Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us
By Linda Christensen
1. The author quotes Dorfman who wrote, "Although these stories are supposed to merely entertain us, they constantly give us a secret education...we are also taught how to succeed, how to love..." (128). This quote really struck me. As a child and even now my life has been surrounded by books and movies, as well as TV shows. To this day I still watch Disney and Pixar movies. I can agree with this statement that these movies are a form of "secret education." Children, as well as my younger self, grow up with the notion of true love and true love's first kiss. We strongly believe that when it comes to life and romance there will always be a happy ending. When it comes to the real world is this notion really possible?
2. When discussing Popeye the author writes, "that depicts all Arabs with the same face, same turban, same body-and they are all thieves swinging enormous swords" (130). I have actually seen this scene in Popeye when I was younger. But this is not only found in Popeye. It can also be seen in Peter Pan with the portrayal of Tiger Lilly and her family. These portrayals can easily be dismissed by children that are white but those of other ethnicities are not so privileged.
3. I really liked this quote, "...Both of these tales leave young women with two myths: Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption-in their case, through new clothes and a new hairstyle" (133). Here is the image of women in these movies and their affect on children. In many of the well known fairytales there is a portrayal of the "damsel in distress" and a rescue by "prince charming". The women are seen as weak and unable to defend for themselves. On the other hand the men are seen as strong and invincible, they are the heroes.
This writing to me was one of the best ones yet. I know that I will continue to watch Disney and Pixar movies. Yet I already find myself trying to analyze the shows and movies that I loved as a child.
I completely agree with everything you are saying. I was a huge Disney fan and when I was younger I believed that everyone finds their happily ever after and their prince charming. As you get older you realize that is not true a and life isn't a walk in the park. Also about the popeye issue as a child i would have never gathered what it says as a child. All of these stories have hidden meanings underneath them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said and still am a huge Disney fan (if you havent guessed by my folder for this class...its Cinderella). As a child you dont realize what the movies are actually teaching; but now that I am older I notice more things. I remember watching the new Toy Story movie with a three year old and in my opinion children should not watch it. For one reason, it was scary and as a young child I would have been terrified, especially in the junkyard (if youve seen it you know what Im talking about). Also, Shrek is another movie that is not appropriate for children due to the crude language that children might not notice or know what it means. Regardless writers of children's stories should rethink what they write about.
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