1. "When we read children's books, we aren't just reading cute little stories, we are discovering the tools with which a young society is manipulated." pg. 1.
I picked this quote, because when I read it, it opened my eyes and showed me how true it was. These books are how children view the rest of the world, they get their first impressions of the different races, sexes, and cultures.
2. "Many students don't want to believe that they have been manipulated by children's media or advertising. No one wants to admit that they've been "handled" by the media. They assure me that they make their own choices and the media has no power over them - as they sit with fubu, nike, timberlands, or whatever the latest fashion rage might be." pg. 2
I chose this quote because it is something that I can connect with. I too, am guilty of feeling a sort of resentment when analyzing Disney movies/characters. I don't want to believe that my favorite childhood memories could be anything but for pure enjoyment. When reading about how Disney movies and shows portray people in a bad way, I will do anything to keep it from my mind. But it doesn't hide the fact that it is true, and that these underlying messages do exist.
3. "For some the lesson doesn't end in the classroom. Many who watched cartoons before we start our study say they can no longer enjoy them. Now instead of seeing a bunch of ducks in clothes, they see the racism, sexism, and violence that swim under the surface of these stories." pg. 5
This quote is something that I found interesting, because again I can relate to it. I feel like being an English major, I also analyze different issues such as race, gender, psychological well being, and violence in texts. This doesn't just stop in the classroom, but is somethign that I carry with me when I am trying to enjoy other texts that I read for pleasure. I am constantly analyzing, and decoding what certain symbols and gestures might mean.
I found this essay both interesting and heartbreaking to read. As stated earlier, I love my Disney movies, and I don't want to come to terms that they all have underlying content that children shouldn't be exposed to. But I did find the essay informative, and because I take a children's lit class, I am forced to look at different children's books, movies, and shows and decipher what they are teaching younger children. Although I will always hold Disney movies close to me, I do realize now that they may unintentionally give children the wrong message.
I didn't think the Disney movies were misleading, but they are especially to young children. I think the movies is written for adult audiences to enjoy and to try to share with their children. I think it's a money, media thing. The industry makes big buck, regardless of who they affect, young and old.
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