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Artist uses images of battered Disney princesses to combat domestic violence

by Maria Caspani | www.twitter.com/MariaCaspani85 | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Monday, 14 July 2014 20:31 GMT

CREDIT: Saint Hoax

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* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Saint Hoax used iconic images of Ariel from Little Mermaid, Jasmine from Aladdin and Cinderella to get the message across that domestic violence is never okay

(Click on slideshow to view full images)

Sometimes an image really is worth a thousand words. Especially if the images are those of some of the most famous and beloved – not just by children –heroines from Disney animated films.  

Saint Hoax, a visual artist from the Middle East, had the idea of using those very iconic images of Ariel from Little Mermaid, Jasmine from Aladdin and possibly the most revered one of all, Cinderella, to get the message across that domestic violence is never okay.

In one of Hoax’s latest projects Happy Never After, an “awareness campaign targeting any girl / woman who has been subject to domestic violence,” as stated on Hoax’s website, a series of images show Cinderella and other Disney icons with black eyes and bruised faces.

The message that accompanies the images also plays on the fairy tale connotation associated with them. A catchphrase reads: “When did he stop treating you like a princess? It’s never too late to put an end to it.”

“The aim of the poster series is to encourage victims to report their cases in order for the authorities to prevent it from happening again,” said a statement on Hoax’s website.

“I think the act of domestic violence itself is shocking,” Hoax said in an interview with ABC Action News. “If we want to tackle it in any way we have to shock the audience in order for us to pass the message across.” 

(Editing by Lisa Anderson: lisa.b.anderson@thomsonreuters.com)

All images by Saint Hoax http://www.sainthoax.com/

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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