Post #4

Post #4

Linda Christensen, "Unlearning the Myths that Bind US"

Quotes:

1."Before, I would have just walked into the toy store and bought them what I knew they wanted- Nintendo or Barbie.  But this time, I went up to the clerk and said," I want a toy that isn't sexist or racist."

I think this a new idea that many people are trying to do with buying toys that are not just for gender specific child.  I found this point right that they shouldn't only make toys that are geared towards a certain gender.  I was the typical girly girl who had barbies and polly pockets.  I wish that it was more common for me to build with legos or at least trying something different but in my family you play with your gender specific toys.  My cousin who is 3, his parents are very overly obsessed with making sure he play's with boy toys and doesn't play with girl toys just because he is a boy.  I believe any child should be able to play with any toy they want and not being based on their sex. 

2.  "Turning off the cartoons doesn't stop the sexism and racism.  They can't escape, and now they're started analyzing the rest of the world.  And sometimes they want to stop."

I agree with what she is saying that once you are able to point it out, you are able to see it in many other media's.  I don't necessarily think that it has to take over your whole entire time of watching of tv.  You should be able to realize it and take note of it that it exists.  It shouldn't have to consume you and I think it will influence the person with how much that person is able to understand what is going on.  Disney Princesses are part of the culture you should be able to watch them but they don't have to consumme your world.

3.  "Both young women wanted the race of the actors changed, but they didn't challenge the class or underlying gender inequities that also characterize the lives of Cinderella, Ariel the Mermaid, and Snow White."

 After reading this quote and how there should be a black cinderella.  I started thinking of the Cinderella movie with Brandy and Whitney Houston.  It is one of my favorite movies and I also love Cinderella and musicals.  I think it has a lot to do with the piece because Brandy is black and its one of those thing that you don't normally see in our culture.  But the stepmother is white and superior over Cinderella who is black.  There are still definite differences between the classes of the rich and the poor and between men and women in the movie.  So below is my youtube video for Cinderella.  I hope everyone watches it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5mqWuKuGk0&feature=relmfu

Questions/Remarks:

I haven't changed my perspective of loving disney movies.  I believe that there is a big difference between race, class status, and  gender.  I think movie companies are trying to get people's attention and do this to make money.  Parents should be aware of this and that all people are equal but it probably would not happen for parents to discuss after every movie that not everything in the movies is true.  I think Christensen wants everyone to realize that this type of propaganda has been going for many years and there are many things that haven't changed in our society and people should at least try to change it.