This author Linda Christensen argues that children's media affects based on Disney movies, cartoons and books. Based on the article, she pointed out tips that really shocked me because as a young girl growing up where Disney and Barbies were a part of my childhood. It is hard to shake off that I grew up in such a manuiplative generation. Linda shows us as readers what we did not know existed. " When we read children's books, we are'nt reading cute little stories, we are discovering the tools with which a young society is manipulated." In this quote, Christensen gives you a sense about what her arguement in her article is that we were and younger generations still are being manuiplated. She continues in her aritcle stating that because of Disney and all children's movies, books, television shows, magazines and celebrities makes young girls feel as though they have to look a certain way or achieve certain things to have a "Happily Ever After." Linda states "I start by showing students old cartoons because the stereotypes are so blantan. We look at the roles women, men, people of color and poor people play in cartoons. I ask students to watch for who plays the lead, Who plays the buffoon? Who plays the servant? I encourage them to look at race, station in life, body type of each character, what motivates the character? What do they want out of life? What's their mission? If there are people of color in cartoon? What do they look like? How are they portrayed? What would children learn about this particular group from this cartoon?" I really like how she argued that only white women are portrayed as the lead roles. Sadly but this is true, you never see women of color, Latin, Black, Asian, Indian really playing the lead. There has never been a black princess to play the lead. Connecting that with her arguement, as a young girl who grew up as a Disney fanatic, I realized it took long after I was already grown up, they finally created a black princess, Tiana. It took me a while to realize the secrets hidden in children's movies and books. In her closing arguement, she states that we taking action should not stop in the classrooms but take it outside and expand it. She states that with this lesson that she had taught, that the students should realize how bad the world is and with that, stand up and make a difference.
http://www.helpfreetheearth.com/news103_Disney.html
5 comments:
i agree, its hard to shake off this stuff behind the cartons because its like, "its just a cartoon" "its just for entertainment" so it is hard to accept that behind every movie or show there was a message being displayed
I agree it was sad how they never had a woman of color play the lead role in a disney movie, but I don't think it would change the message being sent to the children. Women of different race like the Cinderella in the article show that she still had the beautiful figure, and attire to get the man and live happily ever after in the end. It is better that they do depict the main characters as different races now though!
It is hard to see how Disney is one of the biggest contributors of racism and subliminal messages. Disney movies are for children to watch for their entertainment. So, to see the media targeting young children is heartbreaking. It is also sad to see that Disney has only one African American princess, Tiana, and this happened only recently. As a child, I never caught any subliminal messages in Disney movies and I wonder if anyone else agrees with me?
I agree with you on how she develops her argument. It is definitely odd to look back and see these things that have impacted us and how in today's society they are just not right. I really enjoy your link, some of those things are ridiculous.
Its crazy how we would of never thought this growing up watching these movies and cartoons. We never witnessed the subliminal messages because we are watching the shows in a child state of mind and would never think of these things, however now that we are older we look at these issues in different perspective and see the hidden messages. Your points are one that i agree with, and its true it is sad we never see a colored person as a lead role in a movie. Good Post :]
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