Hinchliffe - Blog #4: Christensen

"Unlearning the Myths that Blind Us" 

By: Christensen 

Children's Books: Good or Bad? (Talking point 1)

     Have we ever stopped to think what we are actually reading when we read these fairytale stories to children? Has anyone ever stopped and asked if it was creating a false reality for children? Cinderella needs the fancy dress and glass slippers to get the prince, Ariel needs legs to get the prince and so on. These fairytale stories favor one set of people over the other in most cases. The females are, in most cases, young, pretty, thin, and trying to achieve the goal of getting the prince. The princes are tall, handsome, and strong. What idea does this put into a young girls mind? She must be pretty and she must maintain her figure and stay thin. If theres one thing that makes me question my reality it would be just that. I feel the need to constantly work out, exercise, eat healthy. I get insecure when I gain a single pound, never mind three. Where did I get this idea that I must look a certain way? I never believed my mom when she would tell me I'm skinny enough, I don't need to lose any more weight. In fact, when she brought it up I would get kind of annoyed and tell her she only said it because she's my mom and she has to. Did I get this idea of how I need to look from watching cartoons and princess movies growing up? 

Let's consider: Humpty Dumpty

     Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,

All the King's horses

And all the King's men

Cannot put Humpy together again

Well, Humpty Dumpty was a cannon and not an egg to start off. The cannon was shot off, "fell off a wall" and could not be fixed. The true meaning of Humpty Dumpty is not a cute story about an egg and if anything is actually sad. So why do we read these fairy tales to children?

Christensen writes, "After studying cartoons and cluldren's llrerature, my student Omar wrote: "When we read children's books, we aren't just reading cute little stories, we are discovering ihe tools with which a young society is manipulated."" Children grow up with an idea of what society is supposed to be like due to these fairytales and then are disappointed when they learn that life is not a fairytale.

Cartoons & Media: Are you influenced? 

    Are you aware of the way cartoons, media, tv shows, etc. have influenced you? Do you recognize the way you act due to the things you grew up watching or seeing? Do you follow the latest trends or wear the most popular brands? Have you ever asked yourself why you wear certain clothes or certain shoes? 

    Many of us are unaware of the role media has played in outlives. I'll be the first to admit that I always buy name brand clothes and shoes. I won't say that it is not my style because I do like my style and what I wear but I do not think I would have decided to dress this way or wear the shoes I wear without the affects of media. I follow the latest trends and brands and that may be because I unconsciously want to "fit in" or simply because it is the style I enjoy wearing. Media affects the way we act within our everyday lives. If you're a child watching a cartoon and the "cool kids" act a certain way, a child that wants to "fit in" is going to try acting that way. Christensen writes, "Many students don't want to believe that they have been manipulated by children's media or advertising" (pg 128). 

Stereotypes: Whose better? Who has power? Whose dominant? 

    One quote read, '"A Black Cinderella! Give Me a Break." She wrote: "Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon! Did they have a leading role or were they a servant? What do you think this is doing to your child's

mind?" She ended her piece: "Women who aren't white begin to feel left OUt and ugly because they never get to play the princess."' (Christensen pg 131).  These movies teach children what the dominant role in society is. If we are being honest with ourselves then we know and can admit that the dominant roles are, white, straight, male. In the case of women it is the white women. Who decided these societal roles of power though? I challenge you to consider yourself and the role you play in society and reevaluate why you behave the way you behave.