Talking Points #4

Linda Christensen - Unlearning the myths that blind us

This article is about...
-The media
-Effects
-Stereotypes
-Feedback
-Truth
-Reality

Christensen argues that through the media and other outside forms of entertainment, children receive a 'secret education' and subconsciously follow it.

1. "Dorfman wrote 'Although these stories are supposed to merely entertain us, they constantly give us a secret education.' "

2. "But i want students to understand that if the race of the character is the only thing changing, injustices may still remain" By this she talks about how even though producers have made an effort to change characters in movies and cartoons to a different race to accommodate more people the plots are legends and will probably always remain with the same outcome that is still discrimination in some sense.

3. "Both of these tales leave young woman with two myths: happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption- in their cases, through new clothes and a new hairstyle." In this statement she is suggesting the fact that growing up watching these movies, girls tend to come to the conclusion that everything possible must be done in order to get a male. It leaves out that woman can be just as content without a man. It teaches them how woman have no independence on their own and they must rely on someone of the opposite sex. It also explains that woman cannot be themselves. It talks about how being in style with a new wardrobe and the most up to date hairstyle you can achieve much more.

This article opened up a new view for me. In a way I feel like it took away what was left of my childhood innocence. Through the years I have noticed little things about race and 'perfection' of certain fairy tales but never this much in depth. Growing up I was a huge fan of Disney movies and I do believe it has made me view things differently. Almost every year for Halloween for probably five years in a row i was always the same thing, Cinderella. I always made my mother put my hair in a bun with a tiara as id prance around pretending to be the prettiest. Also, i often dreamed of growing up and running into my 'prince charming.' Although i see where Christensen is coming from I have to slightly disagree. Being raised by the media and other published works doesn’t necessarily mean that the child will grow up and completely assume a life like that seen on TV. It didn’t take long after my Saturday morning cartoons and Disney movies stage was over to realize that as a girl I am not helpless and i don’t intend to ever rely on some man to come around as my 'savior' so we can live happily ever after. In reality today i think things are progressing a little better but at the same time seem to become worse. Even though more cartoons are out with different races and ethnic backgrounds with a more logical ending the classics are legends and have been out for dozens of years and will most likely remain out for dozens more. However, its not just cartoons that kids tend to watch. Even when their not suppose to they tend to flip through the channels and find something that catches their eye while the adult is out of the room. I can remember when i was little i was watching the news when they announced that The Simpson’s was no longer a kids show but now for adult viewers only. I had a hard time understanding why and proceeded to watch it anyway. Also, the show Beavis and butthead was finally taken off the air because so many kids were imitating the bad things they watched and then laughed at it because that’s what they did on the show. I can recall hearing about several incidents from a kid lighting the living couch on fire to putting a cat in the microwave. The reality is that as long as programs get viewers, they will continue to trash the brains of minors.

"Crash diets, fat phobias and an obsession with the materialistic become commonplace." This is very well said. It’s not only children that the media targets its also young teens and perhaps even a more mature teen who has been raised on the media and will continue to do so. It's not only cartoons that give the image of perfection but reality shows also. They tend to have all different types of people involved but it’s always the same. The pretty skinny girl that attracts all the guys, and if their so happens to be an over weight person they get little or no attention and tend to have a very low self esteem. The conclusion is that nothing in society teaches the developing mind to be satisfied with who they are and to disregard people who think otherwise.