I just realized I was misreading your posts, I didn't realize you were talking about people actually inferring their interpretations applied to the characters as well as/instead of themselves. I mean, they're welcome to do that, but now I do see the point of contention here. People can read the situation as a metaphor for other things that can apply to a given situation, but yes, it is different if they are reading it into what the movie is "really" about. If it gives more meaning to a person to interpret the meaning of a film a certain way, more power to them. I don't think there's a wrong way to interpret anything, as long as it doesn't influence others.
For me, Frozen is a look at the different ways people can react to love; romantic, familial, platonic, whatever, or a lack of it in their lives. Love can exist in many... any form. Love can mean as much as you want it to. It can heal, if nurtured, and hurt if neglected. It's a very broad look at the film, but it has a broad reach, a universal meaning.
I could interpret the tiara in Tangled to be a representation of Rapunzel's virginity or something, and figure out a way to apply it to my life, or put some sort of additional meaning on that object or lines in the film, but in the end, for the story's purpose, the tiara is merely an item of monetary value to Flynn, and personal/emotional value to Rapunzel. I'd never imply that was what I was supposed to infer from that inanimate object in the film, but regardless, my mind will make a connection based on my own experiences or knowledge. I guess some people will just take that connection and insist that it is fact, or intention.
This was supposed to connect to the conversation somehow but I just got called away to a meeting and I lost my train of thought... and don't want to delete the post. I think it's all open to interpretation, but to push that interpretation on people, to shame them if they don't reach the same conclusions, or if they choose not to read or project into the intentions of a musical number is where I agree I can't lend my support.
I understand the connections people have made to Elsa and other social and emotional issues, and I get their interpretations, but I don't feel any of them represent the "true meaning" of the film, or her character. But I do appreciate that the words and messages portrayed in the film have taken on new meaning for people, and transcended the medium.
I think this exactly is what I wanted to get at with one of my earlier posts. I don't want to put words in the studio/filmmaker's mouths, but we really don't know if there's any intentional subtext to be inferred. I do know that the studio is not likely to provide an answer that leans toward any particular stance.
And that's a good point, I've seen a lot of interpretations of the film, and specifically Elsa's arc, but I've yet to see someone actually trying to push their take on the film as gospel. It does happen with many other films and works of art, so I do understand the concern.
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