- Giroux does a good job of organizing his arguments into coherent paragraphs that are numbered and clearly indicate what he will be discussing. Breaking up his article into numbered sections makes the article a bit less dense and helps the reader to identify the themes of his article.
- I agree with Giroux's point that we should not overlook Disney's negative underlying messages, themes, and stereotypes simply because children are the target audience. To support this, he hits on the idea that Disney makes childhood "compatible with consumerism" and that the corporation masks its true intentions with a "trademarked innocence." I found this point interesting and valid because I personally found myself thinking that the reason I still loved Disney movies despite it's sometimes offending comments/visuals is because they're supposed to be light-hearted, fun movies that inspire children to dream and never give up. While I still think this is true, I do ask myself, should this be enough to justify the racial, historical, gendered, and cultural implications of Disney movies?
- I liked how Giroux addressed Disney's very one-sided portrayal of protagonists being white and the portrayal of "a native white Protestant dream of a world without blacks or immigrants" and "a world without tenements or poverty or urban class conflict." While it seems harmless that Disney fails to represent children of color, overtime I have seen how damaging it can be for minorities and non-white children to be exposed to only white heroes and princesses, as I of agree that it molds into their heads an idea that these positions can only be filled by white girls and boys. While Disney does beer their movies towards all children, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are portraying all kinds of children, hence the enormous lack of diversity. As a little side-note, I think my mother noticed this theme in Disney as a child and while she continued to show me Disney movies, she coupled them with an HBO show called: "Happily Ever After: A Tale for Every Child" that remade Disney films and story lines using characters of all different ethnicities and backgrounds.
- Though I may be contradicting myself, one thing I don't quite understand is why Giroux and many others are so convinced by the idea that young children are truly aware of messages conveyed in Disney movies and are so impacted by Disney as to changing their ideologies. I don't actually believe that the values and life goals of young children are being changed or swayed. For instance, I didn't watch The Little Mermaid thinking, ya know what? It's totally okay for me to abandon my family, change my body, and give up the things I enjoy most to find love. While I do admit that as I grew older (end of middle school, early high school) I began to pick up on more of these negative messages, I simply just grew aware of these negative stereotypes and if anything, it made me stronger, being able to acknowledge the wrong is Disney. However for children, I think we need to reevaluate the long-term impacts on children that Giroux claims is prevalent.
- One thing I'd thought to be super cool and hadn't considered before is the notion of children making films and other forms of cultural production in order to become more aware/hold more power over knowledge production. The actual making of a film can help children to explore themes with a subconscious that uses moral judgment and to decipher what is and is not okay to include in films. I think learning in this way is unique but has potential for effectiveness and was intrigued by this point.
Giroux had some interesting points, but on a COMPLETELY random note, I was upset by how he portrayed Belle in his quick analysis of Beauty and the Beast. He describes Belle simply as a model of etiquette. While this may be true in certain instances, it in no way shape or form encapsulates what Belle stands for. She is one of the only Disney princes that chooses love for personality and looks past the superficiality of love that is presented to her (Gaston). She actually takes time to educate herself (funny that she is outcasted and talked about because of it) and actually takes the time to get to know the Beast before falling in love with him (Most Disney princesses fall in love way too fast, sometimes in minutes). I remember Belle for showing that love is more than appearance and life is more rewarding when we spend time embracing the non-artificial and taking time to enjoy what surrounds us (books, nature, etc.).
These are my thoughts on Giroux!!! Stay tuned for more!
Peace Love Disney :)
Chandler
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