In class movies

Out of all of the videos, I found the Disney documentary to be the most interesting. I think it is important to analyze media that is aimed at children. This documentary in particular took a critical approach, and examining their claims can be useful in understanding how we should approach Disney and the media that children are exposed to. The film raised many important issues, from gender roles, to history, to racism. I found myself agreeing with some claims, while disagreeing with others, and will lay out my thoughts in this blog post.

The first thing to mention is that when one examines the Disney films of the past, it is clear that the films use stereotypes, as well as altered history. There are obvious issues with this, as the documentary points out, but there is a factor that they overlook. In pointing out the flaws, the documentary fails to recognize that Disney is trying to craft a story, and therefore must use certain devices. For example, the film mentions the Beast's temper in Beauty and the Beast, and the condoning of it. However, the reason for the temper of the Beast is to create a conflict to be resolved. Without conflict, you have a week and boring story. The Beast, in this instance, is troubled by his past, and is therefore angry and lonely. This causes him to lash out a Belle, but overtime she helps him to accept his circumstance, and he is able to change. This doesn't seem wrong to me, but the documentary takes a biased approach in this case. Disney also uses gender and racial stereotypes as storytelling shortcuts, so we understand how a character fits into the film. Furthermore, the documentary condemns Disney films for altering history. Again, this is only done in the name of storytelling, which I believe is Disney's top priority.

Does this mean that it is okay to use stereotypes and altered history in children's films? Far from it actually. I'm just pointing out that it is understandable that Disney would use such devices. Many were common in animation for their time period, and Disney was just following suit.

The most important thing is for parents to be aware of the stereotypes that exist in past Disney films, so they can explain them to their kids. I do not believe we should shelter children from Disney, as it is one of the greatest forms of entertainment a child can have, and will give them lasting memories. It is the responsibility of the parent, however, to understand what their kids are watching, learning, and absorbing. If aware, parents can use these movies and teaching tools.

Looking forward, I believe Disney has a responsibility to avoid stereotypes in their films and marketing. We are living in a different age, where we are more aware of the way kids learn and develop. We are also constantly advancing in our social knowledge, and we are creating a world where tolerance and acceptance are at the forefront. It is possible to create films without stereotypes, and Disney must be aware of the lessons that they are teaching kids.