Reflection: Christensen
This is one of my favorite articles that we have been given to read. The author Christensen is doing some really important work by informing people because ignorance is not bliss. Growing up with a sister only thirteen months apart from me and having two brothers five years younger than me I got to see an array of children intended content. My sister and I would fight about who got to be certain characters because they were pretty, and got the guy, but why did that matter to me I was 8? The Princess and the Pauper Barbie movie was by far our favorite movie, it was about two lost sisters who sang, had people try to murder them and each married a man at eighteen. There is no sense of reality there whatsoever. My parents raised my sister and me as independent women who would get our education first and never settle, yet growing up that movie was something we loved. I am nineteen now and in no way have the thought of marriage. These princess movies have shoved in young girls faces looks matter, why do it when men can do it for you, and that women have limits. This is not true. Looking at a cartoon that I watched with all my siblings was Spongebob Squarepants. We would watch this show on repeat because it was so funny. I have since then changed how I feel about the show. Recently I walked in on my younger family members watching and some of the adults jokes put in that I never noticed as a young girl were very easily spotted now. I would never have my children watch a program like that. This cartoon showed a lazy bumb starfish who had no job and lived under a rock, a crab who would value money above everyone else (even his daughter), a sponge who was overworked/ took a lot of mean comments from his squid neighbor who joked about harming himself and others. The last program that I just recently found changed the look of a cartoon character’s race and whitewashed it after almost ten years was The Winx Club. Every Saturday when I was younger I’d watch this show with my sister and two of our favorite characters was Aisha and Flora who was the only female black and latina characters on the show. Aisha was voiced by Keke Palmer, a black female actress, and singer. Just recently they decided to make her a white character which really disappointed me. How will young girls who watch this show relate to it if they do not have connections with these characters? Latino, Black, Asian, Arabic ect. Female characters are being whitewashed, and for what? If they are even put into a film though they have a stereotyped role such as a black man being part of a gang dealing drugs. I do not blame myself or my parents for being exposed to these subliminal messages growing up, but now that I am informed I will analyze everything, speak up, and not own a TV when I have children.
Thanks for sharing how you are re-viewing and thinking about shows you watched as a child. The values underneath shows send powerful messages -- it's important that they are named and recognized.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is shocking how when we were younger we created so many expectations for ourselves based on what we saw in movies. I also imagined myself to be in a different place I am in now due to what these shows and movies portrayed. Reality is much, much different.
ReplyDeleteIt was really interesting that they recently made Aisha into a white character and I think bringing that up made a really good point. There is a lot of whitewashing happening in the media that should not be happening.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog and I like how you looked further into shows that you used to watch and noticed changes. I think it’s crazy how a show could think it’s a good idea to completely change the race of a character and I wonder what message that will send to kids currently watching the show that will notice the change.
ReplyDeleteI do give you kudos for wanting to raise your future children without T.V. I might disagree that these shows instill something bad into children necessarily but I do think these shows and T.V in general doesn't really instill in children any practical skills that will help them later in life. Unless their concern was writing or entertainment or something.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your passion for wanting you children to grow up without the bad influences that TV can show a child, personally I have struggled with this having a 3yr old brother. I believe not exposing him to TV and multi-media would hurt him in a world where technology is so so so important. What I personally do when a show is highlighting an ideal that is not what I want him to learn we pause and put the focus on that behavior. He is absolutely obsessed with Thomas The Train, a lot of times that show highlights bulling, even at 3 I point it out to him, " Hey LEvi was that nice what Thomas said to Percy?", more often then not he will reply, " No, Sissy Percy must be sad now" He is becoming aware that a TV show does not teach him how he should act. This is my personal take on TV nd children and I applaud you for making a hard choice for your future kids! its hard to do!
ReplyDeleteWhat you wrote was very interesting. These shows have stereotypes and I do not blame parents for not letting there kids watch tv at a young age. A lot of these shows send messages that are hidden as well!
ReplyDeleteShows do have alot of stereotypes that are indirectly influencing children's views of the world. Do you think not exposing your children to these things is necessary or is there a way to let them enjoy these movies but explain that that's not real life?
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