While reading Linda Christensen’s Unlearning the Myths That Blind Us, I started
to think of all the cartoons and Disney movies that I watched as a kid. These television
programs constantly depicted scenes of the prince and the princess falling in
love. They showed the pretty girl always getting Prince Charming. When I was
younger, I couldn’t wait to grow up to fall in love and have a big, fancy
wedding like they do in the movies. I love
Disney movies, but now I feel that when I watch them, I will be like the
students in the article and will constantly pick apart these movies.
In
Christensen’s article, she talks about the different stereotypes that are
present in the different movies and cartoons that children watch on a day to
day basis. One stereotype that stood out to me was “the absence of female
characters in many of the older cartoons. When women do appear, they look like
Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds- even in many of the new and “improved”
children’s moves.” (130) I feel as though the media puts so much pressure on people,
especially girls, to feel the need to look a certain way. Young people are
constantly comparing themselves to models or photo shopped images of men and
women that do not exist. These fake images can lead to many problems in our
society today, such as eating disorders. One of my best friends has an eating
disorder and I think that the constant pressure that society adds to look and
act a certain way definitely helped fuel it.
Throughout
this article, I found myself thinking back to the SCWAAMP activity that we did
in class. The cartoons that we watched as children constantly depicted white
men. If there were women in the cartoons, they didn’t play a major role in the
plot of the show. Cartoons rarely had main characters who were poor or of a
different race or ethnicity. The women
in the cartoons were always pretty. As I was reading this article, I started to
think about one of my favorite Disney movies, The Princess Diaries. I thought that this movie had beaten the
stereotypes of Disney movies because Mia, the main character, was a normal girl
in high school. However, as I began thinking about Christensen’s article, I realized
how this movie also fit into the stereotypes that she talked about. In the movie, Mia gets a new makeover in order to make her “look more like a princess.”Even her own grandmother thought that in order for her to play the part of aprincess, she had to change to look like one. I am so upset that The Princess Diaries fits into these
stereotypes because now when I watch it, I think that I am only going to pick
it apart more rather than enjoy the movie.
Talking Points: Are there any cartoons or movies
that you loved but are now relating to Christensen’s article? Do you think
there are any shows that should be kept from children? I loved Disney movies as
a kid and can’t imagine not having seen or grown up with them.
Cathy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you I am upset about Princess Diaries too, movies that we thought were beating the stereotype only emphasized it more. Even in the picture you posted look how bad they made her look before her "makeover". That is such a confusing message to kids that we tell to be themselves.
Shanelle
You make a good point with the Princess Diaries. It's evident that society doesn't value a woman's intellect if she doesn't have a sex appeal appearance to her. Take Sarah Palin for instance. When she was a Vice President candidate for the oval office, she was extremely "sexed up" in order to appeal to male voters. In reality she didn't need all of that if she was elected a governor in Alaska. And when they don't appear as an ideal "trophy wife" they are ridiculed for being too serious. Take Hilary Clinton for instance... I can on and on but the Princess Diaries triggered something. Lol.Thanks for sharing
ReplyDelete--
Julie
Hi Cathy,
ReplyDeleteYou had a lot of great points! I used to watch the Princess Diaries films when I was younger, and I never realized that they fit the stereotypes before you mentioned this in your post. You included some great examples, and I also agree with what you wrote about the pressures of society. Great post!