Sunday, March 6, 2011

Unlearning the Myths That Blind Us

ARGUMENT:

Author Linda Christiansen argues that starting from childhood, people are manipulated by what is called the "secret education". The "secret education" is found in children's books, movies, television programs etc., and Christiansen is saying that through the media, children begin to form their understanding of how the world works. They are wrapped up in the stereotypes and the portrayals of what a true "fairytale" life is like. She believes that children need to look at all the things they are seeing everyday, and analyze them for what is hidden underneath. She shows her students old cartoons because the stereotypes in them are obvious, and she then has the students look at the roles of the men, women, people of color, and poor people in the cartoons. From here she asks them who plays which parts. It is almost certain you will have the lead as someone who is white and beautiful or maybe, going back to what we talk about it class, they fit in with the culture of power. Christiansen wants us to question the message that is being portrayed in these cartoons, and see how this can affect our futures.  One quote that really stood out to me in this article was from one of her students that said "True death equals a generation living by rules and attitudes they never questioned and producing more children who do the same." Even though this is a quote from a student, I believe it perfectly embodies the argument that Christansen is trying to make.

6 comments:

  1. i agree with your final statement about that particular quote. it sums up her argument very nicely and is true the ideas will be passed down and eventually hurt us.

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  2. It is very tough to see that fairytales are the portal to stereotyping. I loved the Disney movies because the princess was always beautiful and she always fell in love with a prince, but I never saw that she was usually white.

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  3. I agree a lot with the argument that you said Christensen is trying to make. That quote by that student really does stick out. I didn't notice it as much when I was reading but now that you bring it up in your argument, it is a strong quote from a student.

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  4. I think you have a very strong argument formed here with a solid explanation. And I also agree with Amanda on Disney princesses...prior to reading this article I always loved them because of all that they stood for (dresses, hair, make up, falling in love, etc) but I never picked up on the fact that they were all white..until the whole debate over having a black Disney princess...which I think made it worse in some ways...

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  5. You explained Christensen's argument very well. And you picked a great quote to sum up this post. It definitely fits Christensen's position on this topic.

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  6. Could you imagine a world without questioning? If people didn't question we wouldn't be where we are now... literally.

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