Talking Points #4

Christenson "Unlearning the Myths that Blind Us"

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." (126)

- This statement stood out in my mind primarily because of the author's word choice. The idea of a "young society" being manipulated really targets the main concepts outlined in this article and also brings our attention to the severity of the impact these manipulations can have over the course of a child's lifetime. Aside from having racial implications, such fairy tales and children's lore can impact their gender identity and concept of self-image. Another quote from the article that I really feel illuminates a key theme in most fairy tales is "Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption" (133).

2. "They noted the absence of mothers, the wickedness of stepparents." (131)

- My first thought when reading this sentence was "Brother's Grimm!" The Brother's Grimm wrote many of the most popular fairy tales that were later remade by Disney including Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, and The Frog Prince. Several common factors that unite these tales include large families, women represented as heads of the household (usually in the absence of a biological mother - as a stepmother), and some form of a "prince charming." The Brother's Grimm wrote from personal experience, having been raised by only their mother and being members of a large, predominantly male family.

3. "Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon? Did they have a leading role or were they a servant? What do you think this is doing to your child's mind?" (131)

- I have mixed feelings about this concept. While popular media and fairy tales definitely play an important role and make a statement about racism, I don't entirely agree with the statement about people of color never having a leading role. I'm not trying to imply that Disney is exempt from manipulating our youth, however I do feel that they did a fair job in representing various cultures in positions of power. They have princesses in several ethnicities including French, Chinese, Arabian, English, Native American, Dutch and African American. I feel like one of the main issues in Disney literature is the isolation of difference and culture (for example, all of the characters in "Mulan" are Chinese, all of the characters in "Beauty and the Beast" are mainly French...) as well as their tendency to imply that women need a man in order to live "Happily ever after."