The Surprising Science of Disney’s Snow White and True Love!

“Zzzzzzz…” Ah, love is in the air. Someday, YOUR prince (or princess) will come, dear Does it Fly? fans. Of this, we are certain. Why? Because even something as seemingly metaphysical as love, like everything else in the universe, is governed by certain scientific principles! Crazy, right? When we first started thinking about the concept […]

“Zzzzzzz…”

• Snow White (circa 1939)

Ah, love is in the air. Someday, YOUR prince (or princess) will come, dear Does it Fly? fans. Of this, we are certain. Why? Because even something as seemingly metaphysical as love, like everything else in the universe, is governed by certain scientific principles! Crazy, right?

When we first started thinking about the concept of “true love’s kiss” as most famously depicted in the 1939 Disney animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (not to mention countless other versions of the story), we were more concerned with the actual mechanisms of the poison in the apple that renders poor Snow White comatose, and what it would take to deliver an antidote solely via a gentle kiss on the lips. And while we do indeed cover all of that in the latest episode, our discussion spirals outward into broader philosophical discussions about the very nature of love itself! In the process, we learn a bit more about both of our hosts, and maybe (choking back tears) a little about ourselves, too!

Check out the latest weirdly romantic and wistful episode of Does it Fly? now!

SUGGESTED VIEWING 

We based the main part of our discussion for this episode on the Disney’s 1939 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. But while you’re at it, give 2007’s Enchanted a look, which gives a number of the classic Disney princess (and Snow White specifically) tropes a new spin!

To take things a little further afield, if you want to know the origins of the term “true love’s kiss” as far as we know, it goes back to William Shakespeare’s Richard III. Sir Laurence Olivier’s 1955 screen version is generally considered to be the finest version of it to make it to film. Get some culture in your life!

And if you really want to get out there, Hakeem mentions Sam Harris’ exploration of MDMA and the concept of love in many forms, which is explored here.

FURTHER READING 

Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! 

Smelling Salts

We’re willing to bet that everyone has seen smelling salts used in cartoons or old movies but few of you have actually experienced them. Here’s how they work, though.

“Love Brain”

Ah, say those words that every girl longs to hear… “oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin.” OK, maybe not those words exactly. That being said, the matter of “chemistry” when it comes to love and sexual attraction is in fact a literal thing! Let the big brains at Harvard explain.

Consent and Snow White

For a nuanced take on one of the questions that has come up around the matter of “true love’s kiss” check out this article Tamara found in The Princess Blog!

WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?

You know what pairs really well with this episode? Our exploration of Elphaba in Wicked, which you can watch right here!

Another fairy tale trope (albeit one that was used to much more spooky effect) is the concept of the “familiar”, something we explored in detail in our episode about The Crow. Check it out!

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