Unlearning the myths that bind us By: Linda Christensen (Arugment)

This author Linda Christensen argues that the media that children are expose to ideas that can control what they want to believe, whether it is through Disney movies or in cartoons in general.  Stereotyping in cartoons automatically lead children to believe that they are certain roles in life; women need saving, the beautiful are successful, the fat and ugly are buffoons and people of color are always the servant. 

“At one point of the cartoon, Popeye clips a dog collar on helpless Olive Oyl and drags her through the desert.” Children are affect so much by cartoons, this example alone gives girls the idea that it’s perfectly fine to be the damsel in distress and gives boys the idea that girls can’t do anything for themselves just let the men do everything and save the day.  

“people of color and poor people are either absent or servants to the rich, white, pretty people” is a comment one of Christensen students points out during the film viewings. It is this kind of ideas that can in lead a child to be racist, which is another point Christensen makes. Having people of color shown as a set down from the main characters will have children think they are inferior if they are not white or rich.

Christensen points were not to prove how horrible cartoons are and shouldn’t be shown, it was to help and have people notice the hidden messages that kids might pick up and believe.

“Instead of…..standing around with their hands on their hips, shaking their heads about how bad the world is, I provided them the opportunity to make a difference.”

In class I hope to talk about what differences can we make and if anyone else feels affected by watching cartoons with hidden messages (knowing what they are now.)