characters each have roles of their own and do not only support the main character. Additionally, unlike past Disney movies, such as Soul and The Princess and the Frog, the Black characters in Encanto remain human. Published February 28, 2022, this popular source offers a perspective on Encanto’s representation of Afro-Latinos. The author, Bryan Steven Monge Serrano, offers his perspective, as someone who’s family left El Salvador. The article was published at The Stanford Daily, attached to Stanford University. The article cites a variety of sources, such as the National Museum of American History.

Stam, R., & Spence, L. (1985). Colonialism, racism and representation: An introduction. In B. Nichols (Ed.), Movies and methods: An anthology (Vol. 2, pp. 2–20). introduction, University of California Press.

Spence and Stam define Third World countries as those who were victims of colonialism (p. 4). Colombia can be put in this category based on their definition. Spence and Stam discuss the uses of language in films (p. 7). They cite examples of films in which native people only speak broken English or Portuguese people speak Spanish. Encanto is an American film, so it is mostly in English, but there are some phrases and songs that appear in Spanish, the main language spoken in Colombia. Due to cinema’s ties with colonialism, the colonized often appear negatively (p. 6). One could argue that Encanto does the opposite. Alma, the matriarch of the family, shares her story of having to leave her home and find a new one. Men on horses are chasing them, which leads to her husband’s death. These men could be interpreted as colonizers. Rather than putting the colonized in a negative light, Encanto flips this negative light to reflect on the colonizers. How does Encanto emphasize or deemphasize Colombia’s status as a Third World country? How does the film incorporate the use of Spanish? Who could the men on horses represent?

Virginia Department of Education. Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/harrisonburg-city-public-schools#desktopTabs-3

This governmental source from the Virginia Department of Education details the demographic data of Harrisonburg City Public Schools in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 51% of the public school population is Hispanic, 31% is White, and 10% is Black. The data exemplify why showing diverse perspectives is essential. These students must be represented in what they are learning to feel included at school. What is missing in this data? Why does the Virginia Department of Education track this information?

World Population Review. Colombia population 2022 (Demographics, maps, graphs). Retrieved May 10, 2022, from https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/colombia-population

According to this secondary source, 49% of the Colombian population is mestizo of European and Amerindian ancestry. 37% is of European ancestry. 11% of the population is Black. These statistics describe that the population of Colombia is not homogenous. Therefore, when making a film set in the country, the characters should represent multiple races and a variety of skin colors. Does the racial representation in Encanto match the demographics of the country?