"Secret Education"
The books and stories we read as children each have a different meaning that sticks with us forever. For example Cinderella was my favorite movie as a child. Ever since I first saw that movie I had a dream of finding my own "prince charming" and living in a beautiful castle. That movie made me think that everyone found their own prince charming and lived a perfect life. As I got older I found out that was not entirely true. Yes some people do find their "prince charming" but not everyone does.
"popeye"
When I was younger I never thought that popeye portrayed the ethnic groups as stupid. As a child you do not think of what they are really doing in the shows. You only see what is on the surface and not what is really inside. I can remeber my mom always saying to me to eat my spinach so i could be strong like popeye. I thought of popeye as a strong man that was a sailor. I did not think of it as a show that portrayed ethnic groups as stupid.
"happily ever after"
These are words that appear at the end of every disney movie and book. Disney movies always have a conflict in teh middle but then end with a happily ever after. When children watch these movies they think that everything ends with a happy ending. When the child grows up they soon see that life is not full of happy endings.
This entire article tells you about the real meanings of these cartoons. When you are young you don't think of the real meanings you only think of the ones on the surface. For example happily ever after makes you think everything ends with a happy ending. However, when you go through life you soon see that things are always a happy endings.
I agree with the false notion of "happily ever after". If you teach a child this they dont see that in life there could be struggles. It also, teaches that finding a "prince charming" is the only way to live happily ever after when that is not always the case. A child needs to learn that not everyone finds a prince charming and he does not always ride in on a horse and save you. I think Cinderella is a great story and its one of my favorites I just think when reading it a parent should explain that not everyone finds a prince charming like that and needs to explain the realities of life; I know this is harsh because children should have an imagination but they should not have a false hope.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you are saying. As children we don't realize the implications that are made in Disney movies and such. When we are adults we start to see that the Disney movies we watched as a child is just fantasy and not possible on real life. Although at times they occasionally happen.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite readings. I found it to be a major eye opener and made me realize the unsaid message. I liked what you said about happily ever after and yeah Disney's movies are famous for this. Life is not always about happy ending and those kinds of scenarios do not exist in real life. Children need to realize that life is not always happy, unfortunately life doesn't go as plan and things don't always work their way out.
ReplyDeleteI think that you do make some great point but just as I did on Alexa's blog, I'm going to have to semi disagree with you. I do think there are some messages in these films that are subliminal but I do not think that they purposely portrayed things as bad as people are making it seem. Just as you said, when you were a child, you didn't realize some of the things you do now which proves my point that children will not see what we are nit-picking out at 20 year olds. You also said that princess movies show that everyone should find their prince charming. Yes, it's very cliche but I don't think that was the message trying to be said. I think that movies showcase a dream world sometimes and that things in movies aren't always possible. It is just a form of entertainment.
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