Most people view animation as a children's medium; Disney, among the most famous. What military symbolism can you find in "Snow White" ?

2016-08-07T18:36:18-04:00

"Doc" has been returned to flight status after a loving restoration. Everyone knows there were seven dwarves, can you name them and think of a reason why each might have been named? Why seven?

Think about the song lyrics. They were written just as WWII was ending, but could be applied to each military "war, conflict, peace keeping mission."

Finally, why do the animals always do the housekeeping and why won't they ever return to home?

Response by Alan K. made Aug 7 at 2016 6:44 PM

2016-08-07T18:44:52-04:00

25 years ago i could have answered that off the top of my head, just like knowing all the Dr. Seuss by heart. the boys have graduated college now and who is this Snow White? I have all the Disney classics still, would have to watch again though!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2016 6:47 PM

2016-08-07T18:47:45-04:00

You lost me on this one...so, please accept my humble link as tribute.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/marine-surprises-daughter-snow-white-helps-marine-dad-18921795

Video: 'Snow White' Helps With Marine Dad, Daughter's Reunion

Video supports perception that dreams really can come true at Disneyland.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 7 at 2016 7:27 PM

2016-08-07T19:27:51-04:00

Interesting perspective, one I'd never encountered before....

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Aug 7 at 2016 7:42 PM

2016-08-07T19:42:21-04:00

Come to think of it Maj Kim Patterson, I don't think I have ever seen Snow White but I know the story's backround. I guess I can see the dwarve as troops in some way accomplishing their mission together.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2016 8:47 PM

2016-08-07T20:47:21-04:00

My answer:

Snow White is wearing a blue blouse accented by a light red/pink headband and a white collar. Her outfit is very patriotic exemplifying the red, white and blue colors of the American flag too. Snow White might be seeking a Marine Corps officer as a husband to sweep her off her feet, or possibly a veteran of any one of the military services. Snow White's dress is yellow.

The Dwarfs are Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Bashful, Happy, and Doc. Their names represent their most conspicuous qualities. Seven is a prime number that most likely symbolizes God and that cannot be divided evenly. Seven dwarfs on their way to work are full of life and are the inverse of the seven deadly sins or death. The Dwarfs are not military personas. The Dwarfs are civilian personas that support the war effort through hard work and diligence.

Finally, this is out on a limb here, but since it's Sunday - the animals do the work and never go home because Snow White's house is their home. The home is the Kingdom. This explanation harkens toward the idea that Snow White and her husband have dominion over the animals in the Kingdom because their union is sanctioned by God.

I looked up the names of the Dwarfs and saw the picture of the animals doing the housekeeping.

The Cars have an American flag cropped into the picture.

And Marvin the Martian, well, leave it to Bugs and Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century to foil the most perfectly laid plans for world domination (three of my most favorite characters in all of Looney Toons!)

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Aug 7 at 2016 10:38 PM

2016-08-07T22:38:52-04:00

I went to many briefings that put me to sleep for long periods. I also was constantly being harassed by short people.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 7 at 2016 11:48 PM

2016-08-07T23:48:19-04:00

I have Snow White on VHS (no that's not a typo, yes I said VHS, LOL), does that count as an honorary mention? :)

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2016 12:01 AM

2016-08-08T00:01:10-04:00

Aside from the fact that Dumbo, Hippo, Sleepy, Dopey, Goofy, Groucho, and Bimbo are leading the Congress and the nation, I'm at a loss to comprehend any other connection.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Aug 8 at 2016 9:07 AM

2016-08-08T09:07:50-04:00

Great question and I'm going to hold back on my answer as I'm enjoying reading all the other answers that have been posted Maj Kim Patterson.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2016 1:51 PM

2016-08-08T13:51:46-04:00

Here's a Grunt's input:
The Dwarves names, to start with:
Happy: The fresh-faced butter bar taking his first PLT
Grumpy: The 1SG (obviously)
Sneezy: The "sick call ranger" that is never at PT formation because he's at sick call
Dopey: The new Private that doesn't know his elbow from his a**hole
Doc: The medic
Bashful: The XO (when speaking to the CO)
Sleepy: The PSG (disgruntled, hung over and not in the mood to deal with your sh*t)

As for the song, the best answer I can give you is my guess:
The generalization of the song is indicative of the power of teamwork, and the day-in/day-out routine of work, home, work, home. "it's off to work we go" is repeated, suggesting that the routine is consistent and predictable, but it also uses "we." If it were written today, it would almost certainly say "I." Because in our world, teamwork is paramount to success. But this movie was not made to cater to us; it was made for children. As it applies to us however, we all work as a team, and live out the monotonous routine of home, work, home, work until we deploy and start touring.

And finally, the animals:
When a new Infantry Private is in OSUT, he is made to believe that he is a heartless, rutheless combat killer. And he carries that mentality. So, in a social colloquialism, he would be called an animal. But when that Private gets to his unit, what is he going to do? Clean, work, and handle all the tedious, BS details. He is the animal doing the servant work. And why do the Animals never go home? Because the 1SG tells the PSG, the PSG tell the Squad Leaders, who tell the Team Leaders, who THEN tell the Privates to go "home." But their home is a Barracks room. It isn't home. And the animals always come from somewhere, they aren't crawling out of the cupboards. So the animals coming from their dens = Privates coming out of the Barracks.

Again, this is just a supposition based on the my view in an Infantry unit, and therefore may be interpreted differently by others.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Aug 9 at 2016 12:01 AM

2016-08-09T00:01:06-04:00

I put this question on my civilian Facebook and had a side conversation with a military spouse who looks forward to my writings. Here is the 0300 CST version.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little girl born with lips of red and skin snow white.

Her daddy loved her so...One day, she wandered into the forest where her friends the chipmunks and birds and bunnies lived.

Some days they would play and some days they would sing. She told them about standing by the well and wishing for her prince to come.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, there lived seven men. If they were in the army, they would be called a squad, complete with a medic named "Doc."

One was sleepy from keeping watch. One was happy because he got a letter from home. One was grumpy because he was almost done with his tour and wanted to go home. The new had worn off, there was sand in his shoes, the coffee was watery, no one knew how to cook. You could always tell where sneezy was. Be careful so no one knows where you are! Aahh... Aahh....CHOO!

Of course, the new guy was bashful, he just joined the group. And then the guy everyone loved, the one who took up the rear, with a uniform that didn't quite fit. But always a smile on his face, sometimes a little crooked. He didn't talk much. Just because he was quiet and had baggy clothes, the others thought of him as dopey. (Could just be the dope they'd been smoking.) He saw and heard everything.

Just as Snow White sang at her well, the seven little men sang as they worked. "Hi ho, hi ho it's off to work we go..." Sometimes they would just whistle. Whistle while you work. And off they would go each morning to the mines.

"Dig. Dig dig dig dig dig dig." (Count em, 7). "Dig dig dig dig dig, dig dig, it's what (they) liked to do." Someone had to dig the tunnels and trenches. They were in search of jewels, ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue. In a mine, THERE's a MINE!!

And every evening, the seven would gather their picks and gear and head back to the single hut they bunked in. Spend all day in the mine, who has time to cook and clean? The weary men ate, piled their dishes on top of dishes on top of more dishes...

"Sweet dreams little princess!" was the last thing little snow would hear each night.... (The life of the military family, always waiting for word, wishing, hoping).

Who wants to read the next chapter?