Extended Comments: "Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us"

 First off I have to say that this was definitely one of my favorite readings so far! Even if it kind of ruined my childhood a little... "Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us" by Linda Christensen gave me a completely different view on so many cartoons and Disney movies that I grew up to know and love. Unfortunately, after reading this article and actually thinking about it, Linda Christensen is totally correct in saying that there is a "secret education" delivered in these cartoons and movies that has given me a certain view on life. For this week’s blog I decided to do Extended Comments on Julie's Blog because it I could totally agree with everything she was saying and she did a great job! Linda Christensen stresses the secret education that lies within many Disney movies. She believes that teenagers are "being exposed to TV images of girls and their set roles given to them by TV and the media" (129) Christensen also states that "children's books and movies, instructs young people to accept the world as it is portrayed in these social blueprints. And often that world depicts the domination of one sex, one race, one class, or one country over a weaker counterpart." (126) I think that Julie did a great job at showing examples of these issues that Christensen points out.

Here's a link to Julie's Blog!

I really liked this first picture that Julie posted on her blog so I had to use it!

This picture completely relates to Christensen's opinions on what Disney movies are actually portraying in their stories!

In Julie's blog she brought up many great examples showing how Disney movies poorly represent different people and different cultures. Julie starts out by saying how most Disney characters are pretty, skinny, and feminine, which right off the bat provides a image that young girls will want to see themselves as. The older characters are often portrayed as the bad guys and they are usually not the best looking. Julie also mentions in her post how many of the relationships in Disney movies "fail to accurately represent human sexuality because these movies have only ever portrayed “true love” as an attraction between a handsome, muscular man and an unreasonably attractive, hyper-feminine girl." She then goes on to make the point that there are no same-sex couples portrayed in Disney movies, which is a great point. There has yet to be a Disney movie where two people of the same sex fall in love with a perfect fairy-tale ending!

Another interesting point that Julie brought up in her blog post was how people of different cultures are displayed negatively in Disney movies. She used the example of Aladdin and how it portrayed an Arab stereotype. The evil character, Jafar, is a man of the Arab culture who is shown as the bad guy in the movie.

She also brought up the issue of gender roles in Disney movies. As an example she used the movie Mulan, and how it was kind of comical to see Mulan act like a guy and dress like a guy, and how Mulan struggled hiding her femininity. While it was funny to us as children, what we did not realize was how it stereotypes men.

Julie did a really awesome job reflecting on Linda Christensen's article and connecting it to many issues that she has now been able to see within many Disney movies! It was definitely interesting to read so everyone should check her blog out!

Just as a little side piece: I found this picture and thought it was kind of cool. These are a few of the Disney princesses dressed as the evil characters in their own stories! (Notice how they don't even look evil...)