History Main / HarpOfFemininity

* At least one animated version of the {{Rapunzel}} fable has the title character playing a harp. It's hearing her "special song" that allows the blinded Prince to find her again.

In fictionland, there are many ways to underline a man's {{Badass}}ery or his [[RatedMForManly masculinity]]. But how can you display a woman's femininity in a less vulgar, more dignified way than [[{{Stripperific}} dressing like a whore]] and [[FeminineWomenCanCook making a sandwich for a guy]]? Simple, have her play the harp.

Just as playing the electric guitar is often used as a sign of absolute masculinity, the harp's crystalline and delicate tones, as well as its graceful shape, will emphasize the femininity of the woman playing it. Not to mention that it gives the harpist a definite air of [[TheHighQueen nobility]]. As such, harp-playing women in fiction are almost always important to the plot.

In fictionland, there are many ways to underline a man's {{Badass}}ery or his [[RatedMForManly masculinity]]. But how can you display a woman's femininity in a less vulgar way than [[{{Stripperific}} dressing like a whore]] and [[FeminineWomenCanCook making a sandwich for a guy]]? Simple, have her play the harp.

In fictionland, there are many ways to underline a man's {{Badass}}ery or his [[RatedMForManly masculinity]]. But how can you display a woman's femininity in a classier way than [[{{Stripperific}} dressing like a whore]] and [[FeminineWomenCanCook making a sandwich for a guy]]? Simple, have her play the harp.

* Partial aversion: In the {{Pern}} novels, the highest-ranking musician on the planet is accorded the rank of Masterharper, regardless of their gender. However, not all Masterharpers actually play the harp.

** Subverted with Benethosh Mime and the two Orpheus (Lyre from the manga and newer OVA's, Kotoza from one of the non-canon movies), male {{Musical Assassin}}s who use small harps and lyres as [[WeaponOfChoice weapons of choice]]. In fact, we meet Mime in the Ansgard Saga when Shun finds him peacefully playing his lyre in the snow... and then uses its chords as RazorFloss to attack.

* [[PlayingWith Played with]] in ''DualHearts''. [=McTuve=] (a male) plays a small harp, contributing to his ViewerGenderConfusion mystique. Doesn't help that the game is not dubbed (save for battle cries).

* ''TheEmperorsNewGroove'': Kronk's (male) shoulder angel carries a harp, prompting his shoulder devil to mock the "sissy, stringy thing."

** Subverted with Benethosh Mime and the two Orpheus (Lyre from the manga and newer OVA's, Kotoza from one of the non-canon movies), male {{Musical Assassin}}s who use small harps and lyres as [[WeaponOfChoice weapons of choice.]] In fact, we meet Mime in the Ansgard Saga when Shun finds him peacefully playing his lyre in the snow... and then uses its chords as RazorFloss to attack.

* The evil matriarch of the girls' boarding school in ''A Little Princess'' is shown playing a harp at moments when she's not actively working to make Sarah's life miserable. Her musical ability is arguably the only likeable trait the character has.

[[AC: Live Action TV]]

* [[TheBible King David]] : Traditionally his favorite instrument was the harp making this another inversion.

* totally subverted by [[this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtYCOAFPPVc&feature=related]] Youtube vid, possibly the [[IncrediblyLamePun heavenliest]] rendition of the Star Wars Cantina music ever.....played by a teen boy

* Yuria in the ''{{Fist of the North Star}}'' anime, who has come into possession of a harp and nothing else while in Shin's captivity, and is playing it in most scenes she makes an appearance in that period of time. The harp sound plays any time Kenshiro thinks about her.

* Yuria in the ''FistoftheNorthStar'' anime, who has come into possession of a harp and nothing else while in Shin's captivity, and is playing it in most scenes she makes an appearance in that period of time. The harp sound plays any time Kenshiro thinks about her.

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In fictionland, there are many ways to underline a man's {{Badass}}ery or his [[RatedMForManly masculinity]]. But how can you display a woman's femininity in a classier way than [[{{Stipperiffic}} dressing like a whore]] and [[FeminineWomenCanCook making a sandwich for a guy]]? Simple, have her play the harp.

In fictionland, there are many ways to underline a man's {{Badass}}ery or his [[RatedMForManly masculinity]]. But how can you display a woman's femininity in a classier way than [[{{Stipperific}} dressing like a whore]] and [[FeminineWomenCanCook making a sandwich for a guy]]? Simple, have her play the harp.

In fictionland, there are many ways to underline a man's {{Badass}}ery or his [[RatedMForManly masculinity]]. But how can you display a woman's femininity in a classier way than [[FeminineWomenCanCook making a sandwich for a guy]]? Simple, have her play the harp.

* In the {{Pern}} novels, the highest-ranking musician on the planet is accorded the rank of Masterharper.

* ''TheLegendOfZelda'' series has a few harp players. Marin from ''Link's Awakening'' is shown to play the harp in official art (though she never does so in the game itself, and never mentions that she can, either). Then there's Sheik in ''Ocarina of Time'', who turns out to be female even though she [[{{Bifauxnen}} looks male]]. Finally, ''OracleofAges'' has the Harp of Ages, which is normally played by Nayru, but after she's possessed by the villain, Link (who is obviously male) has to do it himself. In TheLegendOfZeldaWindWaker the two female Earth Sages, Medli and Laruto, are harpists.

* Duchess in ''TheAristocats''
* ''TheEmperorsNewGroove'': Kronk's shoulder angel carried a harp, prompting his shoulder devil to mock the "sissy, stringy thing".

** Subverted with Benethosh Mime and the two Orpheus (Lyre from the manga and newer OVA's, Kotoza from one of the non-canon movies), male {{Musical Assassin}}s who use small harps and lyres as [[WeaponOfChoice weapons of choice.]] In fact, we meet Mime in the Ansgard Saga when Shun finds him peacefully playing his harp in the snow... and then uses its chords as RazorFloss to attack.